Olympics – Athens 2004 Olympic Games – Badminton – Mixed Doubles Quarter Final – 16/8/04
Great Britain’s Gail Emms clinches her fist after winning a point
Pic: Action Images / Richard Heathcote

Olympian Gail Emms MBE will visit Preston in March to speak at the Walker Smith Way Sports Awards, in association with Preston Guild Hall Ltd.

Former World Champion and silver medalist at the Athens Olympics, Gail is one of Britain’s most inspiring Olympians. Playing badminton from the age of four, she shaped her career around the sport and has represented her country since 1995.

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Now retired from professional competition, Gail has turned her attentions to sharing the hugely positive impact that sport can have on life and well–being. Gail works as an ambassador for sport, inspiring young people to be more active.

Gail commented on her forthcoming visit: “I am honoured to have been asked to speak at the Preston sports awards. I understand the ceremony is in its tenth year.
“Finding good local talent and nurturing that desire to be the best you can be is priceless. Anything I can do to help inspire athletes is very important to me in my ambassador role.”

Jayne Raven, at event sponsors Walker Smith Way Legal, added: “Gail is the perfect choice to be our guest speaker. Her sporting story will motivate our award nominees and winners to continue with their dedication to sport in Preston.
“As a firm committed to the local community, it’s pleasing to see how the awards have grown. The event is always a huge success and has become a major highlight in the Preston sporting calendar.”

Nominations close on Monday 2 February so this is your last chance to nominate your club, coaches, volunteers or athletes for their commitment, dedication and sporting achievement across the city.

The online form can be found on the council’s website – www.preston.gov.uk/sportsawards and hard copies are available from both Fulwood and West View Climbing leisure centres.

The 10th Preston Sports Awards 2015 takes place on Friday 13 March
For information and tickets for the awards, please e-mail j.simpson@preston.gov.uk or call Preston Council’s Sport and Health Development team on 01772 906182.
Tickets are also available to buy on request from the box office at the Guild Hall (01772 804444) priced at £25 each including raffle ticket (normal surcharges apply)

Nomination categories and their sponsors are:-

Coach of the year (aged 16 years plus) , Sponsor – BMW Bowker
Club of the year, Sponsor – Surridge Sport
Volunteer of the year (Adult – aged over 25 years), Sponsor – Jigsaw Training
Volunteer of the year (Young up to 24 years), Sponsor – Frank Whittle Partnership Architecture
Young Achiever, Sponsor – Millers Taxis (in memory of Sam McCulloch)
Achievement/Performance of the year (male junior), Sponsor – Walker Smith Way Legal
Achievement/Performance of the year (female junior), Sponsor – McDade Roberts
Achievement/Performance of the year (senior), Sponsor – ShoutNetwork.co.uk
Service to Disability sport ,Sponsor – Preston’s College
Team performance of the year (junior team) ,Sponsor – Evolve Document Solutions Ltd
Team performance of the year (senior team), Sponsor – Skiddle.com
School of the year (primary), Sponsor – GB Energy Ltd
School of the year (secondary), Sponsor – Wallwork, Nelson & Johnson
Community organisation of the year, Sponsor – Holiday Inn Preston
Higher/Further education team of the year, Sponsor – Lancashire County Council
Special recognition/service to sport, Sponsor – University of Central Lancashire
Lifetime achievement (doing sport for 20 years plus), Sponsor – John Turner Construction Group

Will you be nominating someone? Let us know in the comments below.