WEST Devon sports clubs and individuals featured highly at a special awards ceremony held at Exeter Chief's Sandy Park last weekend.

Organisers of the Devon Sports Awards, Active Devon and The Exeter Foundation proclaimed Sunday's glittering ceremony a huge success as more than 250 people came together to celebrate a year of sporting success across the county.

West Devon did particularly well in the Active Villages project of the year category, with Junction Archers declared winners and Chagford Cricket Club announced runners up.

Frank Bath utilised the Active Villages programme to set up a new archery club (Junction Archers) in a rural area, opening up the sport to a wide array of the community that had either never tried the sport or had to travel some distance to shoot.

The club consists of a general adult club, one for young people under the age of 18 and one specifically for disabled people, although they all shoot together as one club.

The club is considered very popular and well respected and has pulled the community together.

Chagford Cricket Club developed from a germ of an idea more than two years ago. Now over 70 young people aged between five and 14 enjoy cricket every Friday night in Dartmoor.

Chris Mount, project leader, said: 'I took a couple of minutes in the middle of last week's session to stand back and just watch.

'What a great sight, 58 children from four different school areas, engaged in cricket with plenty of laughter and enthusiasm.'

And it's not just the youngsters that have benefitted.

Chris added: 'To the right of the cricket was an impromptu game of parent's volleyball, which was generating an equal about of merriment, and up on the balcony was a further group of parents, chatting relaxing and having a sun downer at the end of the week.'

Manager and Founder of the Tavispecials FC, Allen Lewis, was announced winner of the 'Rokk Media' Contribution to Inclusive Sport Award for his relentless work in the community.

Allen, who is also a qualified FA referee in disability and mainstream football, mini soccer and futsal, founded the Son Rise Cup for Autism Football Festival, now in its 8th year, and to date has raised more than £200,000 for vharity.

Allen's wife Sheena said:?'In Tavistock, Allen is known as Mr Respect, loving what he does and helping so many.

'Living with a person like Allen is exhausting, but you can't stop him. Our family just lets him go.'

Allen said: 'I am privileged and honoured to receive this award — it's humbling and inspiring to work with our wonderful members, and to see lives change for the better is the best reward of of all — thank you.'

For more information on the evening or the Sports Awards go to: http://www.activedevon.org/awards2013">http://www.activedevon.org/awards2013

Active Devon is one of 49 county partnerships supported by Sport England and is recognised by Government as a key agency in the co-ordination of sport and physical activity. A lot of Active Devon's work focuses on supporting people like coaches, officials and volunteers or organisations such as community sports clubs. Active Devon also co-ordinates delivery of programmes that provide opportunities for people to play sport or become more active.

The Devon Sports Awards are coordinated by Active Devon and have been running for over ten years.

This year Active Devon joined forces with The Exeter Foundation to deliver the county-wide Awards. The Awards are open to those involved in sport throughout Devon and, unlike similar awards, are not-for-profit with any money raised going to charity.

Active Villages is a countywide programme co-ordinated by Active Devon and delivered by a network of local partners. It seeks to support rural communities to develop long-term sports opportunities which enable people of all ages to experience the fun of sport and build a life-long love of being active and healthy.