Nominations are open for the Reading Sport Awards 2024, recognising local sporting heroes for strong performance or exceptional standards.

Always a popular evening in the local calendar, hundreds of residents are to converge on the Hilton Hotel in December to celebrate.

First launched in 1998, the Reading Sports Personality Awards are partnering with Sport in Mind, the UK's leading mental health sports charity, to showcase Reading’s wealth of sporting talent.

There are 12 categories this year, with nominations open until September 20.

The only qualifying criteria is that the nominee(s) must either live in the Borough of Reading or be a pupil at a Reading-based school.

Among the categories are:

  • Improver of the Year
  • Club person of the Year
  • Katie Henderson Memorial Trophy for Commitment to Sport
  • Veteran of the Year
  • Mayor’s Award
  • Helper/ Loyalty Award
  • School Personality of the Year
  • Junior Team of the Year
  • Team of the Year
  • Club of the Year
  • Junior Sports Personality of the Year
  • Sports Personality of the Year (Richard Burns Memorial Trophy)

Cllr Glenn Dennis, Mayor of Reading, said: “The Reading Sports Awards showcases the true dedication and determination of our local sports stars. Some have overcome real difficulties to get where they are and it’s an honour to celebrate their achievements at this annual event.

“I’d like to thank all the awards supporters – Reading Today, Sport in Mind, The Hilton Hotel Reading, Johnny Mowlem and Cherubs Floral Design – without you, it wouldn’t be possible to run these awards, thank you from myself and the organising committee for all your help and support."

Neil Harris, founder and CEO of Sport in Mind, added: “We are delighted to partner with Reading Sports Awards this year. At Sport in Mind, we use sport and physical activity to transform the lives of people struggling with their mental health, and so it is really important to us as an organisation that the power of sport is championed, and that every win should be celebrated.

"The fact that the awards include categories involving schools, junior players and most improved is heavily aligned with what Sport in Mind stands for, and we are incredibly proud to shine a light on the importance of sport for our mental wellbeing for both adults and the youth of today. It is a personally proud moment for me that the awards are celebrating individuals from Reading- the home town of Sport in Mind and where it all started for us as an organisation.”