THE sporting achievements of men, women and teams across the South of England will be recognised at the 2008 BBC South Sports Awards this Sunday.

Ben Ainslie, Steve Williams and Harry Redknapp have all been shortlisted for the main BBC South Sports Personality award.

Ainslie became Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor when he won a third Games gold in Beijing this summer.

Oxfordshire’s Williams won his second Olympic rowing Gold at the Beijing Games, repeating the achievement he managed in Athens in 2004.

And ex-Saints boss Redknapp led Portsmouth to a 1-0 FA Cup Final win over Cardiff last season.

The main prize is one of 12 awards that will be handed out at this week’s ceremony at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel.

The other categories will recognise the best male and female team, disabled sportsperson, young sportsperson, yachtsperson, coach, cricketer, footballer, non-league football team, sportsman and sportswoman.

Teenage Hampshire cricketer Liam Dawson has been shortlisted for the young sportsperson award while ex-Saint Theo Walcott, who hails from Berkshire, is in the running for the footballer of the year award.

There will also be an additional prize award – the BBC Unsung Hero Award.

Now in its sixth year, this award rewards the outstanding contributions by everyday people who give up their time and energy to allow others to participate in sport.

The award is supported by Robinsons who offer a £2500 bursary to the winner so they continue their work.

The winner will go on to represent BBC South alongside 14 other regional finalists at the main BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2008, which will take place in Liverpool on Sunday December 14, where the overall winner is announced.

Brian Palmer from New Milton in Hampshire, who founded Lymington Sailability in 1977 – a charity which enables disabled people to sail – is one of the three nominees.

The other two nominees for BBC South’s Sports Unsung Hero are: Mandy Forbes (Somerford, Christchurch, Dorset): Mandy established Twynham Rangers FC for teenagers in the local community, providing them with focused activity. She encourages her players to take part in the local Carnival and they help out in many fundraising activities.

Ben Geyser (Weymouth, Dorset): From the age of 10, Ben could be found in the boxing ring. Now aged 70, he has instilled in hundreds of youngsters his love of boxing. He has been a great ambassador for the sport and a positive role model to young people.