Deanna, Kate and Alex nominated for sports awards

Deanna Cooper from Teynham and Kate and Alex Walker from Faversham are among the nominees for the Active Swale Sports Awards 2011 which will be presented at the Abbey School in Faversham on Friday December 2.

The community sports awards recognise the breadth of enthusiasm, talent and commitment found among Swale's sportsmen and women.

Eighteen-year-old Deanna not only plays in midfield for Gillingham Football Club ladies but also plays for Kent women's cricket side – and is an under-19 international in both sports. 

Alex and Kate are both middle-distance runners who met at the 2005 World Transplant Games; Alex had a heart transplant in 1987 and Kate had a liver transplant in 1996 (see their story on the This Is Kent website). They both represented the UK at this year's world games in Sweden.

Sittingbourne MP Gordon Henderson will be announcing the awards at the ceremony which starts at 7pm; highlights of the evening include a demonstration from the Faversham Gymnastics Club and a performance by the Abbey School dance group.

The following shortlists have been chosen for the eight award categories from the 87 nominations submitted:

Senior sports performer of the year

Deanna Cooper – England under-19 international at both cricket and football

Amy Banes – England indoor bowls international

Nick Bayntum – English and British taekwondo champion

Junior sports performer of the year

Sean Molloy – Kent, south of England, English schools, UK schools, national under-15 champion at 800 metres 

Jessica Gregory – Kent ladies and Kent schools golf champion

Shannara Harrild – English squad judo champion, Asda sporting champion

Senior disability sports performer of the year

Steve Brown – GB wheelchair rugby captain, Sky Sports scholar, Sky Sports Living for Sports mentor

Kate Walker – gold, silver and bronze medallist at World Transplant Games, three silvers at British Transplant Games

Paul German – two bronzes in mens and mixed doubles badminton

Alex Walker – three silvers at British Transplant Games

Junior disability sports performer of the year

Ross Wilson – GB Paralympic squad, bronze at British open, silver at European championship table tennis

Jamie Allderdice – Kent schools archery champion

Lewis Mannering – Kent schools archery champion

Unsung hero/volunteer of the year

Lorraine Elgar – highest-qualified female cricket official in country

Steve Parker – Inspiration behind Upchurch CC redevelopment, groundsman, coach, third-XI captain

Mark Rogers – Sheppey Sunday League secretary

Coach/manager of the year

Peter Olliver – Sheppey Rugby Club first-XV coach (won promotion to SE League Three from Kent One; Kent Vase winners)

Ian Baldock – Kent under-15s cricket coach

John Williams – inspiration behind Swale Gloves (two female ABA champions)

Sports club of the year

Upchurch CC – Kent League Two third place, redeveloped clubhouse into a first-class facility , indoor champions, Doug Wood Cup winners, large junior section with county junior players, national female players.

Sheppey Rugby Club – Kent One champions, Kent Vase winners, National Vase last 16

Sittingbourne & Faversham Taekwondo Club – one world champion, four British champions and seven English champions

Team of the year

Swale Indoor Bowls Club – national under-25 champions

Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club – members Chris Goymer and Jennie Donovan are junior Dart 18 national and world champions

Westlands year-11 girls' football team – Kent champions, national finalists