Shropshire Star

Shropshire Energize Awards 2016 - meet the finalists

It's been another amazing year of sport with some great British successes.

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But while it is easy to give headlines to elite sport and the top level achievements, we shouldn't forget that everyone started somewhere and that for most of our favourite sports stars that place would have been a grassroots community sports setting, set up and run by volunteers who are sporting stars in their own way.

On November 3, Shropshire's own community sport heroes will be honoured at the Energize Awards 2016 – the 10th annual community sports awards for the county.

This special event, backed by the Shropshire Star and held in association with Rybrook BMW Shrewsbury and Yarrington, will recognise and celebrate the volunteers, coaches, clubs and organisations for their contributions to sport and physical activity across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, as well as recognising some of our own rising sporting stars.

Click here for the full list of finalists in the digital edition of today's Energize Awards supplement

For so many, their sporting journey starts in school and the Energize Awards will also be recognising some of the fantastic local schools and the individuals within them who are providing excellent opportunities for their pupils to take part.

The International Centre, Telford, is hosting the glittering awards ceremony which has a history of attracting top name sports speakers including Sharron Davies, Peter Shilton, Graham Gooch and Tessa Sanderson. This year is no different as legendary ski jumper Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards will be joining guests to share his story and hand out the trophies to this year's winners.

The awards are organised by local sports charity Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin. Energize is the local county sports partnership, one of 45 such partnerships in England, who deliver national physical activity and sport, coaching and volunteering programmes in the county, tailoring them to the needs of local people.

They believe that there is an activity out there for everyone, regardless of whether they see themselves as 'sporty' or not.

Energize chief executive Chris Child said: "It is with great pleasure that we announce the shortlisted nominees for this year's awards. These inspirational people, groups, projects and organisations do not seek praise and recognition for what they do. We rely on their friends, families and colleagues to nominate them for these awards.

"We have some excellent finalists this year and I look forward to meeting them at the awards evening. Of course, we couldn't hold this event without our sponsors and supporters and we are thankful to them all for making it possible to give recognition to our fantastic nominees."

Look out for the Shropshire Star's report of the winners after the event in November.

More information about the Energize Awards can be found at energizeawards.co.uk

Tickets are on sale until Wednesday.

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