THE short-list of nominees for this year’s Solarking Pride of St Helens Awards has been revealed.

It follows four hours of deliberations from a judging panel that had to consider 97 different nominations in 13 categories.

Steve Prescott Foundation, organisers of the event which is now its third year, hope the nominees represent the spirit of courage, triumph over adversity, achievement and commitment to St Helens that are the ethos of the event.

Martin Blondel, general manager of organisers the Steve Prescott Foundation, said: “The standard was staggering and unfortunately some worthy people have not made it to the final three.

“We’d like to thank everyone who made nominations – it is their effort and the emotional stories they put forward that make Pride come to life.”

Judges found categories such as the Haydock Park Child of Courage and Saints Sportsperson of the Year as particularly difficult to settle on, such was the strength of the names put forwards.

Among those nominees that Star readers will be familiar with are Commonwealth gold medal winner Owen Livesey (Sportsperson), former Beautiful South singer Jacqui Abbott and 11-year-old cancer battler Harrison Ledsham.

Meanwhile, the short-list for the flagship Pride of St Helens Award, which recognises a lasting and outstanding contribution to the town, includes former Star editor Steve Leary and outgoing council chief executive Carole Hudson.

It is completed by ex-mayor of St Helens Andy Bowden and Saints' James Roby.

The club's skipper Paul Wellens, is in the running for sportsperson prize and organisers also have plans mark the club's Grand Final success.

The St Helens Star, media partners for the awards, will produce a in-depth preview of the awards — setting out the nominees stories — in the run up to the awards.

The nominees are:

St Helens RFC Sportsperson of the Year

Owen Livesey, Paul Wellens, Jenny Welsby

 

St Helens Chamber Excellence in Business Award

A180 Darts, ATG Bollards, NGF Europe

 

Portico Nurseries Young Community Star

Lauren Hodkinson, Keiran Maj, Mark Worthington

 

Haydock Park Child of Courage

Melissa Adams, Jasmine Beedles, Harrison Ledsham

 

Sure Move Emergency Services Awards

Rob Pritchard, Julie Sanderson, Louise Southward

 

St Helens Council Young Sportsperson of the Year

Harry Coppell, Millie Costello, Jonathan Vaughan

 

OD’s Community Hero

Reg Massey, Angela Metcalfe, Antony Young

 

St Helens College Outstanding Academic Achievement

Jade Norman, David Xu, Ian Tucker

 

AIM Mentor of the Year Award

Geoff Allford, Mark Saunders, Susan Thompson

 

Scoff Outside Champion Fundraiser

Chris Lamb, Mark Rogerson, Jeanette Round

 

Glass Horse Courage Award

Callum Bibby, Jessica Johnson, Phillip Turner

 

Imperial Bar & Dancefloor Arts Award

Jacqui Abbott, Heather Marie, Paul Riordan

 

Solar King Pride Of St Helens

Andy Bowden, Steve Leary, Carole Hudson, James Roby