Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton is the toast of the region after claiming the highest accolade in the BBC East Sports Awards 2007.
The announcement was made at the award's presentation evening at Duxford near Cambridge on Monday 12 November.
Set up to recognise the achievements of sportsmen and women across the Look East region, it also pays tribute to the work of volunteers who help run sports clubs and training sessions.
Tim Bishop, head of BBC East, said: "It’s great to see so many sports men and women representing their sports.
"As we look forward to the Olympics coming to the UK, we intend as a region to build on that sense of excitement, passion and commitment to promote the benefits of sport across the region, and try to encourage everyone to take part in some way."
Results
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
Sports Editors' Team of the Year
King's Lynn Stars
Kings Lynn Speedway re-wrote the record books last year with a hat-trick of title wins: British Premier League, Knockout Cup and Premier Trophy.
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
Coach of the Year
Jim McKenna
Already a winner of the UK Athletics award for Podium coach, Jim has helped young athletes like Chris Clarke who is now described as the new Michael Johnson
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
Disabled Sports Personality
Lauren Steadman
Lauren hopes to be in the British team in Beijing having been selected to represent Britain at the Danish Open in March this year.
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
Young Sports Personality of the Year
Leigh Greenan
Leigh started playing basketball 18 months ago but is now reckoned to be a banker for the British tam in 2012.
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
Community Club of the Year
Letchworth Tennis Club
One of only six clubs selected to send children for the opening of the National Tennis Centre, Letchworth Tennis Club, has important links with local schools and played host to the first ever Hertfordshire Schools Disability Festival.
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
Sport England Young Community Volunteer
Tom Woodrow
Aged 16 from Gorleston, Norfolk, Tom is a qualified referee and spends five hours a week teaching children football techniques.
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
Lifetime Achievement Award
Mick Gault
Mick Gault won 15 medals in four games – including gold in the 25m standard pistol pairs in Melbourne last year – and has now beaten Karen Pickering’s record medal tally of 13 medals including four gold in the Commonwealth Games.
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
Sporting Achievement
Louis Smith
Louis, aged 18, won silver in the all-round competition element of the Australian Youth Olympics in Sydney in January this year and that feat was preceded by a gold medal at the same event in the men’s pommel-horse.
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
BBC Sports Unsung Hero
Paul Webb
Described as an exceptional role model to young people Paul has dedicated his life to providing affordable sporting activity for young people in deprived areas. He has helped the community set up and run three boxing clubs giving people in the area around Luton and Dunstable the opportunity to engage in sport
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
BBC East Sports Personality of the Year
Lewis Hamilton
A man who has taken the F1 world by storm Lewis drives for Maclaren and led the drivers championships until the very last race in his rookie year – no one has ever won the title in their first season.
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
BBC East Sports Personality of the Year
2nd place
Louis Smith
On top of the aforementioned, Louis competed in Grand Prix events all over the world and came fifth in the World Cup event at Brazil.
BBC East Sports Awards 2007
BBC East Sports Personality of the Year
3rd place
Ann Thomas
Ann represented Great Britain for the past 3 years in powerlifting. This year she retained her national and European titles and increased her own personal record to 131kgs. Her success this last year has never been equalled by a British lifter
