Medway’s sportswomen stole the show at Friday’s Sports Awards ceremony.

An excellent evening of celebration at the Corn Exchange in Rochester saw females take the leading three positions in the prestigious sportsperson of the year award.

Winter Paralympic gold medal winner Charlotte Evans, from Chatham, won the award after bringing back Great Britain’s first-ever gold on snow after guiding visually-impaired Kelly Gallagher down the slopes.

Evans beamed: “To win the award is amazing – it’s the icing on the cake.

“Just to be nominated in the category alongside some of the people was great but now I can’t believe this has happened.

“I’m proud to be from Medway. I’ve been at these awards before as a child and watched people go up and collect them so to have gone and won an award myself is brilliant.”

Evans edged out previous winner Rachael Burford, who was runner-up in the main award after a brilliant two years which culminated in winning the Rugby World Cup in August.

Holcombe’s Maddie Hinch was third after collecting a Commonwealth Games silver medal in Glasgow 2014. Hinch played a key role in the semi-final victory over New Zealand, saving two penalties in the shoot-out after a 3-3 draw in normal time.

The first three people were named in a new Medway Sport Hall of Fame while there was a Lifetime Contribution award made to Rochester & District Football League stalwart Terry Lawrence.

The awards are made possible by Medway Council and the generosity of its sponsors – the Medway Messenger, The Streetcops Trust, Greenacre Sports Partnership and Tuition Academy.