Northamptonshire Success at the BBC East Sports Awards

Sporting achievement in Northamptonshire was honoured again at the BBC East Sport Awards this week as Corby's Olympic gymnast Daniel Keatings crowned an excellent year by winning the Young Sports Personality of the Year, narrowly beating fellow Team-GB member Hollie Avil, who picked up a runners-up prize in the same category.

Successful promotion campaigns were recognised for Kettering Town (football), who won promotion to the National Conference, breaking several records along the way; and Northampton Saints who stormed back into Rugby’s Premiership after a year in Division One. Saint’s coach Jim Mallinder was also named as runner-up in the Coach of the Year category after the team finished the season with an undefeated "perfect" season

Gary Sheppard, who represented Northamptonshire Sport at the Awards, commented:

"The sporting achievements of athletes, clubs and coaches have been honoured by the BBC East Sports awards and Northamptonshire Sport would like to congratulate Daniel Keatings, Hollie Avil, Northampton Saints RFC, Kettering Town Football Club and the Saints Rugby coach Jim Mallinder for all their hard work, dedication and achievements in 2008.  We sincerely hope that 2009 is an equally good year, if not better for all involved with sport in the county"