HERE they are, the shortlist of finalists competing for prizes at this year’s annual Herald Sports Personality of the Year awards.

And you could be there at the Pavilions on Monday, December 1 to see this glittering ceremony unfold.

You still have time to book tickets or a table for Plymouth’s premier sporting celebration.

For information, contact Clair Skelley on 01752 765532.

The Herald awards – now in their seventh season – are firmly established as one of the most important fixtures in Plymouth’s sporting calendar.

This year’s candidates, including Plymouth’s Beijing Olympics heroes, will set the bar even higher in terms of quality and success.

The finalists in the six main categories could hardly be more competitive, reflecting the sporting excellence that Plymouth continues to provide. And this year, in Great Britain’s most successful Olympics for decades, a sporting icon of the highest quality is the guest of honour – Dame Kelly Holmes.

Double gold-winning track legend Dame Kelly will be on stage at the Pavilions and is bound to be impressed by Plymouth’s finest.

Every one of the nominees were commended and voted for by readers of The Herald.

The finalists reflect the high regard that professional and grassroots sportsmen and women are held in their home city.

In addition, The Herald awards also raise much-needed funds, providing help and resources for the next generations of Plymouth’s sporting talent.

The panel of judges were given their most difficult task to date, before deciding on their final shortlist – and one look at the nominees shows why, as each of the seven categories is bursting at the seams with quality.

The identity of the winner will only be revealed on the night – as will the identity of the participant in the winning Champagne Moment.

The six main categories are:

Sports Personality of the Year,

Young Sports Personality, Amateur

Sports Personality, Coach of the

Year, Team of the Year and Outstanding

Contribution.

Last year, Plymouth’s international

diving star Tom Daley carried

off the main award, but the 14-yearold

faces hot competition this time

around from, among others, fellow-

Olympians Cassandra Patten,

Heather Fell and Tonia Couch.

SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: sponsored by Michael Spiers Jewellers:

Tonia Couch

Tom Daley

Heather Fell

Drew Lasker

Cassie Patten

Krisztian Timar

YOUNG SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: sponsored by the University of Plymouth:

Jess Burns

Tom Daley

Heather Knight

Jemma Rose

Rory Warlow

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION: sponsored by Babcock Marine

Keith Donohue

Karen Graddon

Sue Gullick

Nigel Rowe

Dave Smith

Keith White

AMATEUR SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: sponsored by Plymouth Argyle:

Michaela Breeze

James Ellis

Jo Harvey

Corinna Lawrence

Georgina Rozario

David Wetherill

COACH OF THE YEAR: sponsored by A4e

Andy Banks

Robin Brew

Gary Stronach

TEAM OF THE YEAR: sponsored by Devon Pine and Oak

Plymouth Argyle Disability Squad

Plymouth Devils

Plymouth Leander

Plymouth Men’s Volleyball Club

Plymouth Raiders

CHAMPAGNE MOMENT OF THE YEAR: sponsored by VH Graddon & Sons Vending

Ltd

HEATHER FELL winning Olympic silver

CASSIE PATTEN crying after winning

Olympic bronze

TOM DALEY finishing seventh at

the Olympics

TONIA COUCH finishing eighth at

the Olympics

MICHAELA BREEZE overcoming pain

barrier at Olympics

TOM DALEY winning European title

TOM DALEY addressing thousands at

Olympic Parade in Trafalgar Square

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE beating Ian Holloway’s

Leicester City away

PLYMOUTH RAIDERS beating Milton

Keynes in the BBL Trophy