OLYMPIC gymnast Max Whitlock is “over the moon” to be awarded Basildon’s Sports Personality of the Year.

The Olympic double bronze medallist was given the accolade at the first ever Active Basildon Sports Award ceremony.

He was joined by almost 30 athletes and clubs who were named as winners or highly commended in the 11 categories.

Max, 21, who recently moved to Basildon, trains six days a week- for 35 hours- at the Sporting Village and was nominated by a member of staff.

He said: “It’s is great to be nominated from the local area and to win it, I am just over the moon.

“To be recognised in the local area after recently moving here is really nice, I think any recognition in sport for all the hard work is appreciated.

“It was nice to see some familiar faces and it was a nice chilled, relaxed event celebrating what people do and I was pleased to hear what others do in other sports, it is what we are all about trying to get people involved in sports.”

Max’s Coach Scott Hann was also named as coach of the year for his work in gymnastics.

Maru Karate Kai club were also nominated for five separate awards at the event, which was held at the Towngate Theatre, Basildon, on Monday.

Teacher Marc Grayston, who was highly commended in the sports personality award, said: “To even be shortlisted with such an inspirational athlete like Max is a huge boost for me, but I am even prouder that our club have been able to achieve so much this year.

“Winning the Physical Activity Project category is amazing, because the project does so much for young children in Basildon - we now look forward to the ActiveEssex Sports Awards on 1st December where we are shortlisted against projects from all over Essex.”

Steve Mitchell, chairman of Active Basildon, said: “It was fantasic.

“I think the awards are massively important as it is not often that most these people are recognised and a lot of the people do a lot of these activites voluntarily.

“Max is often on an international platform and so for people to see him and hear from him and be part of something where he is wearing the Basildon band is pretty inspiring for everybody.”

ROLL CALL OF HONOUR

Sports Personality of the Year

Winner: Max Whitlock (gymnastics) Highly commended: Marc Grayston (karate)

Disabled Sports Personality of the Year

Winner: Matthew Oaten (swimming) Highly commended: Matthew Hamilton (athletics)

Services to Disability Sport

Winner: Jack Edgar Highly commended: Steven Perry.

Unsung Hero

Winner Wendy Tydeman (athletics) Highly commended: Tracy Bliss (running) Highly commended: Lyndsey Motin (swimming)

Young Volunteer

Winner: Kayleigh Long (netball/ dance) Highly commended: Ryan Chandler (karate)

Sports Club of the Year

Winner: Basildon & Phoenix Swimming Club Highly commended: Maru Karate Kai Karate.

Highly commended: The Badminton Academy.

Coach of the Year

Winner Scott Hann (gymnastics) Highly commended: Mark Grayston (karate) Highly commended: Paul Squibb (football)

Physical Activity Project of the Year

Winner: Maru Karate Kai Karate Highly commended: Sport for Confidence Multi Highly commended: Active Life/Active Mums Active Mums Fitness.

School or College of the Year

Winner: Lee Chapel Primary School.

Highly commended: Bromfords School handball

Young Sports Personality of the Year

Winner: Michael Shields (athletics) Highly commended: Brooke Frost (swimming) Highly commended: Evan Jays Thai Boxing Highly commended: Jay Thompson (gymnastics) Highly commended: Alice Green (squash)

Active Workplace of the Year Winner:

Basildon Sporting Village