FORMER Olympic runner Donna Fraser,  Member of Parliament John Redwood and Lady Watt, who is chair of the Women’s Professional Golf Association, were among the many guests who attended the Wokingham Sports Awards held for the first time in the new sports hall at Blue Coat School in Sonning.

The Mayor of Wokingham Cllr Dianne King and many other dignitaries also attended the event last Thursday that honoured the cream of sport in the area.

Bulmershe and Pinewood gymnastics clubs each won two categories, while an award also went to Peter Tranckle, a versatile coach whose sports includes gymnastics, archery and tennis.

Table tennis coach Alan Dines, Our Lady of Peace Club and Resource, who play in the Reading and District TT League, also collected awards.

Dines, who runs the IMPACT scheme, has introduced hundreds of youngsters to the sport over many years, while Resource have encouraged many players with learning difficulties.

Resource coach Andrew Syed, the former British No 1, and his brother Andrew, also a former England international, both attended the awards.

To complete a memorable night for Dines and his coaching scheme, their name was picked out of the hat by Mr Redwood for a special cash prize of £500 donated by Millgate Homes.

OLOP won the runners-up prize of £300 and the third prize of £200 went to snowboarder Sam Cullum – who could not make the ceremony as he was in Switzerland training with the Great Britain World Cup team.

His sister Rebecca, 15, also a accomplished snowboarder, received the trophy on his behalf.

The draw was only open to all the clubs and individuals who had been nominated for an award on the evening.

Forest won the Best Senior School prize and during the presentation Terry Bunyard, chairman of the Wokingham Sports Council, paid tribute to the school’s former head of sport, Nigel Wright, who died in the summer.

The awards night was sponsored by the Wokingham District Council and Millgate Homes.

James McArthur, headmaster of Blue Coat School, also attended and the master of ceremonies was Jack Sulman.

The award winners were, in order of presentation:

Junior Girls (Millgate Homes Cup): Louisa Bellis (Pinewood Gym Club).

Junior boys (MFW Associates Cup): Steven King (Bracknell and Wokingham Swimming Club).

Senior girls (The BJ Cup): Melanie Farquhar (OLOP TTC).

Senior boys (Force Components Cup): David Border (Blue Coat Rowing Club).

Best junior school (Leisure Connection Shield): Robert Piggott.

Best senior school (Leisure Connection Shield): Forest.

Junior club team (Woodcray Manor Cup): Bulmershe Gym Club.

International performance (RG Services Cup): Sam Cullum (British international snow boarder).

Coach of the Year (Brian Shaw Cup): Peter Tranckle (gymnastics, archery and tennis).

Senior men (Simpsons Springs and Pressings Cup): Graham Potts (archery).

Senior women (Electronics 2000 Cup): Karen Roberts  (judo).

Path to Excellence (Woodley Town Council): Stacey Chance (Bulmershe Gym Club).

Special individual award (READING Evening Post Shield): Michael Pope (Wargrave bowls).

Special club (The Wokingham Times Shield): Wokingham Hockey Club.

Services to Disabled (Electronics 2000 Cup): Resource TTC.

Courage in the face of adversity (John Cunningham Cup): Sarah Bellis (Pinewood Gym Club).

Spirit of Sport (Earley Town Council Rose Bowl): David Sumner (Red Diamonds).

Outstanding contribution to sport (WDSC Fair Play Award): Alan Dines (IMPACT).

Excellence in Sport (WDSC Chairman's Cup): Ted Mallett (archery).

Councillor Malcolm Bryant, vice chairman of the WDSC, also made a special award to Terry Bunyard.