A Great Night at the Jaguar Academy of Sport Awards

A great time was spent by one and all at the annual Jaguar Academy of Sport awards which, after just two years, has become a major date in the sporting diary.

Hosted by the irreverent James Corden and Kirsty Gallacher at the Savoy it was a night of celebration, both for current stars and future stars. The winner of the "Jump off the Seat" moment was Dai Greene for his victory in the world 400 metres hurdles final in Daegu in the summer, while Tour de France green jersey and world road race champion Mark Cavendish took the "Most Inspirational British Sportsman of the Year award.

Jockey Hayley Turner won the "Most Inspirational Sportswoman of the Year" award while the English cricket team, represented on the night by Alistair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Jimmy Anderson and Ian Bell, won the British Sporting Performance of the Year.

Tom Aggar took the "Best British Sporting Performance for an Athlete with a Disability in 2011" prize while Dave Roberts won the Jaguar Academy of Sport Patrons Award for Sporting Legacy in 2011.

Perhaps more importantly the Jaguar Academy of Sport Special recognition Awards for 2011 went to Crystal Lane, Kieran Martin, Patrick McCann, Rhys Walker and Anthony Watson, with Crystal being named as the overall winner.

I am proud to have a small role in this process being a member of the media panel that chooses the award recipients and through Jaguar, who provide both bursaries and mentor programmes using former stars such as Steve Redgrave, Kelly Holmes, Tanni Grey Thompson, Ian Botham and many, many more, this country is at last aiding the young and talented, and leaving much less to luck, coincidence or money which has seen so many talented sporting youngsters in the past fall through the net.

Jade Jones, the taewondo star, was the young prize winner last year and she has already gone on to achieve on the international stage. I sat on the same table as the impressive Anthony Watson who, at 17, has already played rugby for London Irish.

Let's hope he and the others awarded last week in London go on to fulfull their momentum. With the backing of the Jaguar Academy of Sport they have a decent chance.