Grant Jones

IMPRESSIVE performances abroad and at home means Samurai Judo Club's Grant Jones has floored allcomers to be named Wyre Forest's senior sportsman of the year. The 18-year-old fighter won a host of medals in 2007 and topped off a brilliant year by winning a place in the British Cadet Squad. His greatest achievement in the year was to win a silver medal at the British Junior National Championships, where he produced a series of impressive wins to make the final. Last year proved to be the one where Jones, who has been with Samurai for eight years, made his breakthrough to a higher level. He also won two gold medals at the Sasakawa Open and silver at the Welsh Open. In Europe he more than matched some tough opposition to finish fifth at the Ingelmunster International Open in Belgium and seventh at the Venray tournament in Holland. Jones trains twice a week and is highly regarded because of his thoughtful approach to his clubmates.

Tom Walker

RISING star Tom Walker has come on leaps and bounds to be named junior sportsman of 2007. The Samurai Judo Club fighter, 16, got the better of more experienced opponents, despite his age, to become one of Britain's best fighters. He demonstrated his potential when he earned his first dan blackbelt at the age of 15, defeating three adult men in the process. The fighter has made impressive progress and won a bronze medal at the British Junior National Championships and qualified for a place in the national team's cadet squad. He also clinched golds at Samurai's high grades open, Worcestershire Inter-Counties tournament and at the Ingelmunster International Open in Belgium. In Europe, Walker won every contest to secure a bronze at the Portuguese National Team Championships. A committed trainer with unshakeable self-belief, he has worked hard on his skills and power over the last 12 months.

Emily Powell

TSUNAMI Karate Club's Emily Powell is senior sportswoman for 2007 after winning three medals at the Kimura Shukokai European Championships. The 19-year-old from Bewdley beat all-comers in Sweden to clinch the medals, winning the 18-20 individual kata, team fighting and team kata categories. Powell, who is studying at the University of Worcester, trains four times a week with her club and once a month with the Great Britain squad and also regularly attends courses up and down the country. Her hope is to represent her country at the London 2012 Olympics, if the IOC name karate as an Olympic sport. Mother Diane Powell said: "It's great to see Emily's efforts recognised. There are so many martial arts clubs vying for recognition but she has had a truly outstanding year."

Amy Radford

STOURPORT Fencing Club member Amy Radford has been making her point as one of the youngest up-and-coming stars in 2007, and is junior sportswoman of the year. The 13-year-old is the youngest fencer in the British rankings after a brilliant last 12 months secured 23rd place. The Hagley High School pupil, coached for three years by Nick Chapman, started last year by winning the Leon Paul under-13s foil and epee series and then made a seamless transition up the age-groups in no time at all. Radford came second in the under-17s British Champions Epee competition and such was her maturity and skills she began to compete in the senior section against the country's best competitors. She earned important ranking points by finishing third in the Shropshire Open and second in the Leicester Open. She then finished eighth out of a very strong field of 114 competitors at the Welsh Open. Her success, hard work and determination has also seen Radford selected for the national cadet potential programme. The young fencer also competes up and down the country three times a month. "I am the underdog when I am up against more experienced opponents, but this gives me the advantage," said Amy. "Last year was my best yet and it feels good to get some recognition."

Nick Lewis

NICK Lewis is such a safe pair of hands with promising hockey goalkeepers that he has been named coach of the year. The Stourport Hockey Club official, 49, has been an integral part of the Midlands coaching set-up and has helped advise and guide many up-and-coming keepers. At international level Lewis selected keepers for the Great Britain girls' under-21 squad, which won the Youth Olympics gold in Australia. He has advised and guided the regional girls' side at under-15 and 17 levels and was involved with England under-18s. Lewis was assistant coach for the Midlands under-15s team, which won gold at the regional tournament four years in a row. During his time with the team Lewis has coached players who have gone on to represent Wales, England and Scotland. He has gone from strength-to-strength since setting up a county goalkeeping academy in 2005 and is currently working with 20 promising hopefuls aged between 10 and 14. Lewis is also working with keepers from Scotland under-21s, and Wales under-18s and under-16s squads. Currently he coaches at Stourport and is inspired by the club's legendary shot-stopper Tony Talbot.

Samurai Judo Club

CONTINUED success in 2007 means Samurai Judo Club defeated the opposition to win the sports club of the year award again. Samurai, which boasts 140 members, has seen rising stars such as Kate Walker, Kelly Edwards, Sarah Biles and many more win medals at home and abroad in the last 12 months. Walker and Edwards, who was voted Shuttle Online's 2007 Sports Personality, sealed a brilliant year at the British Senior and Junior Trials by winning two gold medals each. Fighters ensured the club's national standing by winning medals at the Heart of England and British Junior National Championships. Members from Samurai also helped Worcestershire dominate the BJC Inter-County competition, securing a brace of gold and silver. The club's junior section is also blooming, with members-turned-coaches, Alison Lane, Stuart Lane, Rachael Griffiths and Andy Marston ensuring youngsters are looked after as they progress through their age-groups. Founder Andrew Haffner said: "I think 2007 has been a continuation of our success. The club is building every year and our fighters seem to get stronger as the years go by."

Wyre Forest Gymnastic School

WYRE Forest Gymnastic School has continued to strengthen links with district schools in 2007 and has earned the community sports award. During the last 12 months, coaches Susan Perks, Louise Hodges and Lindsay Parsons have worked hard at schools in the area to introduce the sport to hundreds of girls who otherwise would not have had a chance to take part. The club, based at Baxter College in Kidderminster, has over 350 members and is always eager to welcome more young gymnasts into the fold. School founder Ann Combes said: "This award recognises the hard work of the coaches, who have spread the word about gymnastics far and wide to children."

Sophie Lane

WORCESTERSHIRE Special Olympian Sophie Lane's impressive performance at the World Summer Games was enough to see her win the disabled sports personality award for 2007. The 14-year-old Baxter College student won a silver overall in the gymnastics section of the tournament while representing Great Britain. Lane, who has autism, also excelled when she won gold in the beam section, secured silver with an impressive floor show and sealed bronze in the vault category. She also won three medals at the National Athletics Championships in September. Mum Kate Lane said: "Sophie had been building up to the Summer Games and it was great to see it all come together for her. She had a really good 2007 and it's wonderful to see her efforts recognised."

Peter Lloyd

ROWING coach Peter Lloyd has watched the effect of his work with children ripple outwards to earn the volunteer-of-the-year award. The 60-year-old Stourport Boat Club coach guides students from the age of 11. He teaches basic skills to newcomers to the sport, and instills in them a passion for rowing that continues to burn brightly throughout their lives. He is currently working with 20 students from Stourport High School and coaches four nights a week on the River Severn in order to give them the platform to develop their skills. After retiring from competitive rowing in the 1970s, the Stourport resident coached 18-year-olds, before taking on the juniors seven years ago. He gives those new to the sport a good grounding in safety and attends competitions to support them. "I coach because I love working with children and get a great feeling of satisfaction from their progression," said Mr Lloyd. "Many of the juniors I have worked with go onto university and join clubs around the country, which promotes the club's reputation."

Wribbenhall School

AN eight-strong group of rowers from Wribbenhall Middle School made a splash on an indoor rowing machine to win the school sports award. The group of Year 7 pupils, who are now at Bewdley High School after Wribbenhall was closed down as part of the district's restructuring last year, won the Concept 2 National Schools Indoor Championships. The students trained for 10 weeks with Bewdley Rowing Club's Sarah Hough to get them in shape for the six-month competition and gave up their own time to compete in a series of testing time trials. Former Wribbenhall sports co-ordinator Joseph Lindley said: "The boys worked very hard to win this event. Every now and again another team would overtake us but that just motivated us more to win. The lads were determined and dedicated and it's great to see them get recognition." Rowing places: The Year 7 indoor rowing team from Wribbenhall Middle School: Back row (left to right): Jack Chase, Chris Beddall, Richard Jones. Middle row: Mathew Leedham, Josh Sidnell, James Howard Jones, Josh Harwood. Front row: Jim Tildesley and Dexter Lawley.

David Yardley

THE dedication of Chaddesley Corbett Sports Club treasurer David Yardley has been recognised as he will receive the award for his outstanding contribution to sport. The Kidderminster resident has been a key figure at the club, which was formed in 1979, and is in his second spell as treasurer. During his time with the organisation, which incorporates, football, cricket, hockey and rugby teams, he has held almost every important position and continues to be the heartbeat of the Fox Lane outfit. He has organised fund-raising events, co-ordinated the building of an extension of the clubhouse bar, and has always been available to steady the ship in difficult times. The 63-year-old, who is a manager at Kidderminster carpet firm Brintons, has been involved with the football and cricket clubs for over 50 years and has watched the young rugby club's junior section flourish. "When I heard I had been nominated and won the award it came as a total surprise to me," said Mr Yardley. "It's nice to know that people appreciate the time and effort that a person has put in. "I have watched the club come on leaps and bounds over the decades and the junior sections of all departments have really caught on."

Wyre Forest Swimming Club

A BRILLIANT series of gala wins and promotion saw Wyre Forest Swimming Club win the junior team of the year award. The club's juniors won nine out of 10 galas and promotion to the Nuneaton League Division One after victory in the final. The swimmers also reached the final of the Ross Junior League, where they were narrowly edged out. Chairman Peter Barnett believes the club's unprecedented success was down to a new training programme, which has got the best out of its 180-strong junior section. "The new training techniques we've introduced have made a big difference and have meant a brilliant year for the club. "It means a lot to have the achievements of our dedicated group recognised." Members keep themselves in the swim by training at Stourport Sports Centre and Holy Trinity School between two and six times a week.