ABINGDON AC coach Bernard Wilkins has won the BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero Award for the South East Region.

Wilkins, who was nominated by Vicky Tilling, who is part of his training group, will now attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in Glasgow on December 14 with the chance of winning the UK award.

The 65-year-old, from West Hendred, has been coaching at Abingdon AC for 16 years where his dedicated efforts saw him get the judges’ vote.

“I was seriously flattered just to be nominated and really didn’t expect to hear anything further,” he said.

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“There are very many people who do at least as much as me, and I don’t do it for recognition or reward.

“I was completely flabbergasted when the BBC phoned to say I’d won the South regional award, and and to have the presentation from Vicky after last Thursday’s session just topped the whole thing off.”

Wilkins added: “These days the group is very diverse in terms of age, training background and event preferences and if anything less than 20 athletes turn up for training it’s a quiet night.”

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