Yorkshire Takes Pride in Young Achievers

The Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards ceremony made its first ever posthumous award when the achievements of Leeds snooker player Paul Hunter, who lost his battle with cancer last year, were marked with the Personality of the Year Award, received by his widow Lindsey at the Leeds United Banqueting Suite.

Hailed as the most promising player in the game, Paul won the Masters Championship three times and was widely expected to take the World Championship until he became ill last year.

Paul, who was 27, was a schoolboy star who rose to become the fourth in the world.

Awards Chairman Peter McCormick, senior partner of main sponsors McCormicks Solicitors, said: "When the judges met to decide upon the 2006 winners it was clear that Paul's achievements deserved to be marked so we have made a posthumous award for the first time in the 14-year history of the event. This award not only recognises Paul's talents but also the tremendous support given by his wife, Lindsey, as he battled his illness."

The Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards mark the achievements of people aged under 35 in the fields of business, education, sport and the arts. There are special awards, also, for an Unsung Hero, a Youngster of the Year (Under 12) and an NCH Achiever.

The event is held in aid of Britain's biggest children's charity, NCH, and has raised more than £400,000 since its inception.

The audience of more than 350 people heard stories of outstanding achievement, often in the face of adversity, from young people who were born, live or work in Yorkshire