EXCELLENCE in local sport deserves to be celebrated and here at the Advertiser that is exactly what we plan to do.

CLICK HERE TO SEE VOTING INFORMATION

The third annual Swindon Advertiser Sports Awards of the Year will take place next month and a raft of stars will descend on Blunsdon House Hotel for a glittering ceremony, with the winners being decided based on the votes of readers.

No less than 11 categories will be represented as a wide variety of local figures are honoured from all levels of the pyramid - sportsman, sportswoman, young sportsman, young sportswoman, team, young team, coach, performance, lifetime achievement, sports personality and grassroots unsung hero.

Sportsmen and women who have competed at the Olympics are nominated, as are those involved in non-league football, making this a truly democratised awards ceremony.

Household names such as Swindon Town’s Matt Ritchie and rowing’s London 2012 gold medallist Pete Reed are joined by rising darts star Johnny Haines and horse racing legend Nicky Henderson, and that is just a small number of the total sports represented. Speedway, rhythmic gymnastics, cricket, golf and athletics are also on the coveted list after the Adver sportsdesk spent hours debating the various nominations.

It promises to be a memorable night, full coverage of which will appear in the newspaper so you can see whether your favourites triumphed.