THE search has begun to find Oxfordshire's sporting heroes.

The Oxfordshire Sports Partnership Team is calling for nominations to honour the county's sporting great and good at its inaugural awards.

A ceremony and gala dinner will take place at the Witney Lakes Resort on Friday, March 23, to commemorate the achievements of 2006.

Categories for nominations include club of the year, sports achiever of the year, coach of the year, volunteer of the year and disabled sports performer of the year.

There are also awards aimed at youngsters, with categories for volunteer of the year, sports achiever of the year and disabled sports performer of the year.

The awards encompass all five districts within Oxfordshire and aim to recognise and celebrate the wealth of sporting talent and dedication seen across the county.

Oxford triple jumper Nathan Douglas - who won silver at the European Championships in Gothenburg last year - has already been nominated for the sports achiever of the year award.

Amie Hill, of the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership Team, said: "If you know someone who deserves to be recognised, please nominate them.

"We will be staging a glittering awards ceremony and gala dinner and look forward to welcoming the cream of Oxfordshire's sporting talent."

She added: "The awards are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate sporting talent and dedication to sport by individuals and clubs in Oxfordshire.

"It offers a platform for us all to say thank-you to those people who invest a great deal of time and effort into community sport and achieving success."

Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Oxfordshire Sport website at www.oxfordshiresport.org or email ahill@oxford.gov.uk The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 16.

Ms Hill added: "We are also starting to plan for the 2007 Oxfordshire Sports Awards, which we are aiming to be on a larger scale, linking in with the regional nominations for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2007."

The team is looking for sponsorship for this event. Email Michelle Corbett at mcorbett@oxford.gov.uk if you are interested in sponsorship opportunities.