IN a year when the Olympics has dominated sports headlines, youngsters in Notts have shown they have a bright future in Games to come.
That was evident in the strength of the applications sent in for the sportsperson of the year category.
Basketball player Sadie Russell came out on top, picking up her award last night.
She said: "It's really surprising to actually win the award, I didn't expect it at all.
"I was shocked just to be nominated and have never won anything before."
Great Britain might not have an illustrious past when it comes to basketball, but the 16-year-old, who is 6ft, hopes to change that.
The Nottingham Academy student, of Top Valley, has played for Nottingham Wildcats since she was 12, has represented the East Midlands under-15 squad and since last year has played for the England under-15 development squad.
She is targeting a place at an American college where she can hone her skills and has an eye on a place in the British team at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Sadie said: "Basketball is just something I really love. It's a really quick game and the feeling of the adrenaline when you play is really great."
Runner-up Rosie Rudin hopes to bring more swimming glory to Notts following the successes of Becky Adlington.
The 14-year-old Nottingham Girls' High School pupil, of Woodborough, already has a fine record which includes coming fifth in her first senior final at the British Senior National Championships, breaking her own county junior record in the 400m individual medley.
She said: "I was really happy just to be nominated because there are loads of sporty people in Nottingham.
"I feel really proud and want to pursue sport in the future so it's really good to have this recognition."
Eban Straker-Meads, 14, of Lenton, is a growing talent at tennis and table tennis.
He has appeared at national level in both sports and has been described as an "inspiration and role model".
Eban, of Nottingham Emmanuel School, in West Bridgford, also finds time to coach at Dunkirk Primary School.
He said: "I was really happy when I found out I'd been nominated. I don't mind not winning, I'm proud of myself either way."