Last updated at 22:22, Thursday, 30 June 2011

Cricket ace Ben Stokes has beaten mega-rich footballers Andy Carroll and Javier Hernandez into the final of a top sports award.

Public support helped the 20-year-old into the final of the best newcomer category of the MBNA Northern Sports.

The former Cockermouth School pupil will now do battle with Everton defender Seamus Coleman and Team Sky cyclist Ben Swift for the crown.

The ceremony takes place at Lancashire Cricket Club on Monday.

A panel of judges, including former England bowler Darren Gough will decide.

The event is the first of its kind, is a celebration of sporting excellence in the North which embraces all aspects of the region’s sporting world and recognises its outstanding contribution.

There are 19 award categories in total, six of which were shortlisted by a People’s Panel, made up of a group of sports journalists and broadcast personalities. The shortlists were then put up for public vote.

The six categories chosen by the People’s Panel were: Sportsman of the Year; Sportswoman of the Year; Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability; Breakthrough/Newcomer of the Year; Team of the Year and Manager of the Year.

First published at 19:21, Thursday, 30 June 2011
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk