05 December 2005
BBC Honours the North West's Top Sporting Personalities
BBC North West Tonight presenters Gordon Burns and Dianne Oxberry joined an array of sports stars and guests at Manchester's Midland Hotel to announce the winners of the BBC North West Sports Awards 2005.
The event, now in its fifth year, was devised to recognise sporting achievement and excellence, and with the support of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) they have now become one of the highlights of the region's sporting calendar.
Peter Mearns, NWDA Director of Marketing, said: "Sport plays an important role in the cultural life of the Northwest as well as making an invaluable contribution to the regional economy. The sector employs over 50,000 people and generates £1.14 billion. The NWDA is extremely pleased to support this dynamic industry and celebrate the best and brightest sporting talent from across the region."
The BBC's Head of Regional and Local Programmes in the North West, Leo Devine, believes the evening is a celebration of another amazing year for sportsmen and women across our region: "At every level and in every sport the North West once again leads the way and the status the event now has makes the awards such an important part of the sporting calendar. Sport plays such an important part in people"s lives and in honouring the region"s finest these awards are a recognition of this passion."
The winners of the 16 awards were chosen from public votes and a panel of North West sports journalists.
Winners in the 16 categories were as follows:
WINNERS - BBC NORTH WEST SPORTS AWARDS 2005
1. Newcomer 2005 (Presenter - Ricky Hatton)
Nedum Onuoha - (Manchester City)
Rachael Thompson - (Athlete)
James Graham - (St Helens)
2. Rugby Player 2005 (Presenter - Rachel Brown)
Brent Grose - (Warrington)
Jamie Lyon - (St Helens)
Mark Cueto - (Sale Sharks)
3. Footballer 2005 (Presenter - Ray Stubbs)
Jamie Carragher (Liverpool FC)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United FC)
4. Disabled Sportsperson 2005 (Presenter - Jason Robinson)
Sarah Bailey
Shelly Woods (Shelly is from Blackpool)
Matthew Walker
5. BBC Radio Lancashire Award 2005 (Presenter - Gary Hickson)
Nick Dougherty (golfer)
6. BBC GMR/Manchester Evening News Award 2005
(Presenters Andy Buckley & Peter Spencer)
Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
7. BBC Radio Merseyside Award 2005 (Presenter - Ian Kennedy)
Rafael Benitez (Liverpool FC)
8. Sport England Young Performer of the Year (Presenter - Andy Worthington)
Charlene Mills
9. BBC North West Tonight Award 2005 (Presenter - Dan Walker)
Wigan Athletic Football Club
10. Hall of Fame 2005 (Presenter - Jack Simmons)
Clive Lloyd
11. Sport England Community Club Award of the Year (Presenter - Carole Hassan)
Northwich RUFC
12. Unsung Hero 2005 (Presenter - John Parrott)
Eric Smith - Created Haydock ARLFC 26 years ago. He"s from St Helens.
13. Manager/Coach 2005 (Presenter - Sam Allardyce)
Rafael Benitez (Liverpool FC)
Paul Jewell (Wigan Athletic FC)
Phillipe St Andre (Sale Sharks)
14. The Judges Award 2005 (Presenter - Amir Khan)
Ricky Hatton
15. BBC North West Sports Personality 2005 (Presenter Sir Tom Finney)
Andrew Flintoff
16. Team 2005 (Presenter - Peter Mearns)
Liverpool FC
Wigan Athletic FC
Belle Vue Speedway Team
For further information and photos from the evening please contact Andrew Glynn, BBC Press Office on 0161 244 4899 / 07736 480378, or e-mail : www.andrew.glynn@bbc.co.uk