TWO Fenland sportsmen just missed out on the top honours at Living Sport s annual awards for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The presentation ceremony, at Comberton Performance Centre last Thursday, was attended by about 150 people, including representat

TWO Fenland sportsmen just missed out on the top honours at Living Sport's annual awards for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The presentation ceremony, at Comberton Performance Centre last Thursday, was attended by about 150 people, including representatives or sporting organisations throughout the area and numerous top sports personalities.

'A Celebration of Sport' was the title of the event, sponsored by Archant Ltd, owner of the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard, and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

The two Fen sportsmen pipped at the post for the top honours were Sammy Chambers, of Crown Squash Club at Outwell, and Bill Adamson, of March Cricket Club.

Sammy, runner-up in the Young Sports Personality of the Year section, is currently national number one in the under-17 age group. He is now competing in European events and is striving to represent England in next year's European Championships.

Sammy, who was also nominated in this category last year, has achieved his success by his own initiative and by working during holidays to fund his expenses.

Bill Adamson, competing for the Coach of the Year award, has been a leading light in bringing cricket to youngsters in the community, organising a three-day summer festival for 120 boys and girls and acting as the main coach in the ECB 'Chance to Shine' coaching programme which delivered more than 300 hours of coaching to five local schools.

He has also run Kwik Cricket festivals for primary schools and his overall enthusiasm for the sport has ensured local children can enjoy cricket.

Proceedings began with a display by youngsters of Huntingdon Olympic Gymnastics Club.

Compere was Radio Cambridgeshire presenter Andie Harper. The station's sports presenter, Nick Fairbairn was on hand to conduct a variety of interviews throughout the evening.

Ely-based Goldie Sayers, the Ely-based javelin star, although up for one of the awards, was one of the evening's main speakers. Her topic was the Sporting Champions programme under which top sports stars adopt an ambassadorial role to visit school and community events.

Other speakers included Iain Crichton, chairman of both Living Sport and Peterborough Sports Aid, and James Baddeley, chief executive of Living Sport.

Archant was represented at the awards by Brian Asplin, editor of the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard, who presented the Archant Young Community Volunteer award.

The full list of winners

Unsung hero (sponsored by Advance Performance, Cambridge) - Winner, Dr Hilary Dixon, Huntingdon Olympics Gymnastics Club; runners up, Sally Tippen, Cambridge City Hockey Club; David Cattley, Cokenach Cricket Club and Cambridge County Cricket.

Young Community Volunteer (sponsored by Archant Ltd) - Winner, David Humphrey, Eaton Socon Cricket Club; runners-up Emily Thorpe, Cambridge Disabled Kids Swimming Club; Douglas Green, Cambridge Disabled Kids Swimming Club.

Club of the Year (sponsored by Rigeons) - Winner, Cambridge Dive Team; runners-up, Unity Football Club (run by Peterborough Utd and Peterborough City Council); Peterborough City Rowing Club.

Coach of the Year - Winner, James Etherington, Cambridge Dive Team; runners-up, Ashley Martin, Just Karate, Cambridge; Bill Adamson, March Town Cricket Club.

Sports Performer with a Disability - Winner Lauren Steadman, swimmer, Huntingdon Piranhas; runner-up, Verity Boocock, City of Peterborough Gymnastics Club.

Young Sports Personality (sponsored by Lakeside Lodge Golf Centre, Pidley) -- Winner, Marissa King, Huntingdon Olympic Gymnastics Club; runners-up, Sammy Chambers, Crown Lodge Squash Club, Outwell; Tom Chung, Peterborough City Rowing Club.

Sports Personality of the Year -- Louis Smith, Huntingdon gymnast; runners-up, Georgina Gardiner, Peterborough Area Triathlon Club; Goldie Sayers, Ely athlete.