FROM title-winning performances to thumping defeats, our pictures tell the story of a stunning year of sporting action in and around March.

The area’s football teams are in full flow, with March Town United looking to launch a new year challenge in the Ridgeons First Division and Chatteris Town enjoying life in the Kershaw Premier League after netting their first league title in more than 35 years back in May.

The cricketers had a successful summer, with March Town Cricket Club finishing joint fourth in the Tucker Gardner First Division, and the area’s hockey sides are also mounting strong challenges in their leagues.

March Bears Rugby Club are a team building for the future and the side are expected to go from strength to strength next year after the introduction of two first team coaches.

The year has seen the emergence of a host of young sporting talent, with Chatteris boxing sensation Jordan Gill leading the way by being crowned Clubs for Young People British Champion in November.

With scores of memorable efforts also coming in from martial artists, bowlers, snooker players and swimmers, it was March’s Louise Hazel that put in the performance of the year. Her spectacular heptathlon gold medal at the Commonwealth Games typified a breathtaking 2011 for sport in the fens.