Super six in the running for young sports personality

THE six finalists vying to claim this year's Young Sports Personality category at The Herald Awards are as talented as they are ambitious.

The winner from this extremely competitive group will be revealed at next Monday's gala dinner at the Pavilions.

In addition to the winner of the Young Sports category, the victors in the other categories – Sports Personality, Outstanding Contribution, Amateur Sports, Team of the Year and Coach of the Year will be also be announced by The Herald's guest of honour – boxing great Barry McGuigan.

The six finalists represent a range of sports but they have one common feature – excellence.

The teenage half-dozen are cricketer James Burke, swimmer Emma Wilkins, weightlifter Sonny Webster, table tennis player Vicky Smith, wheelchair tennis player Josh Steels and golfer Sam Edwards.

Ivybridge Community College student Edwards claimed his first international call-up in October when he was selected to compete for England in the under-16 age group against Scotland and Ireland.

Against Ireland, Edwards produced some superb golf to win both of his singles matches.

The 16-year-old, who is one of Michaela Breeze's Talented and Gifted élite group of athletes at Ivybridge, also plays for Devon men's first team and is ranked at number one at the under-16 and under-18 age groups.

Edwards also holds the Bigbury course record and now plays off a handicap of plus two.

Another of Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning Breeze's prospects is Webster.

Like his mentor, Webster is a weightlifter with a big future if this year's achievements are any guide.

The 15-year-old weightlifter has seen his stock rise steadily over the past couple of years, thanks in no small part to his own determination and the input of Ivybridge PE teacher Michaela Breeze.

Webster's list of achievements this year includes a second place at the British Under-17 Championships and also representing Great Britain at the European Championships, at the same age category, in Israel. Still part of the World Class Lifting Development squad, Webster's personal best stands at 93kg at snatch and 115kg at clean and jerk in the 69kgs body-weight category.

Another finalist whose profile has been enhanced this year is Plymouth Leander freestyle swimmer Wilkins.

The Plymouth University undergraduate has improved both her reputation as one of the country's best, young swimmers and her chances of competing at the 2012 London Olympics.

Wilkins, who joined Leander and Plymouth College in 2007 on a sports scholarship, is thrilled to be included in the list of finalists for the Young Sports Personality prize.

"I hadn't really been expecting to be nominated so it's a great thrill and very pleasing," said Shropshire born Wilkins.

"It's been a very exciting year for me personally and for that I've got to thank my coach Jon Rudd at Leander and the people who voted for me in The Herald sports awards – so thank you."

Chief among Wilkins' highlights thus far in 2009 is making her debut at the World Championships – which is second only in importance to the Olympic Games.

Wilkins swam well in her heat at the Rome tournament and although she failed to land a semi-final place, her time of 25.81 seconds in the 50m, clinched for her a world ranking position of 36th.

The 18-year-old had qualified for the World Championships after securing a silver medal at the Scottish Nationals.

Wilkins, along with boyfriend and fellow international swimmer, Leander's Antony James, are expected to spearhead GB's bid for medals at the European Championships next month.

Our next candidate in this tough category is also 18-years-old and an international – Millbrook's hugely talented cricketer Burke.

The all-rounder's achievements have won him a full-time contract with Somerset and marked the former Plymouth College student out as very much one to watch out for in the future.

Burke has been a precocious talent since his primary school years and he has gone on to represent Devon at every age level while winning England caps at under-15 to under-19 levels.

At 6ft 4in and 14-plus stones, Burke is hoping to tread the same path as all-rounders Sir Ian Botham – a Somerset and England great – and also Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff.

Burke learned his cricket with Plymstock before joining Sidmouth and Exmouth in Devon's Premier League in order to develop his game.

He is off to Johannesburg in January to continue his cricketing apprenticeship with former South Africa and Somerset opener, Jimmy Cook.

Another star in the making is Steels, whose London Paralympic ambitions have been boosted by the talented wheelchair tennis player's superbly successful 2009.

The 16-year-old, who is part of The Herald's Making A Sporting Difference scheme, claimed the National Wheelchair Tennis Championships' junior doubles title back in May and then showcased his all-round talents with a triple silver medal haul in archery, table tennis and shooting at the National Junior Games.

An Olympic star in waiting is how 13-year-old Plymouth table tennis sensation Smith has been described on more than once occasion.

The Devonport High School for Girls student is also another of the talented athletes in Plymouth to have benefited financially from The Herald sporting initiative.

Monies raised from the annual Sports Personality awards goes towards grassroots sports and both Smith and Steels have gained support this year.

In 2009, Smith has continued to impress – she is in the top five in the national under-15 rankings, the top 20 in the under-18s and is also the top Devon junior.

Smith recently represented England Schools at the British Internationals in Scotland and was invited to join the international squad at a training camp in Croatia over the summer holidays.