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Press Releases
Geoff Holt is Â鶹Éç South Sports Personality of the Year 2007
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Geoff Holt, the disabled yachtsman from Shedfield, Southampton, has been named Â鶹Éç South Sports Personality 2007 after sports fans across the South stepped up to the mark.
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Following a public phone vote, Geoff was given the accolade at the Â鶹Éç South Sports Awards.
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He won against tough competition from Sussex Cricket Captain Chris Adams, sailor Sarah Ayton and Guildford Heat Basketball Coach Paul James.
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And it was a double celebration for Geoff as he also scooped Sportsman of the Year, following his achievement of being the first disabled person to sail solo around Britain.
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The ceremony on Sunday night (2 December), hosted by Â鶹Éç's Sally Taylor and Roger Johnson, saw some of the region's best sporting talent being recognised for their achievements.
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Along with them, Bardwell FC founder Margaret Simons won the Â鶹Éç South Sports Unsung Hero Award, supported by Robinsons.
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Margaret founded Bardwell FC, based in Bicester, Oxfordshire, in 1964 and at the age of 85 she is still helping with the club and lending her support from the touchlines.
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A special addition to this year's ceremony was The Alan Ball Award, given in memory of the popular footballer, manager and Â鶹Éç sports commentator to recognise exceptional achievement in sport.
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This award was presented to Chris Adams, Captain of Sussex County Cricket Team, by Alan's son Jimmy Ball.
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Congratulating the winners, Â鶹Éç South Sports Editor Roger Johnson said: "It's been a fantastic evening and huge congratulations to everyone involved.
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"These awards provide the opportunity to recognise all sporting achievement, from grass roots players to professional competitors.
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"Yet again our sportsmen and women have given us plenty to cheer about over the past year and judging by the high level of their achievements there's lots more to come."
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Robinsons is also the event sponsor of the national Â鶹Éç Sports Personality of the Year which takes place on Sunday (9 December).
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The Â鶹Éç Sports Unsung Hero Award recognises and rewards the outstanding contribution made by an individual at the grassroots level of local sport.
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Bursaries of up to £2,500 are available to the winners of each regional award to help them with their work in sport.
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The winners were:
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Male Team of the Year:
Guildford Heat Basketball Club
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Female Team of the Year:
GB Women's Quadruple Sculls (Caversham, Berkshire)
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Disabled Sportsperson of the Year:
David Smith, World Boccia Champion
(Treloar College, Alton, Hampshire)
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Young Sportsperson of the Year:
Adam Harrington, Gold medal swimmer
(Crawley, Sussex)
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Yachtsperson of the Year:
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (Curdridge, Hampshire)
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Racing Award:
Tony McCoy, Champion jump jockey
(Lambourn, West Berkshire)
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Coach of the Year:
Mark Robinson, Sussex Country Cricket Coach
(Brighton, Sussex)
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Cricketer of the Year:
Dimitri Mascarenhas (Southampton, Hampshire)
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Rugby Player of the Year:
Dan Cawley (Bournemouth, Dorset)
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Footballer of the Year:
David James (Portsmouth, Hampshire)
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Non-League Team of the Year:
Salisbury City
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Â鶹Éç South Special Achievement:
Shaun Udal, cricketer
(20 years for Hampshire)
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Sportsman of the Year:
Geoff Holt, disabled yachtsman
(Shedfield, Hampshire)
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Sportswoman of the Year:
Sarah Ayton, yachtswoman
(Weymouth)
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Â鶹Éç South Unsung Hero Award:
Margaret Simons, founder of Bardwell FC
(Bicester, Oxford)
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The Alan Ball Award:
Chris Adams, Captain, Sussex County Cricket Team.
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Notes to Editors
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Suggestions for the Â鶹Éç South Sports Awards came from a range of sporting bodies and media professionals. They were put to a Â鶹Éç panel, comprised of Â鶹Éç staff and sports people from across the South.
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The judging panel for the Â鶹Éç South Sports Awards met on 8 November.
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The panel was:
Roger Johnson, Â鶹Éç South Today (non-voting chair);
Mark Demuth, Assistant Editor, Â鶹Éç Match of the Day;
David Faulkner, Performance Director, England and GB Hockey;
Jan Halliday, Chair of Sport Hampshire & IOW Advisory Board;
Peter Hull MBE, County Development Officer, Disability Sport. Ìý
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