Who's our sporting greatest? Nominate your favourite stars and unsung heroes

Aug 31 2008

SCOTLAND took to the streets last week to honour our homecoming Olympic heroes.

To nominate, go to www.sundaymailsportsawards.co.uk

You could feel the passion for sport and success flowing in equal measure down Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

And it is that pride we have in our pursuit of glory which is the spark for this year's Sunday Mail Sports Awards. They are back for a third time and again we have teamed up with sportscotland to honour our sporting legends.

And by legends, we don't just mean the Chris Hoys, Sir Alex Fergusons and Andy Murrays taking the country's name around the globe.

They will be recognised, all right, but so will the unsung heroes, the volunteers and the up-and-comers who pour their heart and soul into sport from the grassroots up.

It is up to you, our readers, to tell us who they are, who you want to see up on stage at Glasgow's Hilton Hotel on December 4, a night of true sporting glamour.

And there is a wealth of talent to nominate, from our Beijing success stories such as Hoy, Katherine Grainger, Ross Edgar and David Florence, through to Manchester United boss Ferguson leading his club to a second Champions League triumph, to our golden girl curlers winning the world junior championships back in March.

Scotland had a lean year in golf but coach Bob Torrance, a previous Sunday Mail Sports Awards winner, saw his protege Padraig Harrington pick up his second Open and follow that up with his third major at the USPGA.

In football, Rangers made the UEFA Cup final while Celtic picked up their third title in a row and made the last 16 of the Champions League.

Queen of the South have had a fairytale year, making the Scottish Cup final and playing their first games in Europe.

There was sadness as the country mourned the loss of Celtic legend Tommy Burns and Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell.

Plenty of headlines have been made but only you can tell us about the hidden gems across the playing fields and games halls of the nation, the men and women who give their everything to sport and ask for nothing in return.

The ceremony will be backed by event sponsors sportscotland, who are driving us towards the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Communications chief Ken Miller said: "We're delighted to support these awards again this year because they encompass and reward the whole of sport, from the athletes representing Scotland on the world stage to the unsung heroes working tirelessly on sport in their own communities.

"At sportscotland our main aim is to encourage everyone in Scotland to develop their own involvement in sport.

"This means helping to get more people involved at grassroots level and supporting Scottish athletes so that they can perform to their potential."

Sunday Mail Editor Allan Rennie added: "Scottish sport at its best transforms all our lives.

"How many future gold medallists have been inspired by the likes of Chris Hoy?

"These awards reflect excellence but also acknowledge those unsung heroes who work tirelessly in the background helping our stars achieve their dreams."

And Walter Smith, previous winner of our Sports Personality of the Year award, is delighted to be a contender again this year after leading Rangers to their first European final in 36 years.

He added: "It's a tremendous night to be part of and an even bigger honour to be recognised for your achievements.

"But I'm a great believer that the real heroes of sport in this country are the people who do it for the love of the game, the people who give hundreds of hours of their time to allow us to develop the kind of talent we have.

"I still find it humbling to share a stage with some of the award winners we've seen in the past couple of years."

To book your ticket for the night, phone 0141 309 1438.

SUNDAY EMAIL

g.waddell@sundaymail.co.uk

NOMINATE YOUR SPORTS STARS

HERE'S your chance to vote for your favourite sporting champions. We want to hear about people who have inspired you from global superstars to grassroots heroes, hard-working coaches to outstanding role models. Complete the form below and send it to us by October 15. Winners will be unveiled at a glittering ceremony at Glasgow's Hilton hotel on December 4.

SCOTTISH SPORTS PERSONALITY

2007 winner: Race ace Dario Franchitti was first Scot to win US Indy 500 championship since Jim Clark in 1965.

Sponsor: sportscotland

Your nomination:

SPORT OF THE YEAR

2007 winner: Judy Murray, mother of Andy and Jamie, picked up the award for tennis.

Sponsor: Lloyds TSB Scotland

Your nomination:

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

2007 winner: Awarded posthumously to motorsport legend Colin McRae.

Sponsor: bmi

Your nomination:

COACH/MANAGER OF THE YEAR

2007 winner: Scotland boss Alex McLeish for taking national team to brink of Euro 2008 finals.

Sponsor: William Hill

Your nomination:

TEAM OF THE YEAR

2007 winner: National football team for their heroics against France and Italy in Euro 2008 'group of death'.

Your nomination:

AMATEUR PERFORMANCE

2007 winner: World Championships swimming silver medallist Kirsty Balfour.

Your nomination:

LOCAL HEROES

2007 winner: Coach Jim Robertson, 68, who runs Four Isles Amateur Boxing Club in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

Sponsor: Stirling University

Your nomination:

INSPIRATIONAL PERFORMANCE

2007 winner: Hero James McFadden for his vital goals in the Euro campaign.

Sponsor: Scottish Power

Your nomination: 2007 winner: Mountain biker Ruaridh Cunningham, 18, clinched the junior World Championship.

Your nomination:

SPORTING EVENT OF THE YEAR

2007 winner: Scotland laid on party of a lifetime for Spanish fans at the Uefa Cup final at Hampden.

Sponsor: Event Scotland

Your nomination: