The 2019 Isle of Man Sports Awards will be announced online this Thursday evening, so everyone can view it from the comfort of their own home.

The annual gala night at the Villa Marina, sponsored by Microgaming PlayItForward, was originally to have taken place on Maundy Thursday, April 2, but cancelled because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

As organisers, Isle of Man Sport wanted to ensure that the dedication and successes of local sportsmen and women was still recognised and celebrated.

Since the cancellation, event organiser Isle of Man Sport has been working hard to arrange an alternative and, with the help of Duke Video, the idea of a virtual Sports Awards was born.

The show will be available to everyone on the Isle of Man Sport YouTube channel and social media platforms starting at 7pm on Thursday, April 23.

Dr Alex Allinson MHK, Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, said: ’The awards are a real highlight of the Manx sporting calendar, so it is wonderful that the community can still enjoy them this year.

’I hope everyone will join us for the first ever digital Sports Awards.’

In total there are 11 categories, including sportsman and sportswoman of the year, team of the year and disability sportsperson of the year.

Gary Corkhill, executive chairman of Isle of Man Sport, said: ’With sport across the world at a standstill, we wanted to ensure that the nominees got the recognition they deserved for their hard work and dedication showed throughout 2019.

’A huge thank you goes to everyone who has made this possible, along with all of our sponsors who have supported us with our online presentation.’

John Coleman, CEO of Microgaming, said: ’It’s an honour for Microgaming PlayItForward to continue its support for the Isle of Man Sports Awards, especially at a time when team or community spirit means so much to us all.

’It’s important that we come together, albeit virtually, to celebrate the incredible achievements of our island’s sporting talent.’

The full list of nominees and categories is as follows: Sportsman of the Year, sponsored by Microgaming PlayItForward - Matthew Bostock (cycling); Conor Cummins (motorcycling); Tom Gandy (golf); Nathan Harrison (motorcycle road racing); Ollie Lockley (athletics); Daniel McCanney (motorcycle enduro); Joe Reid (athletics). Sportswoman of the Year, sponsored by Microgaming PlayItForward - Charlotte Atkinson (swimming); Rachael Franklin (athletics); Rachel Glover (shooting); Lizzie Holden (cycling); Yasmin Ingham (equestrian); Erika Kelly (race walking); Libby Priest (equestrian).

Under-21 Sportsman of the Year, sponsored by Newfield: Will Draper (triathlon); Max Ingham (motocross); David Mullarkey (athletics); Bevan Rodd (rugby); Tosh Teare (cycling); Max Walker (cycling); Joel Watterson (swimming). Under-21 Sportswoman of the Year, sponsored by SMP Partners - Kaytlyn Adshead (motorcycle trials); Sinead Cox (equestrian); Aimee Cringle (crossfit and athletics); Ashleigh Lachenicht (athletics); Olivia Marshall (swimming); Amelia Sharpe (cycling); Nan Williams (netball).

Disability Sportsperson of the Year, sponsored by Crowe Morgan - Chloe Chadwick (equestrian); Letisha Ellis (swimming); Ben Grainger (swimming); Sean Jackson (football); Darren Kennish (darts); Duncan Watterson (hockey). Sports Team of the Year, sponsored by Duke Travel - IoM Junior Cycle Team; IoM Netball senior team; IoM Senior Northern League Athletics team; IoM Special Olympics team; IoM Women’s Senior Football team; Ryan and Callum Crowe - Sidecar TT crew.

Sports Administrator of the Year, sponsored by Keystone Law - Petra Atchison (athletics); Erica Bellhouse (Commonwealth Games); John Cain (boxing); Pip Cross (netball); Maggie Mulhern (table tennis); Louise Skelly (netball). IoM Sports Ambassador, sponsored by the Department for Enterprise - David Addinall (pool); Sam Brand (cycling); Mark Cavendish (cycling); Tom Gandy (golf); David Higgins (rallying); Paul Jones (football); Dot Tilbury (cycling).

Sports Coach of the Year, sponsored by Isle of Man Newspapers - Claire Battye (netball); Brian Cowin (football); Richard Lloyd (judo); Michael Owen (motorcycle trials); Peter Roberts (boxing); John Whitlow (athletics). Veteran Sportsperson of the Year, sponsored by Conister Bank - Adrian Beale (mountain biking); Roy Gelling (snooker); Colin Kelly (crown green bowls); Juan Kinley (triathlon); David Knight (enduro); Dave Norman (squash); Lesley Sleight (field archery); Orran Smith (fell running).

The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement, sponsored by Crowe Isle of Man, is selected by the Sports Awards committee and will be announced on Thursday evening.

The link to IoM Sport’s YouTube Channel is as follows: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCdTIOSrB7h7dFEBzEjdLWw

Link to 2019 IoM Sports Awards live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOUP1PanN84

IoM Sport Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/iomsport/

IoM Sports Award Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/isleofmansportsawards/

IoM Sport Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/iomsport