PEDAL power won the day at this year's Bury Metro Sports Gala presentation.

Four of the evening's top awards went to cyclists, including that of Sportsman of the Year, won by Lancashire West Pennine Road Club's John Bunting.

The 43-year-old was the fastest man in the country in his section last season and scored nine victories, eight second places and five third in competition.

He also starred in the World Masters Championship at Manchester Velodrome.

Prolific rider Phil Collins collected the Male Veteran of the Year prize. The 50-year-old performed superbly at the velodrome all year and has put Bury CTC on the map in numerous time trials, setting club records for 10 miles and 25 miles. Junior star Robert Upex was crowned Men's International winner after being selected for the Great Britain training camp in Florida with a view to competing in the 1999 Youth Olympics.

The 15-year-old is the reigning British School National Mountain Bike champion and is ranked number one in both road and track.

After only two years in cycle speedway, Ben Scranage, 12, was the recipient of the Young Sportsman Award to complete a great evening for the sport.

Louise Crolla netted the top women's prize - Sportswoman of the Year.

A former winner at the Bury Metro Awards, she has proved that, with dedication, it is possible to achieve the highest honours.

She was recently selected for the England Under 21 netball squad, with an eye on the 2000 Commonwealth Games, and has become a wordlwide traveller in the sport, competing in Australia and Trinidad and Tobago in 1998.

Radcliffe's Aimi Lightowler skated off with the Young Sportswoman crown while Tracey Neville was named Women's International winner for her efforts in the senior England netball side which won bronze in the Commonwealth Games last year. Table tennis ace Andrea Holt was named Female Veteran of the Year and athlete John Hilton, of Castle Knights, was the winner of the Disabled Sportsman Award.

North Western Trains League battlers Ramsbottom United were this year's Team of the Year.

The awards: Sportsman, John Bunting (cycling); Young Sportsman, Ben Scranage (cycle speedway); Male Veteran, Phil Collins (cycling); Special, Syd Slater (cricket); Sportswoman, Louise Crolla (netball); Young Sportswoman, Aimi Lightowler (roller skate dance); Female Veteran, Andrea Holt (table tennis); Disabled, John Hilton (disabled athletics); Special, Moreen Howard (rounders); Men's International, Robert Upex (cycling); Women's International, Tracey Neville (netball); Team, Ramsbottom Utd (football); Official, Alan Fletcher (cricket); Male Coach, Paul Reay (gymnastics); Female Coach, Karen Young (swimming); Veteran Coach, Terry Nortley (athletics); Greater Manchester Youth Games, Bury Girls Under 12 (football); Community, Derrick Edwards (Ramsbottom Sports Council); Special Service, Cyril Jones (cricket); Sporting Schools, Philips High (all sports); Joe Moon Special Award, Prestwich Heys (football).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.