Somer Valley FM’s Sports Show has been named the national Sports Show of the Year at the Community Radio Awards.
The show, which has been led by Ian Nockolds for eight years, was given the Gold award for sports broadcasting at a ceremony which took place at Birmingham City University last Saturday to a sold-out gala with over 35 community radio stations being recognised for their broadcasting excellence.
The Somer Valley Sports Show has broadcast weekly, promoting the news and
fixtures of sports clubs across North East Somerset. Ian Nockolds has been involved with sports broadcasting on Somer Valley FM since the
station was piloted at Somervale School in August 2006. He said: “As the Sports Show has evolved, it has been our mission to provide local sports coverage, focusing on participants and clubs overlooked by commercial and public service radio, produced by amateur broadcasters to a professional standard.”
The Sports Show has engaged volunteers across the generations, not only those
involved with the clubs they cover, but everyone from school students to retired former
players. Today, the Sport Show team includes Allan Trinder and Evan Dando, with
Saturday Live produced and presented by Richard Burgess.
The awards were hosted by Somer Valley FM’s Manager, Dom Chambers, who said: “As I was hosting the evening, you can image my pleasure at the announcement and welcoming Ian onto the stage to collect the award. His work with our Sports programme has been a considerable personal achievement. It is exemplary community broadcasting from empowering local clubs with a voice, to the skill-building of young volunteers and the live match commentaries. Ian has brought local clubs together on the central platform of the Somer Valley FM studio and this recognition is richly
deserved and my hearty congratulations to the team.”
Ian added: “This award isn’t just about the quality of our sport coverage, it’s about
recognising the hard work and commitment of the volunteers at every club we cover,
including Midsomer Norton Rugby Club, Welton Rovers Football Club, Radstock Town Football Club, Paulton Rovers Football Club, Midsomer
Norton Cricket Club, Writhlington Tennis Club and many more. They support us to support them and now we are all on the Gold medal team!”