PRIDE OF ST HELENS: Nominees for the 2019 Sportsperson of the Year Award

In this week's paper (out now in shops for just 50p) we published a 16-page supplement profiling each of the shortlisted nominees for this year's ceremony.

Throughout this week and next ahead of the event at the Totally Wicket Stadium, we will be sharing our categories of nominees with you.

Here are your nominees for 2019 Sportsperson of the Year Award sponsored by St Helens RFC

Tommy Makinson

THE Golden Boot Award, the Super League top tryscorer and a Grand Final winners’ ring.

It has been an incredible 12 months for Saints winger Tommy Makinson.

Makinson collected the prized Golden Boot Award for his performances in England’s Test series against New Zealand last autumn where he established himself as an international winger.

Another impressive domestic season with Saints has seen the 27-year-old winger – a product of the club’s academy – crowned as Super League’s top tryscorer, as he crossed the line 23 times during his team’s title-winning campaign.

Makinson again produced some memorable finishes throughout the season, having made a name for himself for his acrobatic diving efforts.

Makinson also got to make a career-first appearance at Wembley Stadium in the Challenge Cup final in 2019.

And his year culminated fittingly with the Grand Final victory over Salford.

Despite suffering a dislocated shoulder, which has forced him sit out the Great Britain tour Down Under, Makinson played on, even kicking a career-first dropgoal to round off the 23-6 triumph for Saints.

Ejay Harris

CYCLIST Ejay Harris defied the odds to become Armed Forces Sportswoman of the Year and Army Sportswoman of the year despite battling a serious illness.

Captain Elizabeth ‘Ejay’ Harris, 31, is a woman of many talents having decided to join the army at the age of 15, despite the discouragement of her dad Jim.

She sought a career in the army, which led to her to become a doctor and juggling her medical duties with competitive cycling, enjoying great success, even going on to represent Great Britain And she did all this while she was fighting and beating ovarian cancer.

She was crowned The Army Sportswoman on the Year and The Armed Forces Sportswoman of the Year Award in quick succession. Ejay has been a road cyclist racing for Storey Racing.

Dad Jim said: “I’m understandably a very proud father.

“But I dread to think if she had listened to me all those years ago and not done everything that has enriched her life.

“I am hoping that by sharing her story others out there will not think as I did and realise that the roles in the army are endless.”

Michael Smith

DARTS ace Michael Smith has enjoyed a big year on the PDC circuit, reaching his first World Championship final.

After making a Premier League final during 2018, Michael has kicked on to have another great year in an ever-improving career.

2019 kicked off in style as the Bully Boy made it all the way to the final of the World Darts Championships at Alexandra Palace on New Year’s Day.

Although he eventually went down 7-3 to the Dutch world number one Michael van Gerwen on the night, Smith had produced an impressive run to the final.

This included wins over Ron Meulenkamp in the second round, John Henderson in the third, Ryan Searle in the last 16 and Luke Humphries in the quarter-finals before an excellent semi-final win over the up-and-coming Nathan Aspinall to make the big final.

Smith, 29, also reached darts’ second biggest final, playing Rob Cross in the decider for the World Matchplay at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The former World Youth Champion, from Clock Face, also made the semifinals at the UK Open and the European Championship this year.