Rose Bowl Success at The News Sports Awards 2012

Briggs celebrates a wicket against Leicetsershire last season

Danny Briggs wins Sportsman of the Year award at Fratton Park ceremony

Hampshire Cricketer Danny Briggs has been recognised for his contribution to local sport at a glittering award ceremony held at Portsmouth Football Club’s Fratton Park. He was voted the winner of the Sportsman of the Year award at The News Sports Awards on Monday night by the people of Portsmouth and the surrounding area.

He was one of seven individuals and teams associated with the club to have been nominated across seven different categories, the others being Club Chairman Rod Bransgrove (“Outstanding Contribution to Sport”), Neil McKenzie and Michael Carberry (“Best One-Off Performance” for their stand of 523 against Yorkshire in August), Greig Stewart (Contribution to Disabled Sport), the Hampshire Under 17s squad (Young Team of the Year) and their manager, Mike Brogan (Coach of the Year) [Click here to find out more about why they were nominated].

Briggs enjoyed a momentous year in which he was Hampshire's leading wicket-taker in Twenty20 cricket for the second year in a row and was also called up for the full England squad for two International Twenty20 matches against the West Indies as well as a four-match One Day International Series and three match T20I Series against Pakistan.

He formed one-third of Hampshire’s devastating three-pronged spin attack (along with Shahid Afridi and Imran Tahir) that saw them qualify from their Friends Life t20 group top and unbeaten at home. He then won Man of the Match in the Quarter Final against Durham, taking The Royals to a second successive Twenty20 Finals Day.

Although Briggs wasn’t available to be at the event as he’s in Dubai with the England team, he did send a few words to be read out by Hampshire team-mate, David Griffiths, who collected the award on his behalf. Commenting on winning the Sportsman of the Year award, Briggs said; “It feels fantastic to be recognised at these awards for my contribution to Hampshire and England over the last year.

“Growing up as a young athlete it is always your dream to play for your country, but your first love is the team you grew up watching week-in, week-out – the team that represents your family, your friends and your home.

“And that’s why having the people of Hampshire vote for me to win such an award means so much to me.

“In many ways 2011 was a tough year for the Club, but there’s a lot to look forward to in 2012. Hampshire will have a young squad, many of whom grew up in the county and still represent club sides from here in Portsmouth all the way across to Bournemouth, up to Basingstoke and down to my home on the Isle of Wight.

“I hope cricket fans from across the county continue to come out to support us and support The Rose Bowl in what should be another very exciting season.”