Rising sports stars and dedicated coaches awarded at the annual Waltham Forest Sports Awards.

The annual ceremony, which took place on Thursday recognised the efforts of dozens of different teams and individuals who have excelled in sport over the last 12 months.

Sprinter Daniel Awde, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games as part of England’s 4x400m relay squad and Leyton Orient FC’s Captain Nathan Clarke presented awards in 14 categories.

Chingford swimmer Ryan Nicholls was named Sports Person of the Year.

In what judges deemed an exceptional year of swimming Ryan has picked up several Gold medals in various national competitions, achieved new personal bests in different events in the pool and represented Great Britain at the European Junior Championships.

The disability swimmer hopes to compete in Rio in 2016 He said: “It feels great to win – I was not expecting it!”

Waltham Forest female football team picked up the award for Outstanding London Youth Games Team Contribution.

Their win recognised their efforts in the London-wide competition in July, where they were crowned female football champions.

This represented a massive turnaround for the borough-based team that last year was ranked 26th in the capital.

Team member Ellie Barra, 13, said: “This feels quite special and feels like a big achievement – it was quite a big surprise.”

“We just wanted to go for it – because we wanted it so badly, we won it.”

The dedication of their coach, Joe Sheehan, was also recognised on the night – as he was named Coach of the Year.

Cllr Ahsan Khan, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “There’s never been a better time to get into sport in Waltham Forest, with newly-refurbished leisure centres now open in Leytonstone, Leyton, Walthamstow and Chingford.”

The winners at the Waltham Forest Sports Awards 2014 were:

• Club of the Year: Ridgeway Rovers FC

• Coach of the Year: Joe Sheehan

• Junior Team of the Year U11: Hillyfield Primary Academy Basketball & Cricket Team

• Junior Team of the Year U18: Norlington School for Boys Table Tennis Team

• Individual Contribution to London Youth Games 2014: Drew Clark

• Volunteer of the Year: Brendon Mounter

• Young Sports Leader/Volunteer of the Year U16: Azi Mohammed

• Adult Team of the Year: Olympia Handball Club

• Inclusive Sport’s Award: Waltham Forest Wolves Athletics Club

• Physical Activity & Health Project Award: Love2Run Eton Manor Athletics Club

• Sports Person of the Year U16: Reece Nicholls

• Outstanding Services to Sport: Sabir Bham

• Sport Person of the Year: Ryan Nicholls

• Outstanding Team Contribution London Youth Games 2014: Waltham Forest Female Football Team