There are a number of familiar names among the shortlist for the 2017 Isle of Man Sports Awards, but also a few lesser-known individuals and teams.

The event, which has Microgaming Play It Forward as its headline sponsor, will take place on Thursday, March 1 at the Villa Marina’s Royal Hall.

The Sportsman of the Year award category will be hotly contested between World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea, Enduro E2 World Championship runner-up Jamie McCanney, Celtic FC and Scotland national team footballer Kieran Tierney, athletics record-breaker Joe Reid, TT podium men Dan Kneen and Lee Cain, Parish Walk winner Liam Parker and European Under-23 Track Cycling champion Matthew Bostock.

The Sportswoman of the Year category boasts British 50m and 200m women’s butterfly swimming champion Charlotte Atkinson, U23 women’s time trial champion cyclist Anna Christian, multi-medal winning Island Games gymnast Tara Donnelly, international triathlete Hannah Howitt, England race walking medallist Erika Kelly and Island Games athletics team captain, Hannah Riley.

Other categories contested are Under-21 sportsman, Under-21 sportswoman, team, coach, sports administrator, Isle of Man ambassador, veteran sportsperson and disability sportsperson.

The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award is selected by the Sports Awards committee and there is no shortlist for this category.

Microgaming, through its Play It Forward programme, will present the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards, and each of the other categories is sponsored by a local company or organisation.

Gary Corkhill, Isle of Man Sport’s executive chairman, commented: ’Nominations opened in December and the Manx public have shown their support for the event with fantastic number of nominations. The shortlisting process is always a difficult task for the committee, with the Isle of Man having so many sporting success stories throughout last year.

’The Sports Awards are a highlight of the sporting year and a chance to celebrate the achievements of our sporting stars in 2017. This year’s nominees are an inspiration to others in their respective sports. The awards recognise the island’s high-level performers and highlight their success on the world stage.’

The event also includes the presentation of the 2017 Sure Sports Leader of the Year Award and Sports Aid scholarships to athletes who will be supported by Isle of Man Sport Aid in 2018-2019.

Two young sports stars will also be welcomed into the Isle of Man sporting hall of fame during the evening.

Guest of honour for the awards is five-time Paralympic swimming champion, Ellie Simmonds OBE.

The event starts at 8.15pm. Tickets are available to book online via the Villa Gaiety box office www.villagaiety.com

The full list of nominations is as follows:

2017 Sportsman of the Year, sponsored by Microgaming Play It Forward: Matthew Bostock (cycling), Lee Cain (sidecar racing), Dan Kneen (road racing), Jamie McCanney (motorcycle enduro), Liam Parker (walking), Jonathan Rea (World Superbikes), Joe Reid (athletics), Kieran Tierney (football).

Sportswoman of the Year, sponsored by Microgaming Play It Forward: Charlotte Atkinson (swimming), Anna Christian (cycling), Tara Donnelly (gymnastics), Hannah Howitt (triathlon), Erika Kelly (race walking), Hannah Riley (athletics).

Under-21 Sportsman of the Year, sponsored by Newfield: Thomas Bostock (cycling), Matthew Bostock (cycling), Ben Grainger (swimming), Joe Harris (athletics), Nick Harvey (gymnastics), Adam Long (football), Kieran Tierney (football). Under-21 Sportswoman of the Year, sponsored by SMP Partners: Ana Dawson (golf), Tara Donnelly (gymnastics), Tara Ferguson (cycling), Jessica Li (badminton), Olivia Marshall (swimming), Amelia Sharpe (cycling).

Disability Sportsperson of the Year, sponsored by Isle of Man Newspapers: Lawrence Dyer (athletics), Letisha Ellis (swimming), Ben Grainger (swimming), David Hudson (football), Sean Jackson (football), Duncan Watterson (Special Olympics).

Team of the Year, sponsored by Crowe Clark Whitehill: Douglas Rugby Club, IoM disability football team, IoM men’s football team, IoM women’s football team, IoM men’s hockey team, Manx Harriers senior women’s cross-country team.

Administrator of the Year, sponsored by Manx Radio: Ray Cox (Parish Walk), Richard Fletcher (cycling), Tony Jones (football), Tim Leeming (hockey), Clive Parrish (swimming), Baillie Watterson (badminton). IoM Ambassador, sponsored by the Department of Enterprise: Charlotte Atkinson (swimming), Mark Cavendish (cycling),

Mark Christian (cycling), Philip Cringle (rugby), Tom Gandy (golf), Peter Kennaugh (cycling), Tim Kneale (shooting). Coach of the Year, sponsor Conister Bank: Andy Fox (athletics), Tim Kennaugh (cycling), Brian Laing (swimming), Valery Molchanov (gymnastics), Carl Murray (rugby), Jon Whiting (hockey).

Veteran Sportsperson of the Year, sponsored by Mylchreests Group: Julie Canipa (sidecar racing), Karen Chiarello (race walking), Gianni Epifani (race walking and cycling), Gail Griffiths (athletics), Dave Molyneux (sidecar racing), Lesley Sleight (field archery).

The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award, sponsored by Keystone Law, is selected by the Sports Awards committee.