To Sega Fairweather, bumps and bruises are part and parcel of her chosen sport.

The 19-year-old skier, from Moira, has had to take time off from the slopes after a training fall in Austria. The country's top female junior cannot wait to get back into the thick of the racing action in Europe.

A season of success has made her one of the challengers for the Sportswoman crown in this year's Leicester Mercury Sports Awards 2009.

We are looking for nominations in categories covering all aspects of sport in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Fairweather emerged, in April, as the British junior champion after wins in the downhill and slalom disciplines. After 14 races in just 10 days – some tackling Britain's top senior skiers – she was entitled to be happy.

Injury might have slowed her but she has the national title, to be fought out in Meribel, France, in her sights in her final year among the juniors.

"The British championships were amazing for me," she said during her brief spell back home. "It was such a high to end the season on, but it just meant that I was looking forward to this season even more."

She turned to the slopes at the Swadlincote centre as a seven-year-old. She said: "I loved it from the first time I went."

With the right facilities few and far between at home, Fairweather has had to look abroad to improve her technique. She has spent last year in Vermont, US, before switching to Austria this year. The British champion said. "I feel my form is good but we will see when the racing starts next month."

Fairweather is looking at a programme of three or four events each week leading up to the nationals. She hopes her talent will find her competing in some Europa Cup races, the final step before tackling the elite skiers in the World Cup.

To make your nomination in any category fill in the nomination form on this page and return it to us. The nominee will automatically go forward to the judging process.

The full list of categories is: Sportsman of the Year; Sportswoman of the Year; Coach of the Year; Team of the Year; Under-19 Team of the Year; Club of the Year; Young Sportsman (Under 18); Young Sportswoman (Under 18); Junior Sportsman (Under 14); Junior Sportswoman (Under 14); Active4life Award.

Click here to nominate on-line.