Southampton rowing star James Foad took Senior Sportsman of the Year at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sports Awards last night at St Mary’s stadium.

The former Itchen Imperial rower and London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist scooped the prize for his exploits on the water over the last year in a star-studded ceremony.

The 28-year-old won a silver medal at the World Championships and another two at the World Regatta alongside a European Championships bronze.

“It’s nice to have been recognised for my achievements last year and probably previous years as well,” he said. “It’s also good to see what other people have achieved.”

On his achievements in 2014, he added: “It was probably the best of my World Championships medals.

“Being there was exciting as we set a new British record, which was also the second quickest in the world.”

2014 Commonwealth Games artistic gymnastics gold medallist Kelly Simm was also there to pick up the Senior Sportswoman accolade.

Special guests included England women’s rugby World Cup winner Claire Purdy and darts BDO world champion Scott Mitchell at the event held in the Mick Channon Suite.

Meanwhile, Southampton’s Isaac Fitzgerald won the Outstanding Personal Achievement for his commitment to football.

The eight-year-old won the award after playing football despite undergoing chemotherapy for Leukaemia.

The annual event, which is hosted by Sport Hampshire & IOW, saw squash player, Shane Pletts from Eastleigh, take Senior Disability Sportsperson after becoming the World Team Deaf Squash and World Doubles champion.

New Forest’s Ian Payne scooped the Junior Disability Sportsperson after winning his first senior title and moving up to 25th in the world in wheelchair tennis.

Elsewhere, Eastleigh’s Keith Richardson won Performance Coach and Sophie Collins took the Junior Volunteer award.

Winchester’s Steve Willoughby collected the Senior Volunteer accolade for his work in cycling and skateboarding.

THE WINNERS:

Junior Sportsman: Bradley Sutton, modern pentathlon, Basingstoke  
Junior Sportswoman: Megan Kealy, gymnastics,  Basingstoke 
Junior Disability Sportsperson: Ian Payne, wheelchair tennis, New Forest
Senior Sportsman: James Foad, rowing, Southampton
Senior Sportswoman: Kelly Simm, artistic gymnastics, Eastleigh 
Senior Disability Sportsperson: Shane Pletts, squash, Eastleigh
Master Sportsperson: Brian Tubb, hockey, Eastleigh 
Outstanding Personal Achievement: Isaac Fitzgerald, football, Southampton
Junior Team: Sparsholt College Football
Senior Team: Aldershot, Farnham & District Athletics Club
Participation Coach: Richard Osborne, Portsmouth 
Performance Coach: Keith Richardson, Eastleigh 
Official of the year: Steve Snodden, Basingstoke 
Club of the year: Trojans Hockey Club, Swallows Trampoline Club
London 2012 Legacy Award: Hordle Primary School
Junior Volunteer: Sophie Collins, Eastleigh 
Senior Volunteer: Steve Willoughby, Winchester
Service to Sport: Ian Byett, Basingstoke