Leicester Mercury Sports Awards 2011: Send in your nominations
The spotlight is once again about to fall on the sporting stars of Leicestershire and Rutland.
Today, the 15th Leicester Mercury Sports Awards – the county's "sporting Oscars" – are launched with the search on for the sportsmen and women, teams and organisations who have shone in 2011.
The presentation evening, organised for the first time by Champions (UK), will be staged at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road stadium on January 19.
The event has become a fixture on the local sporting calendar and the 2010 Awards saw Leicester boxer Rendall Munroe pick up the Sportsman of the Year title for the second time in three years.
Though his talents have been praised around the world the former European champion said: "You cannot beat being recognised at home."
Hockey star Crista Cullen won the Sportswoman's trophy and her Leicester Ladies side were named Team of the Year.
However, it was the high quality local athletes on view that really impressed Leicester captain Vanessa Hawkins.
She said: "The Mercury Sports Awards are always a real eye-opener. It shows the depth of talent in all sports across Leicestershire."
Local teams and athletes have produced some outstanding performances throughout 2011.
Leicestershire Foxes' cricketers won the Friends Life t20 title on a dramatic finals day at Edgbaston.
"It was a great year for Leicestershire Foxes in the t20 and we thoroughly deserved our title," said all-rounder Andrew McDonald.
Coalville Town became the first Leicestershire non-league team to reach Wembley, losing a thrilling FA Vase final 3-2 to holders Whitley Bay.
The boys from the Lancaster School came out on top of 1,000 teams as they won the English Schools FA under-15 National Cup with a 1-0 success over Northampton School at Sheffield.
City of Leicester Swimming Club's Harriet Cooper struck gold at the European Youth Olympics in Turkey, while cyclist Lucy Garner turned in a sensational performance to win the World junior road race title in Copenhagen just three days after her 17th birthday.
Part of the success of the Mercury Sports Awards has been down to backing from local business and companies have once again been keen to back the awards with all the categories sponsored.
There will be a new award this year with a Lifetime Achievement trophy, which is set to be presented by showbusiness legend William Roache who plays Ken Barlow in Coronation Street.
To make your nomination complete the form below. Entries close on December 5.
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