KIDDERMINSTER swimming star Todd Cooper will be keynote speaker at the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sports Partnership awards.

The butterfly swimmer will be welcomed by Sports Partnership director Steve Brewster at Sixways Stadium on Thursday, March 18.

His attendance as guest speaker is the latest in a list of high profile sports people to attend the awards; last year it welcomed Sascha Kindred OBE, a paralympic gold medal winner and world record holder who will also be in attendance this year.

Cooper has represented Great Britain twice at the Olympics – 2004 and 2008; he has also taken part in two World Championships, seven European Championships and two Commonwealth Games.

In the 100m butterfly Olympic trials of 2008 he scored a personal best in the final and qualified for Beijing.

Brewster said: “It’s fantastic news for us to announce Todd Cooper as our keynote speaker; he is an absolute inspiration not only to swimmers but to sports people from all disciplines.

“His dedication, persistence and focus has resulted in him representing Britain at many of the world’s most elite sporting events. We are justifiably proud of Todd – especially as he was born locally.”

A bumper crop of seven winners from Wyre Forest District Council’s sport awards have also been selected to compete in the county-wide event.

Tom Walker and sister Kate, from Samurai Judo Club, are vying for the senior men’s and women’s sports awards respectively.

Carla Link is in the running for the junior sportswoman accolade, while Stourport Hockey Club coach Mark Moss is in line for the coach of the year prize.

Stourport’s under-18s team have been shortlisted in the junior team section.

Kidderminster and Stourport AC are in contention for the community sports award, while Richard Warder has been put through for the volunteer of the year.