AN INSPIRING coach walked away with an award at a ceremony held at a Premier League football stadium.

Six Basingstoke nominees made the shortlist for the Energise Me Awards 2018, which took place at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton on Thursday last week with Lindsey Andrews, from Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy, winning the Coach of the Year award

Lindsey was recognised for her talent for combining participation and performance coaching - she has coached people to UK and international golds in karate. She also teaches ladies only kickboxing, which has encouraged mothers and grandmothers to get active again.

The awards ceremony, run by Winchester-based charity Energise Me, recognises achievements in sport and physical activity across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Sports TV presenter and broadcaster Michael Kurn hosted the evening, which also featured guest speakers Victoria Gosling OBE and Paralympian Dave Henson MBE.

Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletics Club featured strongly at the event; the club was shortlisted for Club of the Year, Owen Richardson for Senior Sports Person and Liz Flitcroft for Official of the Year.

Also representing Basingstoke were Bishop Challoner School in the School of the Year category and Tom Jackson for Volunteer of the Year.

In her official welcome, Jan Halliday from Energise Me’s board of trustees said: “The stories you are going to hear tonight are truly inspiring and shortlisting was a very difficult

process. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is bursting with talent and commitment to physical activity and sport.”

Energise Me received over 270 nominations, which were narrowed down to a shortlist of 39.