IT’S that time of the year again – the South Wales Argus Sports Awards are back!

Fourteen gongs will be handed out at Chepstow Racecourse this spring on what promises to be another special night for the great and good of Gwent sport.

And you can now nominate the individuals, teams and clubs who deserve to be recognised for their sporting achievements over the last 12 months.

Newport County AFC striker Padraig Amond scored an awards hat-trick in 2019, a year after his manager, Michael Flynn, was the toast of the inaugural ceremony.

Amond’s goals in league and cup saw him crowned Exiles player of the year, professional sports personality of the year and the overall sports personality of the year.

But the Irishman wasn’t the only one celebrating, with gymnastics, martial arts, rugby, swimming and triathlon also represented on the list of winners.

Valleys Gymnastics Academy’s (VGA) Melissa Anderson received the outstanding services to sport in Gwent award and Cwmbran Otters Swimming Club’s Gerald Sims was voted volunteer of the year.

Shauna Morgan succeeded fellow VGA member Bethany Paull as disability sports performer of the year, while mixed martial arts coach Richard Shore was grassroots sports personality of the year.

Wales ace Aaron Wainwright was voted Dragons player of the year, Heads of the Valleys Tang Soo Do’s Angus Rogers came out on top in a hotly contested coach of the year category and taekwondo ace Kriya Pahimna was crowned young sports personality of the year.

In terms of clubs and teams, Pontypool, who won every game on their way to another Championship title, were deserved winners of the senior team of the year accolade.

VGA’s Team Gym boys were junior team of the year and Risc-A-Tri scooped the club of the year prize.

Nominations for this year’s awards, which take place on Thursday, May 14, can be made by visiting southwalesargus.co.uk/sportsawards, where there is a full description of each category.

AWARD CATEGORIES

Sports Personality of the Year

Professional Sports Personality of the Year

Young Sports Personality of the Year

Grassroots Sports Personality of the Year

Disability Sports Performer of the Year

Outstanding Services to Sport in Gwent

Senior Team of the Year

Junior Team of the Year

Community Club of the Year

Coach of the Year

Junior Coach of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

Newport County AFC Player of the Year

Dragons Player of the Year

“The South Wales Argus is proud to announce the third annual Sports Awards in association with Chepstow Racing & Events,” said Argus managing director Hussain Bayoomi.

“This year’s awards are set out to recognise the true heroes of local sport and to create an event which was one of the main highlights of the sporting calendar locally.

“Local sport is the glue that holds our communities together, providing a foundation for health, fitness and teamwork – a place to identify sporting stars of the future.

“Recognising and honouring the achievements of the countless outstanding contributions to sport is an honour for the South Wales Argus.

“The South Wales Argus are proud to recognise the outstanding contribution to sport from grassroots to professional level, and it is an honour to showcase this through the South Wales Argus Sports Awards of 2020.”