Leicester Mercury Sports Awards 2012: Salute to former Leicester City keeper

Dan Greaves and Crista Cullen have been named the 2012 Leicester Mercury Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, following their heroics in London last summer.

Greaves was the only Leicestershire track and field athlete to bring home a medal from the Paralympic Games, as he took silver in the discus.

Former Leicester City and England goalkeeper Peter Shilton became the second recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, while the Neville Hamilton Award went to former world title contender Rendall Munroe, who called time on his boxing career in December.

Cullen was a key member of the Great Britain hockey side which won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games, the Leicester Ladies' star scoring in the 3-1 win over New Zealand which secured third place.

Cullen's Leicester colleagues were named Team of the Year after clinching a famous double of national indoor and Premier League titles.

Mercury editor Richard Bettsworth said: "Congratulations to Crista Cullen and Dan Greaves and to all the winners in the Leicester Mercury Sports Awards.

"2012 was an incredible year for sport, with the London Olympics and Paralympics, and several of our award-winners, including Crista and Dan, flew the flag for Leicestershire in these unforgettable events.

"Our awards also feature many young Leicestershire athletes, showing there is plenty more to come, and we may see some of them featuring in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and beyond.

"We would also like to thank our sponsors for their support in making the sports awards possible.

"Their involvement is essential in ensuring we are able to celebrate Leicestershire sport in this way and give the county's athletes and clubs the recognition they so richly deserve."

The awards night at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road stadium proved memorable for Leicester Riders basketball club.

Fresh from Sunday's triumph in the BBL Cup final against Newcastle Eagles, Rob Paternostro was named Coach of the Year.

The Riders took home a second trophy when they were selected as Club of the Year for the work they carry out away from the court.

As ever, youth was very much to the fore.

Charnwood AC sprint prospect Owin Sinclair won the Young Sportsman title, while double world junior road race champion Lucy Garner repeated her 2011 success in the Young Sportswoman category.

The Cosby cyclist, who collected nine major honours last year, headed an ultra-competitive list of names in her section, which led the judges to name four finalists rather than the usual three.

Lucy was unable to attend, as she is in Spain at a training camp with the Argos-Shimano professional team.

The trophy was collected by her younger sister, Grace, another of Britain's pool of cycling prospects.

The 18-year-old former Countesthorpe College student said: "It is always a special feeling to win an award like this, most of all because it is my home town.''

Last night's winners

SPORTSMAN

Dan Greaves.

Commended: Mark Selby, Manu Tuilagi

SPORTSWOMAN

Crista Cullen.

Commended: Lucy Hall, Gemma Steel

COACH/MANAGER

Rob Paternostro.

Commended: Alex Dawson, Chris Mayer.

TEAM

Leicester Ladies.

Commended: Leicester Riders, Leicester Monarchs Ladies.

CLUB

Leicester Riders.

Commended: CKI School of Martial Arts, Hinckley Town CC

UNDER-19 TEAM

St Andrews under-16s.

Commended: De Lisle under-16s, Lancaster School under-13s.

YOUNG SPORTSMAN

Owin Sinclair.

Commended: Joe O'Connor, Jevann Parmar.

YOUNG SPORTSWOMAN

Lucy Garner.

Commended: Sophie Smith, Harriet Cooper, Grace Garner.

JUNIOR SPORTSMAN

William Goode.

Commended: Callum Rowley, Tom Herbert.

JUNIOR SPORTSWOMAN

Charlotte Broughton.

Commended: Lizzie Warner, Hope Warner.

COMMUNITY

Sileby Boxing Academy.

Commended: Coalville ABC, Rutland Netball League.

ACTIVE4LIFE

Antonio Di Palma.

Commended: Samantha Osman, Dave Tomkins.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Peter Shilton

NEVILLE HAMILTON AWARD

Rendall Munroe.