THE head coach and player at the heart of the historic British and Irish Lions series took the major prizes at the Wales Sport Awards in Cardiff.

Warren Gatland picked up the coach of the year award while Leigh Halfpenny won the public vote to claim the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year accolade for 2013.

Named Lions’ man of the series after he broke the record for scoring the most points in a test series, full-back Halfpenny finished ahead of Gareth Bale, Aled Sion Davies, Non Stanford and Abergavenny’s Becky James in the BBC Cymru Wales vote.

Sport Wales and BBC Cymru Wales joined forces for the first time to create the country’s biggest annual sporting celebration at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.

Team of the year was the Welsh Rugby Union team and a special lifetime achievement award went to former Wales and Spurs football hero Cliff Jones.

Welsh cycling stalwart, Liz Slater from Powys, picked up the volunteer of the year award, while Kat Lovett won the young volunteer of the year title for her work in boosting female football at Treowen Stars in Caerphilly.

Young coach of the year is Sian Lewis, who oversees all business and coaching operations at Neath Afan Gymnastics Club.

The Carwyn James sportsman of the year prize was taken by Cardiff racing driver Matt Parry and Adele Nicoll, the 17-year-old shot putt and discus thrower from Welshpool, won the Carwyn James sportswoman of the year.

Sailing coach Keith Rollinson picked up the award for top coach to disabled people and Newport-based Paul Scarfi was named BBC Cymru Wales Unsung Hero for his volunteer coaching work with the Welsh Dragons team at the Homeless World Cup.

Finally pole vault coach Edward Thompson won the community coach of the year award.