Two Shropshire sporting heroes were honoured with top placings in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
Val Hanover scooped the Unsung Hero title for her work with disabled athletes while 21-year-old gymnast Beth Tweddle, pictured top, who trained in Shropshire, took third place overall.
Val, pictured below, who raises funds and helps organise the North Shropshire Special Olympics Club, impressed judges with her great commitment.
Speaking after the ceremony at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre, she said: “I’m very overwhelmed and proud of this award. But it’s not only for me, it’s for the hundreds of volunteers and athletes with learning disabilities who train every week to achieve at their level in sport. I’m very, very pleased to win it for them.”
Beth’s third place in the top category comes after she claimed Britain’s first ever gold medal at the World Championships on the uneven bars.
Top honours went to equestrian Zara Phillips who emulated her mother, the Princess Royal, to be voted the overall Sports Personality of The Year.
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