And the winners of this year's Sutton sports awards are...

FORMER world record holder and middle-distance running great David Moorcroft paid tribute to the sporting talent across the Royal Town at last Friday's Sutton Coldfield Sports Awards.

Moorcroft was guest of honour at the ceremony – organised by Sutton's Community Sport and Physical Activity Network and held at Sutton Town Hall to – which rewarded the town's sporting heroes.

He said: "Sport is made up of wonderful people, many of whom are represented in this room tonight. Everybody who has been nominated should be proud of their achievement."

First award on the night was the Junior Sports of the Personality of the Year, sponsored by Birmingham Metropolitan College and won by Sutton Sailing Club star Matt Venables.

The 15-year-old capped a stunning year by being crowned World Topper Champion in Dublin.

Venables fought off stiff competition from judo star Lulu Piovesana, rated number one in her age group nationally, and Great Britain modern pentathlon ace Jemma Westgate.

The Gomm Insurance Junior Team of the Year award went to Walmley Cricket Club girls under-13s who won the Birmingham and Warwickshire Leagues plus the Lady Taverners Midland title.

Also nominated were Boldmere Swimming Club, who finished fifth in the national junior league final, and West Midlands League and Cup winners Four Oaks Saints Cricket Club under-10s.

Coppice and New Oscott were joint winners of the Wilson Stuart Active Society Clewer Trophy for Primary School of the Year Award. Little Sutton and Moor Hall were also shortlisted.

The Wilson Stuart Active Society Evans Trophy for Secondary School of the Year Award went to Bishop Vesey Grammar, which has 11 pupils who have achieved national or international honours. Bishop Walsh and Streetly School were also shortlisted.

The Vesey Ward Veteran Sports Team of the Year award went to Streetly Tennis Club men's over-65s, who won the National Inter-Club crown and will represent Great Britain at this year's Euro Champs.

Just missing out were West Midlands League winning Birmingham Mets basketball team and the Sutton Coldfield Town over-35s football side.

Four Oaks Tennis Club's Tony King claimed the Four Oaks Ward Veteran Sports Personality of the Year award after winning several county, national and international titles as well as helping GB to win the World Team Championship in India.

He pipped GB Masters judo champion Steve Ashford of 2As Judokwai and British over-60s captain Mick Webb of Streetly Tennis Club.

Boldmere Swimming Club stalwart Geoff Fowler was Trinity Ward Volunteer of the Year, fighting off competition from Royal Sutton Coldfield Athletics Club's Linda Lord and Sutton Rugby Club's Margaret Smolden.

The New Hall Ward Coach of the Year award went to the aforementioned Ashford.

Shortlisted were Birmingham Mets and Parkside netball coach Jill Armstrong, who led her teams to a string of regional titles, and Ashley Cox, who has coached numerous Boldmere Swimming Club members to City of Birmingham level and even – in the cases of Ellie Simmonds and Tully Kearney – international stardom.

The Sportology Senior Team of the Year award went to Sutton Coldfield Hockey Club ladies firsts who won promotion to the National Premier and also reached the last four of the National Cup.

Unlucky to miss out were Sutton RFC's first team, who won the Warwickshire Cup, and Sutton United FC, unbeaten from September 2009 to November 2011.

Another hard category saw Boldmere Swimming Club lift the Tamworth Audi Club of the Year award, just edging out Sutton's rugby and hockey clubs.

The Gemini Lifetime Achievement award went to Sutton Coldfield Golf Club's Sylvia Evans, who has been at the club for 43 years and has helped so many progress.

Honourable mentions went to Ken Buswell of Streetly Tennis Club, who has reached 55 national veterans finals in a great career and also captained GB, and Sutton United chairman Michael Long who has taken on every conceivable club role in his 31 years there.

The Green & Co Sports_person of the Year with a Physical or Learning Disability went to swimmer Tully Kearney, who broke British, European and World records in 2011.

Footballer David Howles and wheelchair footballer Jonathan Morley were also shortlisted.

Female Sports Personality of the Year, sponsored by the Observer, was an all-hockey affair with Sutton Ladies firsts goalkeeper Becky Batsford just edging out team-mate and top scorer Vicky Woolford and last year's winner, Great Britain ace Laura Unsworth.

The Eltom Print Male Sports Personality of the Year honour went to cycle speedway star Paul Heard, who helped GB to World Cup success in the US.

He held off competition from UK Formula Vee motor racing champion Martin Farmer and ex-Sutton RFC ace Alex White whose displays for the side earned him a professional contract at national league side Birmingham & Solihull.

Wyndley-based Body Beat danced on the night.