MORE than 400 people from Bolton's sporting community celebrated a year of success at the De Vere Whites Hotel recently.

Organisers behind the Bolton Active Sports Awards 2014/15 say it was 'the best ever' with such a massive turnout to honour the efforts of teams and individuals across the borough.

There were 11 awards up for grabs and senior sports development officer Neil Hart from Bolton Council's Sport and Active Living department admits it was a great event.

He said: "It has been a great year and the calibre of the nominees was so strong.

"It was nice to see large numbers of contenders in the categories and shows that volunteers work hard and recognises the clubs efforts to help people reach the top.

"We don't always think about the volunteers running the clubs.

"It was also amazing we had lots of different sports such as hockey, dancing and gymnastics there and was nice to see them winning.

"There was a wide range from football to rounders and athletics to triathlon clubs and they all made for a buoyant atmosphere."

Kiera Byland was one of the stars of the show after she won the Disabled Athlete of the Year gong last year and she returned to be one of the guests after winning three gold medals in the Special Olympics in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Hart added: "Kiera was brilliant.

"She deserves everything that she is getting.

"She has worked very hard over the past year and everyone in the room warmed to her and her experiences."

Ex-Farnworth Social Circle youngster Josh Bohannon picked up the top gong of 'Sports Achiever of the Year' beating off some stiff competition from boxers Jack Flatley and Samir Aftab, lacrosse player Ellie Broome, dancer Connor Wells and cheerleader Katie Jackson.

Bohannon hit over 1,000 runs for Lancashire in all forms of cricket to make him the top runs scorer at U17s county level.

Meanwhile, cyclist Kayli English scooped the Disabled Sports Achiever of the Year.

Rosemary Dandy was the Young Volunteer of the Year in recognition of her commitment to Bolton Arena Gymnastics Club.

Geoff Sheelan picked up the Volunteer in Sport of the Year and his work at Westhoughton Lions where he has been for the past eight years.

Bolton Trampoline Club's Emma Spurling had a spring in her step after being crowned the Unsung Hero in sport.

The instructor/coach of the year was Tracey Jackson from Bolton Majorettes.

Bolton Triathlon Club junior section were the Junior Sports Team achievement winners while the senior award was picked up by Roydon Hockey Team A.

Bolton Gymnastics Club were named the Club of the Year.

Ann Collier was also one of the winners for the Changing Lifestyle Recognition award while the Liam Chronnell Memorial Trophy which is an award created by the Bolton News to be presented to a volunteer in boxing was given to David Longhorne from Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Carole Swarbrick said: "We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of all Bolton's athletes, volunteers and all people involved in making Bolton's landscape great.

"(At this event) We showed how proud we are of all their fantastic achievements.

"We were here to celebrate the achievements of all athletes from local and regional to international and Olympic level they set an example to us all.

"And it's not just those on the track who we were here to celebrate but those who work behind the scenes to make it happen, the volunteers, coaches, managers, mentors and organisers."

Meanwhile Cllr Ebrahim Adia, executive cabinet member for sport, said: "2014 has been another fantastic year for the sport and we have seen many sporting events returning to Bolton like Ironman UK, Ironkids, Skyride and new events like the Strength Games.

"Bolton is becoming the place to host national events and this is made easier with the support from all of you.

"From local events to the Commonwealth Games, this year has inspired many individuals to take up the sport and Bolton is fortunate to have many individuals that give up their time to create opportunities at different levels."

Awards and nominees: Sports Achiever of the Year: Connor Wells, Katie Jackson, Ellie Broome, Josh Bohannon, Jack Flatley, Samir Aftab; Disabled Achiever of the Year: Stewart Cameron, Kayli English, Kendal Brown, Craig Hart, Dylan Warburton, Samantha McGuffie, Dan Aldred, Chris Middleton, Ben Hodgson, Andrew Worthington, Georgia Collett; Changing Lifestyle Recognition: William Darroch, Glenn Wallwork, Timothy Skipworth, Lesley McCormick, Magda Ziane, Chioma Nwali, Stacy Friend; Young Volunteer of the Year: Lewis McLaren, Amir Williams, Sam Williams, Rosemary Dandy, James Beamish, Sophie Barclay, Kieran Blackburn, Josh Taylor, Priya Narsai, Pat Duckworth, Mark Bolton, Sean Leadbeater, Laura Peacock, Darren Grimshaw, Geoff Sheelan, Scott Lythgow, Wadey Khan; Unsung Hero: Pat Duckworth, Ray Schofield, Dawn Dawson, Emma Spurling, Minaxi Patel, Bolton Hot Wheels 'Founding Members', Prabha Halai, Sofia Khan; Instructor/Coach of the Year: Paul Daley, Paul Smith, Laura Hilton, Ras Muhammad, Jenni Cavanagh, Tony Grindley, Kieran Farrell, Nicola Stott, Alicia-Paris Fairclough, Anji Devi, Tracey Jackson; Junior Sports Team Achievement: Hunters Cheerleading Juniors, Bolton School U18s Water-Polo, Seven Stars Gems, Westhoughton Lions U10s, Bolton Triathlon Club Juniors, Bolton Nomads; Senior Sports Team: Seven Stars Goonies, Roydon Hockey Team A, LLSC Rounders A team, BSF Ladies Rounders League Golden Girls Interleague side, Thornleigh FC; Club/Class of the Year: Theatre Dance School, Bolton Majorettes, Bolton Gymnastics Club, Haulgh Premier Boxing Club, Horwich ABA, BL5K, Bolton Arena Gym Club, North West Warriors Martial Arts and Fitness Centre, Bolton Trampoline Club, BSF Ladies Rounders League, Team Deane Triathlon Club; Liam Chronnell Memorial Trophy: Dave Longhorne.