MIDNIGHT tonight is the deadline to nominate your favourite Cumbrian sports person of the year.

The search to find the award winners for the Cumbria Sports Awards 2012 started at the beginning of October with an unprecedented response as nominations have flooded in.

With 12 categories to choose from there is undoubtedly a category for everybody whether your hero coaches or volunteers. Nominations can be made on-line at www.activecumbria.org/cumbriasportsawards Last year the county’s top sporting honour of 'Cumbria Sports Personality of the Year' (CSPOTY) went to Cricket ace Ben Stokes. The 20 year old Durham all-rounder from Cockermouth had an outstanding 2011, making his maiden England appearance in a one day international against Ireland following a highly successful debut season for his club. Ben said; "It was an honour to receive the Cumbria Sports Personality of the Year award for 2011. I would like to congratulate all the nominees in each category for 2012. Strive to do your best in your chosen field and you will always be winners."

2010 CSPOTY went to Bowls ace Stuart Airey and in 2009 David Hughes was awarded after being crowned ‘World Masters Judo Champion’ in the World Master Athlete Games in Atlanta, USA. 2008 CSPOTY went to racing driver Oliver Turvey, who had a truly outstanding year, being named Formula 3 driver of the year by the Racing Steps Foundation. Previous winners also include Anna McKenzie, not only was Anna the first female winner of The Mirror World Sailing Championships in South Africa, she was also the youngest! Other previous winners include goalkeeper Scott Carson, Lions and England rugby union winger Mark Cueto, cricketer Paul Nixon, and rally ace Malcolm Wilson.

The nominations are open to anyone who you feel who has achieved great things in sport locally or who has made a huge voluntary contribution to sport in Cumbria during 2012.

The annual awards presentation dinner is held at the Low Wood Hotel, Windermere. The evening will be hosted by BBC Radio Cumbria’s Mike Zeller. The evening will close with an after-dinner speaker, who this year will be Alan Bell, IAAF International Official and Chief Starter at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Tickets are limited for the event, which is on the 23rd November 2012 . Tickets are £25 each and available by booking online at www.activecumbria.org/cumbriasportsawards