THIS year’s Flintshire Sports Personality of the Year awards are almost here.

The county’s sporting stars will come together at Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, on Friday for this year’s gala event which will honour the endeavours of nominated talents.

There will be plenty of competition for success in the senior sportswoman of the year category, sponsored by the Leader.

There are four candidates in this coveted category, including two field athletes.

Pole vaulter Sally Peake, 25, has gone on to become an established name in Welsh women’s athletics, as she now represents Birchfield and appeared for Wales in the Commonwealth Games in India.

The former Hawarden High School pupil’s achievements in the past year include winning the Loughborough Invitational open pole vault meeting and finishing second in the Welsh championship.

Another impressive achievement has come from Beverley Jones, 36, who has been frequently selected to represent Britain in paralympic competitions.

Despite having cerebral palsy, Beverley, of Shotton, has long enjoyed playing sport and the discus thrower trains at the North Wales Indoor Athletics Centre at Deeside College.

Another international is talented netball player Sophie Morgan, 18.

Hailing from Brynford, Sophie has represented the Celtic Dragons and looks to have a bright future in the sport.

The category is completed by Linda Williams, of Bagillt, who has frequently enjoyed success at bowls and has become an established name on the North Wales circuit.

Her previous endeavours include winning the Flintshire Midweek League.

Also sure to be strongly contested is the senior sportsman of the year category, sponsored by the P&A group, with all three candidates having a strong claim for the accolade.

Andrew Wyn Jones, of Mynydd Isa, was selected for the Welsh Commonwealth Games squad last year after claiming a string of national heavyweight titles.

A member of Deva ABC, Jones, 27, remains hopeful of being a part of Britain’s Olympic squad in 2012.

Gareth Allen, of Ewloe, hopes this year will eclipse his ever-growing past successes on the snooker table and end with him being part of the professional snooker ranks.

The former Hawarden High School pupil has been called up to represent Wales, including in Syria late last year for the World Amateur Championships.

Another success story is Northop College student Jason Coles, 22, who enjoyed the honour of representing Wales in the Special Olympics in Poland last year.

A member of Wrexham Athletics Club, Jason has proved himself as an all-round sportsman who has also proved himself in sports including football, cricket and trampolining.

There are 10 categories in this year’s awards, with the event sponsored by Airbus.