THE town's sporting heroes were honoured at a special night at Haydock Cricket Club.

The occasion was the St Helens District Sports Council Awards Presentation.

And awards went to:

Rookie Coach of the Year: Kevin Tipene - a sports instructor at the Hurst School, who is a level 3 RL coach and who holds a diploma is sports psychology. He also coaches Haydock Warriors under 13s, St Helens Schools under 13s, South West Lancs Schools under 13s, Saints CIP and the Barla Lancashire under 16s.

The Railtrack Senior Coach: Janice Wilson, a rhythmic gymnast, who is a full time student at Edge Hill College. She has been on the national scene, teaching coaching and judging for 10 years and is a class 2 regional coach.

Junior Sportsman of the Year: Georgina Stoker - a 13-year-old who is number three in the national rankings. She has represented Merseyside and the North West in under 13s, 14s, 15s and 17s championships. She attends national under 14s squad training sessions and competes in national and international competitions.

Certificates of merit in this section went to footballer Kellie-Ann Leyland, Laura Heyes, swimmer Sarah Healey, rhythmic gymnast Kayleigh Salisbury, rugby player Chris Hill and boxer Martin Murray.

Senior Amateur Sportsman: Sue Smith, who has played for Tranmere Rovers Ladies since she was 15. She won her first England cap against Germany in 1997. Last year she was capped against Italy, Norway, Holland, Sweden and Romania. She also played for the Rest of the World against the USA. She recently picked up the AXA Players player of the Year award and the Nationwide International Player of the Year.

Rugby player Kevin Toole received a certificate of merit. Amateur Sports Club: Merseyside Rhythmic Gymnastic Club, which has been in existence for 15 years. It has four judges and three qualified coaches. In the past the club has produced representatives for Great Britain in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. This year the club has both senior and under 14s national champions.

Certificates of merit went to Garswood Saints FC and Newton-le-Willows Cricket Club.

Sports School of the Year: Cowley High - which produced a whole string of individual achievements in hockey, Rugby League, Rugby Union, rounders, football, athletics, judo, swimming and cricket.

Certificates of merit went to: St Theresas RC Primary School and Queens Park School.

Outstanding Contribution to Sport: Terry Arnold - prominent in the Sportshall Championships, and has also coached and organised other events this year, including St Helens Primary Schools Championships. the Primary Schools Indoor Championships and the Primary Schools Cross Country Championships.

He is the team manager for the Years Five, Six and Eight in the Merseyside Youth Games and coaches at St Helens Sutton AC on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Merit certificates went to motor-cyclist Peter Alton, rhythmic gymnasts Kayleigh Salisbury and Phillipa Sloane, rugby player Tim Jonkers and athletics organiser Steve Appleton.

Chief presenter was former Everton and Leeds United star Duncan Mackenzie in a night sponsored by Railtrack.

Other presenters were Mike Fitzjohn, the Merseyside Regional Officer for Sport England, Neil Thomas, MBE. former Olympic and Commonwealth Games gymnast, Dave Robinson, Director of Merseyside Sport, and Jean Stephens, St Helens Sports Development Officer.

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