THE Echo sports awards are returning to celebrate what must surely be the best ever year for south-Essex stars.

In the past 12 months, Vange’s Stuart Bingham has been crowned world snooker champion and Basildon based Max Whitlock became the first British gymnast to win gold at the World Championships.

Adding to that, Southend United secured promotion via the play-offs in thrilling fashion at Wembley but the success stories do not stop there.

Both the Southend High Schools represented England at the World Schools Games, Jackson Wray helped Saracens win the Premiership and Mike Stanley lined up for Samoa in the Rugby World Cup.

Gymnast Brinn Bevan also impressed at the World Championships and the Europeans Games while Seevic College lined up at Twickenham in NatWest Schools Cup.

Ice hockey star Josh Batch made his Great Britain debut and Casey Stoney also helped England’s Women’s football team to third place in the World Cup.

But now our local favourites will be going to head in a bid to triumph in the Echo’s end of year awards.

CATEGORIES

Sports Personality of the Year

Those likely to be in the running include snooker star Stuart Bingham, gymnast Max Whitlock and Southend United goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

Junior Sports Personality of the Year

Open to anyone aged 18 or under at the end of 2015, gymnast Brinn Bevan is likely to challenge for this award.

Moment of the Year

Another category which will not be short of options but will anything top Southend United’s day at Wembley in May?

Team of the Year

Southend United will be strong candidates here but both the Southend High Schools will also challenge, along with Seevic’s rugby team.

Coach of the Year

Scott Hann, who has masterminded Max Whitlock and Brinn Bevan’s rise to the top, is expected to challenge for this award along with Southend United boss Phil Brown.

HOW THE AWARDS WORK

Echo readers are now invited to send in their nominations for all five awards by emailing their views to sports.echo@nqe.com Nominations will be accepted until the end of the November when the shortlists will be revealed for each category.

During the month of December, votes will be taken in all of the awards from Echosport readers and will total 50 per cent of the final poll.

The other 50 per cent will be decided by our panel which already includes former Southend United manager Steve Tilson, Saracens legend Kris Chesney who now lines up for the Southend Saxons and former World Championship silver medalist in decathlon Dean Macey. 

More sporting stars will be confirmed soon while the Echo sportdesk will also be on the panel.