- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
THE Devon Sports Awards have been opened up to professional sportsmen and clubs this year for the first time.
Active Devon and The Exeter Foundation, who organise the event, are expecting a deluge of nominations from clubs, coaches and fans given the increase in sports participation, success of Devon athletes and focus on sport over the last 12 months.
The awards celebrate not only the players, but the clubs and teams, the coaches, the officials and the volunteers who help performers to succeed.
Professional sport has not featured before in the 10 years since the awards were launched.
“With the two new professional categories of Sports Personality of the Year and Club of the Year we are hoping to attract nominations from people who might not necessarily have engaged with the awards before,” said Helen Pope from Active Devon.
“We would really like to see some nominations that acknowledge the professional clubs that give back to the community and the professional sports personalities that are an inspiration to others.”
The Exeter Foundation – a charity fund-raising organisation set up by Exeter Chiefs RFC – are co-organisers for the first time. Seventeen good causes benefit from foundation pay-outs.
Tony Rowe, chairman of the Exeter Foundation, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all that is great about local sport and raise money for good causes at the same time.”
Applications for the awards can be downloaded from Active Devon website at www.activedevon.org/awards2013 and either printed out and posted in, or completed online and emailed to Active Devon.
Matt Evans, Active Devon’s chief executive, said” “2012 has been a fantastic year for sport at all levels.
“You have just got to look at the vibrancy of local community sport and at the number of Devonians involved, in whatever role, in the London 2012 Games to see the contribution which local people make to sport.
“Whether it is as performers, coaches, volunteers and officials we are extremely proud of their achievements.
“The Devon Sports Awards is our opportunity for those contributions to be recognised.
“We feel sure that there are plenty of achievements worthy of a nomination to the Devon Sports Awards.”