EXPERIENCE won the day at this year's annual sports awards with Colin Tattersall and Pat Siderfin claiming the male and female Sports Personalities of the Year.

The pair, who coach youngsters in rugby and cricket respectively, picked up the top awards at the Wycombe and Marlow Area Sports Council awards ceremony at Adams Park on Friday evening.

It is the first year the awards, which are voted for by readers of Midweek's sister paper the Bucks Free Press, have been opened up to coaches as well as athletes.

The contribution both have made to their respective sports made them clear winners.

Tattersall, sports master at Wycombe's Royal Grammar School, has guided his pupils to three consecutive Twickenham finals in the Daily Mail Schools Cup. The teacher has also seen several of his former charges receive national call-ups, including Matt Dawson and Nick Beal.

Siderfin has been prominent in promoting women's and girls cricket in Bucks for a number of years. She first took up the game in 1945.

Asked what keeps her going, Siderfin admitted: "It's the competitive edge. If there's a chance of getting in on things then it's irresistible."

Male Sports Personality

of the Year: Colin Tattersall - rugby

Female Sports Personality

of the Year:Pat Siderfin - cricket

Boys under-12 years (sponsor WDC): Ryan Tackley - Hughenden Valley Football Club

Girls U12 years (sponsor WDC): Claire Knapp - Micklefield Judo Club

Boys 12-15 years (sponsor Verco Office Furniture): Thomas Smith - Stokenchurch Judo Club

Girls 12-15-years (sponsor Verco Office Furniture): Penny Jeffreys - South Bucks Netball Association

Boys 15-18 years (sponsor Walters Microsystems): Martin Freeman - HW Cycling Club

Girls 15-18 years (sponsor Walters Microsystems):Laura Patterson -Wycombe Phoenix Harriers Athletics Club

Male over-18 years (sponsor W&MASC): Danny Baxter - HW & District Table Tennis League

Female over-18 years (sponsor W&MASC): Merle Forbes - United Kingdom Karate-Do Federation

Male over-40 years (sponsor WDC): Bill Humphrey - Great Kingshill Cricket Club

Female over-40 years (sponsor WDC): Sylvia Brown - fencing

Disabled male (sponsor WDC): Peter Austen - Wycombe & District Sports Association for the Disabled

Disabled female (sponsor WDC): Mary Connolly - Wycombe & District Sports Association for the Disabled

Team of the year

(sponsor W&MASC):Women's Coxless Four (Alex Bevis, Sue Walters, Liz Ayre) - Marlow Rowing Club

Debbie Beale Award (sponsor Kawasaki Motors Ltd):

Luke Hnat - Bourne End Junior Sports Club

Bill Wells Award - Service to Sport (sponsor W&MASC):

Liz Hutton - Bourne End Junior Sports Club

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