DAN Rivers, Jack Brooks and Hannah England are the high-profile names in the running for honours at the 2014 Oxfordshire Sports Awards.

The trio head the shortlists for this year’s event, which takes place at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium on Friday, November 28.

The awards, run by the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership with the Oxford Mail as official media partners, showcase the county’s best sporting talent.

Commonwealth Games gold and bronze medal shooter Rivers will compete against Brooks, the leading English bowler in the top flight of cricket’s County Championship this summer, for the sportsman of the year award.

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Ben Watson, who like Rivers hails from Didcot, completes the shortlist after his bronze medal in weightlifting in Glasgow.

England, the 1,500m runner who is a regular at the awards, reached the final at both the Commonwealth Games and European Athletics Championships.

She is in the sportswoman of the year category up against rising motorcycle star Georgina Polden, and Janette Cardy, a 43-year-old who won a silver medal in the World Aquathlon Championships just three years after suffering a stroke.

While some well-known names feature in the shortlists, many other finalists will be unknown to most, ensuring that the awards cover every aspect of sport in the county.

The team of the year sees Oxford City Stars ice hockey side up against Henley Hawks Women Rugby Club and Oxfordshire Men’s tennis side, all of whom impressed greatly when enjoying success in their respective leagues this year.

A total of 18 different sports feature in the 30-strong list of potential award winners.

SHORTLIST

Sportsman of year
Jack Brooks (cricket)
Dan Rivers (shooting)
Ben Watson (weightlifting)

Sportswoman of year
Janette Cardy (aquathlon)

Hannah England (athletics)
Georgina Polden (motorcycling)

Club of year
City of Oxford Swimming Club
Wallingford Netball Club
Zappi’s Cycling Club

Team of year
Henley Hawks Women (rugby)

Oxford City Stars (ice hockey)
Oxfordshire men’s county side (tennis)

Coach of year
Darren Elliott (Oxford City Stars Ice Hockey)
Paula Fontaine (Oxford City Netball)
Mark Howell (Henley Golf)

Junior sportsperson
Alexis Canter (tennis)
Dominic MacLachlan (rugby and hockey)
Jasmine Tranter (racketball/ squash/badminton)

Junior sports team
Bicester Blue Fins Swimming Club
Didcot Girls School under 14 football
Oxfordshire Under 17 cricket team

Disability award
Gabriel Miller (karate)
Beth Simmons (tennis)
Witney Wolves (rugby)

Unsung hero
Tony Betteridge (basketball) Martyn Cross (cricket)
Lesley Killpack (netball)

Young Volunteer
Holly Clack (football)
Lois MacDonald (netball)
Laura Scragg (hockey)
(The shortlist was selected by a judging panel from all teams/individuals nominated)

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