NEWPORT'S sports stars were honoured at the 30th borough council-backed sports awards at a special ceremony at the city's main leisure centre.

Bassaleg-based golfer Phillip Price, who fought his way into Europe's Ryder Cup squad to face the US this September, won the top accolade of Sports Personality of the Year - beating off competition from 1999's winner, triathlete Anneliese Heard and top sprinter Christian Malcolm, who won the award in 1997, 1998 and 2000.

The 35-year-old won the Portuguese Open Championship last year and came runner-up on four occasions, including the WGC-NEC Invitational when he tied second behind Tiger Woods.

Newport Rugby Club, who won last season's Principality Cup beating Neath 13-8 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, picked up the Senior Team of the Year after holding off stiff opposition from Newport men's and ladies' hockey team.

The Black & Ambers, who provided players for the Welsh senior and A team, qualified for the Heineken European Cup competition as well as the Cup Final victory, making it Newport's most successful season for decades.

Pat Roberts, a member of Newport Golf Club, was presented with the prestigious Argus-sponsored Services to Sport honour.

Ms Roberts represented Wales in the 1964 World Cup, skippered the Welsh team on three occasions, was vice-captain of the Great Britain squad on three occasions, has been Welsh Champion four times, Newport Club Champion 25 times and Monmouthshire Club Champion 18 times.

The 80-year-old from Caerleon has had stints as chairman, honourable secretary and vice-president of the Welsh Ladies Golf Union.

Newport Cycle Speedway, who beat off 18 other teams from around Britain to defend their British Junior League title, won the Junior Team of the Year award.

Usk golfer James Morgan, who represented Britain and Ireland in their tour of the United States, picked up the Young Sportsman of the Year award. The 17-year-old Celtic Manor player captained the Welsh Boys Under-18 team in the European Championships and also skippered the Wales schoolboys team to their first victory over England ever.

Llanvaches-based badminton star Robyn Ashworth, who played for Wales in the World Championships in Spain and will travel to this summer's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, won the Young Sportswoman of the Year award. The 20-year-old was Welsh National Championship and Yonex All England runner-up.

Ryan Campbell, who won gold in the World Cup in Poland and was second in the UK Open and third in the combat World Championships, won the Most Promising Young Sportsman of the Year.

Eleven-year-old Alicia Goulding, number one bowler in Britain for her age and a member of the Stow Park Lawn tennis Club, picked up the Most Promising Young Sportswoman of the Year.

Roger Williams, coach at the successful St Joseph's Amateur Boxing Club who helped six boxers to become Welsh Champions, won the Coach of the Year accolade.

Newport Wasps' contracted rider Thomas Brown, 17, who won five events last year, won the Disability Sports Person of the Year while 16-year-old Michael Claydon, who plays for Newport Cricket Club, won the Young Club Member of the Year.

Richard Jenkins, 59, of Newport Harriers Athletic Club, won the Official of the Year award. The awards, hosted by former Olympic long-jump champion Lynn Davies Davies were organised by Newport council's Sports Development Unit and Newport Sports Council.