SPORTS stars and stalwarts from Kent have been honoured in a BBC awards ceremony.

Great Britain international hockey player, and Canterbury ladies’ captain, Mel Clewlow, was voted BBC South East sports personality of the year, while rowing world champion Alistair McKean, a teacher at Canterbury High School and member of Herne Bay Rowing Club, was disabled sports personality of the year.

Danny Vaughan, who led Canterbury Rugby Club into the National Leagues for the first time, was coach of the year, while the Commonwealth Games 1500m gold medal won by Ashford’s Lisa Dobriskey was named the best sporting achievement.

Gillingham’s Matt Jarvis was footballer of the year, while the special “unsung hero” award went to 80-year-old Fred Fagg, who has support Mersham Cricket Club as a player and umpire since he was 10.

Ramsgate Football Club manager Jimmy Ward, who has led his team from the Kent League to the upper reaches of the Ryman League Premier Division, was runner-up in the manager of the year category to Mark Robinson, of county cricket champions Sussex.

The awards, hosted by BBC Radio Kent presenter John Warnett, were held at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium.

Clewlow was unable to attend, after the death of her father, former Margate and Dover footballer Colin Clewlow, but said she was “stunned” to receive the award.