TROWBRIDGE’S TOM GALE consistently raised the bar to make an impact at the top level of world athletics in 2017, and is one of a trio in contention for the Sportsman of the Year award, sponsored by Reuben Digital and Jazzbones Creative.

Gale, who turned 19 this month, earned not only a spot in a senior Diamond League meeting but also on England’s team for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Ranked second in the world U20 rankings, 13th in the global senior rankings and second in the UK, Gale won a European Junior bronze medal this year and was also England senior champion outdoors, as well as England U20 champion both indoors and out.

He also lifted the England Schools title and was joint-captain of the Wiltshire team at the championships in Birmingham.

Having only started jumping four years ago, with a personal best of 2.30m, he recorded the second highest jump ever by a British U20 athlete.

Placed third in the Birmingham Diamond League, he was invited to the Diamond League final in Zurich where he placed eighth.

Also making an impact at world level was Derry Hill golfer JORDAN SMITH, who marked his debut season on the European Tour by winning a tournament and finishing inside the top 10 on his major championship debut.

Smith claimed his first European Tour title after a play-off at the Porsche European Open near Hamburg, at the second extra hole after finishing tied with defending champion Alex Levy.

The 24 year old has enjoyed a meteoric rise since first picking up a club at the age of 13 and his victory in Germany qualified him for the subsequent US PGA Championship, one of golf’s four ‘Majors’, where he finished tied ninth and the top British player.

Inside the world top 100, Smith is still coached at the Bowood Golf & Country Club near Calne by Simon Shanks.

Bradford on Avon Canoe Club member CALLUM GINGELL, 17, continued his upward progress this year, finishing first in sprints and secord in classic on the River Tay to qualify for this year’s Junior World Championship in Austria.

There, he finished 12th in classic and eighth in sprint, while in the senior Welsh Championships, he came second to double Olympic medal winner Jonnie Schofield, earning British selection for the senior World Sprint Championships in Pau in France, where he finished 36th.

He is the only British boy, apart from Schofield, who has been selected for the elite senior squad whilst still a junior.

The 2017 Wiltshire Sports Awards, set up by the Swindon Advertiser, Gazette & Herald and Wiltshire Times in conjunction with Wiltshire & Swindon Sport (WASP).

Newsquest Wiltshire group sports editor Owen Houlihan, WASP CEO Steve Boocock and 1968 Olympic 400m hurdles champion David Hemery will meet in January to decide the award winners.

All the winners will be announced at the Corn Exchange celebration ceremony at the end of January, which will include an audience with 1985 World Snooker champion and now-television commentator Dennis Taylor, who will be guest speaker.

The evening will be a celebration of all of the winners for all of the categories, and tickets are available priced at £15 per adult and £9 per child, to include a buffet.

Tickets can be purchased by calling Ian Parker on 01793 501731 or email wiltshiresportsawards@newsquest.co.uk.