COMMONWEALTH Games medallist Laura Halford was named sports personality of the year at the fifth Wiltshire Sports Awards in Trowbridge.

The 2014 awards were jointly hosted by Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Health Improvement Panel, and Wiltshire and Swindon Sport and were sponsored by Landmarc.

Hosted by former England rugby captain Phil de Glanville at County Hall, the event was also attended by special guest Kelly Sotherton, the 2006 Commonwealth champion and 2004 Olympic and 2007 World Championship bronze medallist at heptathlon.

Cricklade's Halford won medals at major rhythmic gymnastics events for both Wales and Great Britain, retaining her all-around individual title at the British Championships and Welsh national title.

She followed up by winning three medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, including silver in the team event, bronze in the all-around individual competition and a bronze in the ball final.

Chippenham's C4 paracyclist Lauren Booth, 13, was named Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Her successes included winning the UCI Youth Omnium Championship and breaking the paracycling senior British record for the women’s C4 flying 200m and C4 500m time trial as well as the world record for the women’s C4 flying 200m.

In September, Booth came second in the flying 200m at the British Championships and became new British champion for the para 500m time trial in 40.654 seconds, a new national record.

The sports personality of the year award for an athlete with a disability went to Box swimmer Stephanie Millward who, at this year's IPC European Championships, won a total of seven medals, including five golds.

The Unsung Hero for the Year was Rebecca Smith, who has volunteered for Bradford on Avon (BOA) Amateur Swimming Club since she was 13.

Marion and Dave Picter won the Long Service to Sport award, having been involved in football for the past 50 years.

With their support, Malmesbury Youth FC was formed in 1989 and now has 200 players and 14 teams.

The duo have also developed a relationship with the local adult team to create a player pathway and encourage the transition from youth to adult football, and have been instrumental in securing the long–term future of the club through the negotiation of a 35-year lease.

Marlborough Youth FC were named sports club of the year, with the AFC Melksham Ability Counts team named most inclusive club of the year.

Other awards went to Chippenham Amateur Swimming Club’s 17-year old-Ben Holloway (young volunteer), Lee Ness, the head sprint coach at City of Salisbury Athletics and Running Club (voluntary coach), rugby and multi-sport coach Jimmy Deane and Durrington pool swim teacher Shaun Green (coach of the year).

Inclusion coach of the year was Colin Baross, who was also recently named the 2014 Wiltshire Athletic Association Coach of the year, whilst young coach of the year was Elly Humphries (cheerleading, Phoenix Stars Cheerleading Club, Salisbury).

Highly commended in the young Vvolunteer of the year category was Calne’s Jordan Hyde, 17, who is part of a group of five young people who have been the driving force in getting a new skate park built in the town.

Ten scholarship grants were also allocated to young sports people competing at a regional or national level in either an Olympic or Paralympic sport, or a sport recognised by Sport England.

Grant awards: Salisbury water polo player Katy Cutler, 13, artistic gymnast Jasmine Frost, 11, from Bradford on Avon, Melksham archer Maxwell Harding, 15, cyclist Pete Kibble, 16, Salisbury athlete Lucy-Jane Matthew, 12, Tisbury sailor Hamish Munro, 16, Langley Burrell BMX rider Jamie Phillips, 11, gymnast Cameron Sinden, 15, from Chapmanslade, Chippenham synchronised swimmer Jessica Smith, 11, Colerne rugby player Joe Thomas, 16.