Sport Features

British Speedway Champion Chris "Bomber" Harris was first across the line once again on Sunday 2nd December, when he was voted BBC Midlands Sports Personality of the Year.

Chris Harris Sports Personality of the Year

The Coventry Bees rider and British Grand Prix winner beat the Aston Villa and England footballer Gareth Barry into second place, with Birchfield Heptathlete Kelly Sotherton third.

Completing a golden evening for Harris, Coventry Bees collected the Team of the Year Award, recognising their triple-trophy winning season.

There was some consolation for both Barry and Sotherton; Barry won the Footballer Award for a second successive year while Sotherton received the Sportswoman of the Year Award.

Michael Kightly and Don Goodman

Birmingham's Frankie Gavin who recently became the the first ever British boxer to win a World Amateur title was rewarded with the Sportsman of the Year.

And the 25th Anniversary of Aston Villa's European Cup triumph was recognised when six of the players were honoured with the Hall of Fame Award.

Aston Villa European Cup Team 1982

Brian Buck, who for over 50 years has been the heartbeat of Sandwell Cycle Speedway Club, won the Sports Unsung Hero Award.

And Michael Kightly won the BBC Local Radio Breakthrough award.

Other awards

Other awards presented at the National Motorcycle Museum near Solihull were:

*Special Achievement: Ryan Farrington (Birchfield Harriers)
*Young Sportswoman: Jess Varnish
*Young sportsman: Joe Costello
*Junior Team: Harpfield FC Under13s from Staffordshire
*Disabled Sports Person: Sascha Kindred & Nyree Lewis (Paralympic swimmers from Leominster)
*Young Disabled Sports Person: Jordanne Whiley
*BBC Local Radio Breakthrough: Michael Kightly (Wolves) and Herefordshire motorcyclist Chaz Davies
*Power of Sport: Telford Sports, Learning and Enterprise Community