AN awards evening has been held to find and celebrate Monmouthshire’s sporting heroes.

The Event, which was run by MonLeisure, had a total of 508 nominations with each category being shortlisted to three finalists.

Approximately 270 individuals attended the awards evening which took place at Chepstow Leisure Centre. 

There were 13 awards in total, in a variety of different categories, from young volunteer of the year to the sports personality award.

The first prize of the evening, young volunteer of the year, was won by Hannah Wilding, and volunteer of the year was won by Kay Peacock who works with the youth section of Usk cricket club.

Community coach of the year went to Abergavenny hockey club coach Nick Fackrell, and the Neil Allmark young coach of the year award went to Guy Erro. Guy’s award is in memory of Neil Allmark, a Chepstow rugby player who died in January this year.

Coach of the year went to cheerleading expert Danielle Pike - coach of Galaxy Cheer based in Caldicot. The award for coach to disabled people of the year went to Gavin England.

The outstanding contribution to sport was won by Bill Owen, who founded Abergavenny festival of cycling.

Sports personality of the year was won by Ieuan Coombes. Ieuan volunteers with the Monmouthshire sports development team, and started when he was just 17 years old.

Meanwhile, Len Parsley, secretary of Chepstow Garden City Junior FC won the unsung hero award.

Sportswoman of the year went to 10 year old Adelaide Francis, who won the British Junior Golf Tour last year, and sportsman of the year went to Ben Hopkins who has won five world titles in mounted games. Meanwhile Abergavenny Town Football Club won team of the year.

The lifetime achievement went to Malcolm Skinner, the current chairman of Mardy Athletic FC. Malcolm is now in his 70s and has served the club loyally for the last 50 years.

A spokesman from MonLeisure said: “This is the first year the awards ceremony has taken place and we will be continuing our search again next year. 

“Keep following the Monmouthshire Sport Awards social media outlets for information and updates from Monmouthshire’s Sport Development Team over the coming months.”