Downham Market Sports Awards 2012

Picture by Matthew Usher

It was a huge honour for me to host the Downham Market Sports Awards 2012 ceremony last night. The event marked the end of an action-packed year of Olympic-themed sport in the town and some 200 people packed the Town Hall for the ceremony.

It was a fantastic evening and it was delighted to have been asked to host such an inspiring evening - hopefully I will be asked back next year to do it again!

I can't have done too badly as I read these tweets after the ceremony:

@DMLeisureCentre: "@DavidBlackm0re Brilliant evening; great community spirit and vibe - and the host? Fantastic at presenting an amazing evening! Great work!"

(Event organiser) @franceserayner "Thank you @DavidBlackm0re for being hostess with the mostess! Downham Market is really grateful for your support and enjoyed a fab evening"

The guest star at the awards ceremony was Olympian Paul Evans. He spoke about competing in the 10,000m events at the Barcelona and Atlanta games and winning the Chicago Marathon in 1996 and, as always, was a delight the listen to.

Here are this year's winners:
Sportsman of the Year: Matt Pyatt
Sportswoman of the Year: Marie French
Masters Sports Person of the Year: Cath Duhig
Junior Sports Person of the Year (under 12): Ben Rayner
Young Sports Person of the Year (12-18): Adam Hughes
Disabled Sports Person of the Year: Derek Dane
Coach of the Year: Rebecca Tuff
Support in Sport: Don Rowell
Sports Event of the Year: The Ryston Runners’ Shouldham Warren Grand Prix series
Team of the Year: Downham Market Village Games Team