It's time to crown Chichester's top young sports star

The destiny of the biggest prize to be handed out at the annual Chichester and District awards at Westgate Leisure on June 22 is down to you and your votes.

Below, we publish our shortlist – this year eight-strong – of dedicated young sportsmen and women who have played their sport at national level and have done their clubs, coaches and families proud.

Last year, Dell Quay sailor Ben Chrystall walked away with the award – but who will follow in his esteemed footsteps this year?

The YSAA is one of a number of prizes to be handed out on the night, which will be the culmination of another year of the annual scheme run by Chichester District Council in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Chichester Priory and the Chichester Observer.

Our judging panel have been sifting through dozens of entries and will also be presenting awards on the night in a number of other categories. These are team of the year, coach of the year, volunteer of the year, young person’s commitment to sport and outstanding sports performance of the year and outstanding contribution to sport.

To vote for one of our shortlist for the main award, which is accompanied by a grant from the Rotary Club to help with training costs, fill in the form in the paper and send it in. It is in the May 30 edition of the Observer but will be printed again, so don’t worry if you missed it.

The deadline for votes is 9am on Thursday, June 20, but please don’t leave it too late to register your vote. And get family, friends and club-mates involved as well

We wish the best of luck to all concerned!

THE SHORTLIST

DEVLIN STIGNANT

Despite his youth, Devlin has competed at the highest level in all three forms of fencing. He was asked to represent England in several competitions abroad in epee, then qualified for the British Championships in sabre and epee, going on to become under-14 epee champ.

MADDIE ANGELL

Maddie is a springboard and platform diver. In 2012 she competed at the British Gas Junior Elite Champion-ships, becoming national one-metre springboard champion.

She won a three-metre syncro bronze. Maddie also excelled at this year’s junior elite contest.

LIAM STIGNANT

Fencer Liam is one of the country’s top young epeeists, competing around the UK and abroad representing GB, not only in his own age group but in senior rankings as well. He is also a top sabreur competing in both disciplines to reach the British Championships.

ISOBEL BROWN

Athletics ace Isobel was selected to compete in the European Trials and UK Champion-ships in Sheffield in February. She is Sussex county champion for high jump. Ranked seventh in the country for indoor high jump in the under-20 age category.

TOBY LEE

Fencer Toby has represented England and Great Britain since his early youth. He has competed at the very highest level all around Britain as well as travelling regularly around the world competing in the British team in all the most elite fencing competitions.

OSCAR O’HARA

Oscar has just finished 9th in the British under-16 champion-ships. He is a member of the British team who has competed abroad on several occasions representing his country at the highest level, and is always a fantastic ambassador for Chichester.

YASMIN COOPER

Yasmin is a GB under-16 skier who has been competing on the slopes for many years and became a GB team member a few years ago. She skies slalom, giant slalom and Super G. She enjoyed a fabulous slalom result this season. Yasmin trains up to five months a year.

GEORGE HENDRIE

George is one of Britain’s most elite fencers. Despite his youth he is in the top ten in the adults and a stalwart of senior and junior GB teams. He has represented GB and England in the Commonwealth Games and has won the British Youth Championships.