OLYMPIAN Jade Faulkner and Paralympian Aaron Moores were amongst the winners as the Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Awards honoured athletes, sports clubs, volunteers and coaches across the region.

The awards ceremony, held on Thursday night at the Steam Museum in Swindon, was hosted by former England rugby captain Phil de Glanville and included performances from the award-winning Esprit Gymnastics Display Team and Junior World Fencing Champion Philip Marsh.

Winter Olympics silver medalist and 2012 skeleton bob World Cup champion Shelley Rudman also attended the event and gave an inspiring talk about her career, on a night when the winners of 13 categories were announced along with winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Sport in Wiltshire awards.

Rudman said: “Being an athlete takes so much commitment and hard work but you also need a strong network of coaches and clubs to help you reach your goals. The awards are a great way to recognise the hard work of so many people involved in sport in Wiltshire.”

Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott added: “The evening showcased the exceptional talent and hard work of athletes and the dedication of sports clubs, volunteers and coaches.

“Sport plays a major part in our health and wellbeing and, following on from the success of this year’s London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we hope that many more people will be inspired to try out a new sport or become involved in sporting clubs.”

A number of the award winners from the event will be put forward for the BBC Sports Personality’s Unsung Hero and the Sports Coach UK awards later in the year, and Coun Keith Williams , Swindon Borough Council ’s cabinet member for leisure, said: “What a fantastic way to celebrate the enormous talent that we have across Wiltshire and Swindon. Sport is a great way of bringing communities and individuals together and events like the sports awards are perfect for highlighting this.”