The area's top sporting men and women have been honoured at the annual sports awards.

The awards ceremony provides an opportunity for South Lanarkshire to showcase its talented performers and coaches who are already successful local Sports Council Award winners.

Provost Russell Clearie, who presented the trophies at the event in the Hamilton Town House, said: "It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to succeed to the level that our award winners have achieved this year.

"And with the invaluable support of their coaches, trainers and guardians I'm sure they will continue to do so in the years ahead."

The winners of the Sports Awards 2010 were:

    Coach of the Year,  Eddlewood AFC coach Paul Brogan from Hamilton
    Senior Female Performer, Hamilton golfer Pamela Pretswell
    Senior Male Performer, Hamilton's Boccia player Stephen McGuire
    Junior Female Performer, Bothwell's badminton player Kirsty Gilmour
    Junior Male Performer, Rutherglen & Cambuslang's athletics star Ross Maxwell.

Councillor Hamish Stewart, the Chair of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, said: "We're here to celebrate success - success of our athletes and our coaches - but not forgetting the crucial supporting role played by parents, families, teachers and volunteers.

"Success comes as a result of strong partnerships, dedication and commitment from everyone and I hope you will enjoy and continue to be inspired by this annual awards ceremony."

South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture, which operates sports, recreational and cultural facilities on behalf of South Lanarkshire Council hosted this, the 12th annual Sports Awards ceremony.

Gerry Campbell, SLLC's general manager, said: "The awards are about recognising achievement in sport but they are also about highlighting sporting opportunities. The council and SLLC have a strong tradition of providing a number of platforms which allows young people to demonstrate their commitment to sport and to physical activity."

And Councillor Stewart highlighted the forthcoming Lanarkshire 2011 Children's Games taking place in August this year and expressed his wish that everyone should come along and support this wonderful international event involving so many young athletes from across the world.