BILL Smith paid tribute to volunteer staff after being named winner of the Unsung Hero category at last night’s Team Ipswich Sports Awards.

BILL Smith paid tribute to volunteer staff after being named winner of the Unsung Hero category at last night’s Team Ipswich Sports Awards.

Smith’s motivation and organisational abilities have led to hundreds of disabled children being able to experience the joys of sailing through the East Anglian Sailing Trust.

But Smith, who is a trustee, deflected praise from his own achievements when he said: “This award is really a tribute to the 70 volunteers who make the East Anglian Sailing Trust work. They provide unbelievable help and assistance.”

Smith was one of ten winners to be honoured at the awards, which are organised by Team Ipswich in conjunction with the Evening Star and Ipswich Town’s Charitable Trust.

The judging panel for the awards, which were held in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite at Ipswich Town Football Club, said they had received some outstanding nominations in both the junior and senior individual sports personality categories.

The Sian Ryan Young Sports Personality of the Year category was won by javelin thrower Matti Mortimore, 17, who is now ranked second in the world for his age after breaking the 70-metre mark for the first time.

The award, named in memory of the talented tennis player and goalkeeper Sian Ryan who was killed in a car crash last year aged just 16, was presented by her father Mike to Matti’s mother Johanna.

Matti was unable to attend as he is studying at Loughborough University, but after his mother broke the news to him in a phone call he told the Evening Star that he did not expect to win but was delighted to do so.

The Club of the Year category was won by Christchurch Ladies whose hockey and netball teams have shown tremendous strength in depth with outstanding performances from not just the first teams, but also the second teams and juniors.

Ipswich Tomcats Under-14 Boys’ basketball team, who have won 42 of their last 45 games, were named Junior Team of the Year.

Ipswich JAFFA’s Clive Sparkes, who coaches Sports Personality of the Year winner Helen Decker, was named Coach of the Year for his ability to treat each athlete as an individual and a potential champion whether they are competing at international or local level.

Eighteen-year-old Lee Wilcox, who returned to playing competitive football just four weeks after leaving hospital where he had undergone intensive treatment after being diagnosed with cancer and given a 50-50 chance of survival, won the Triumph Over Adversity Award but was not there to receive his accolade.

The evening was hosted by radio presenter Nick Pandolfi in the absence of Karen Pickering, sports ambassador for Ipswich, who is in India as part of the BBC commentary team.

All last night’s winners automatically go forward to the Suffolk Sports Personality of the Year awards taking place at Trinity Park on the outskirts of Ipswich on Sunday, October 17.

Award winners

School of the Year Award: Morland Primary School.

Innovative Project Award: Ipswich & South Suffolk School Partnership.

Contribution to Disability Award: Daniel Thorrington.

Junior Team of the Year: Ipswich Tomcats Under-14 Boys’ Basketball Team.

Triumph Over Adversity Award: Lee Wilcox.

Club of the Year Award: Christchurch Ladies’ Club of Ipswich.

Unsung Hero Award: Bill Smith.

Coach of the Year: Clive Sparkes.

Sian Ryan Young Sports Personality of the Year Award: Matti Mortimore.

Sports Personality of the Year: Helen Decker.