A NEW batch of Gwent sporting heroes were going to be toasted in May only for the coronavirus pandemic to scupper a celebration at Chepstow Racecourse.
Clubs may be faced by uncertainty and individuals are having to train alone, with the prospect of any group action below professional level unlikely for a number of months, but sporting achievements will still be celebrated.
How and when the third edition of the South Wales Argus Sports Awards will take place is not yet clear but nominations remain open with 14 gongs to be dished out.
You can now nominate those that deserve to be recognised for their efforts at southwalesargus.co.uk/sportsawards where there are full descriptions of the categories.
Newport County AFC striker Padraig Amond scored an awards hat-trick in 2019, a year after his manager, Michael Flynn, was the toast of the inaugural ceremony.
Amond's goals in league and cup saw him crowned Exiles player of the year, professional sports personality of the year and the overall sports personality of the year.
But the Irishman wasn't the only one celebrating, with gymnastics, martial arts, rugby, swimming and triathlon also represented on the list of winners.
Wales international Aaron Wainwright – who has had another remarkable year – scooped the Dragons player of the year honour.
Valleys Gymnastics Academy's (VGA) Melissa Anderson received the outstanding services to sport in Gwent award and Cwmbran Otters Swimming Club's Gerald Sims was voted volunteer of the year.
Shauna Morgan succeeded fellow VGA member Bethany Paull as disability sports performer of the year, while mixed martial arts coach Richard Shore was grassroots sports personality of the year.
Heads of the Valleys Tang Soo Do's Angus Rogers came out on top in a hotly contested coach of the year category.
In terms of clubs and teams, Pontypool, who won every game on their way to another Championship title, were deserved winners of the senior team of the year accolade.
VGA's Team Gym boys were junior team of the year (pictured below) and Risc-A-Tri scooped the club of the year prize.
"This year's awards are set out to recognise the true heroes of local sport and to create an event which was one of the main highlights of the sporting calendar locally," said Argus managing director Hussain Bayoomi.
"Local sport is the glue that holds our communities together, providing a foundation for health, fitness and teamwork – a place to identify sporting stars of the future.
"Recognising and honouring the achievements of the countless outstanding contributions to sport is an honour for the South Wales Argus.
"The South Wales Argus are proud to recognise the outstanding contribution to sport from grassroots to professional level, and it is an honour to showcase this through the South Wales Argus Sports Awards of 2020."
AWARD CATEGORIES
Sports Personality of the Year
Professional Sports Personality of the Year
Young Sports Personality of the Year
Grassroots Sports Personality of the Year
Disability Sports Performer of the Year
Outstanding Services to Sport in Gwent
Senior Team of the Year
Junior Team of the Year
Community Club of the Year
Coach of the Year
Junior Coach of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Newport County AFC Player of the Year
Dragons Player of the Year
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here