Table tennis star Rob Davies and judo ace Natalie Powell have been named the sportsman and sportswoman of the year at the inaugural Brecon & Radnor Express Sports Awards.

Davies, of Brecon, won Paralympic gold at Rio 2016 and Powell just missed out on a medal at that year’s Olympics in Brazil.

Both continued their success in 2017 with Davies winning his third consecutive European Para Table Tennis Championship and Powell finished the year ranked number one in the world in her judo class.

As well as winning the sportsman of the year title at The Brecon & Radnor Express awards held at the Wellington Hotel, Brecon, Davies also took the disabled sports star title and was the guest speaker at the Friday, March 23 presentation event.

Davies, who gave an emotional account of the 2005 rugby injury that has left him paralysed from the chest down, said he was grateful for the recognition from his local community with all contenders nominated by readers of the newspaper and the titles decided by votes from readers.

He said: "It is awesome because the local community are the ones that have voted and it’s a great awards by the B and R and great the Wellington and other local businesses have supported it."

Davies, who is aiming for the world championships in Lasko, Slovenia in October, this year was also pleased to see his former rugby club, Brecon RFC, honoured at the event as the 2016/17 Brecon Youth Squad took the sports team of the year award.

"I’ve been one of them and it was good to see youngsters involved in sport here."

Powell, who four years ago won judo gold for Wales at the Commonwealth Games, was able to attend the awards as they had been rearranged from March 1 due to the heavy snow. The judoka, from Beulah, near Builth Wells, was competing in Japan at the time the awards were originally due to go ahead.

She said: "I’d like thank those who nominated me and the B and R for putting the awards on. I’m going to Turkey in two weeks for the grand prix and then the European championships in Israel."

Veteran sports star was the youngest of the seven candidates nominated, Builth Wells cricketer Dylan McPhee, who lives in Rhayader.

McPhee, who was also in the running for sportsman of the year, was nominated after twice scoring two double centuries for Builth Wells Cricket Club last summer.

The all-rounder, who is also the assistant manager of Caersws Football Club and a former manager of Rhayader Town FC, joked: "I’m disappointed to get the veteran award, I’m not that old, I’m only 42.

"I don’t think the double century sunk in until people started messaging me and say it was a hell of an achievement and when I thought about it you realise the concentration it takes as one mistake could end it, and I had two bottles of wine from the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) for it."

The winner of the young sports star award was 10-year-old Ellie Cain from Brecon. The schoolgirl won four world titles in martial arts in September last year, beating girls up to four years older than her.

The volunteer of the year award went to Brecon resident Terry Dickson who volunteers with Brecon Cricket Club, the Brecon Athletics Club and even as a rugby referee for junior games. The New Zealander said sport had offered him opportunities growing up in rural New Zealand and urged those currently competing in sports to stay involved as volunteers as they get older.

All the awards were presented by Brecon and Radnorshire AM Kirsty Williams. Luke Walding, general manager of the Brecon & Radnor Express, said: "The awards have been organised to bring the newspaper and the community closer together."

Among the nominees to attend were Brecon rally driver Sara Williams, equestrian star Franky Reid-Warrilow, from Presteigne, and para bowler Pauline Wilson who will be competing for Wales at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia next month.

The full nominees were: Sportsman: Chaz Davies (motorcycling); Daniel Hiscocks (rugby); Rob Davies (para table tennis). Dylan McPhee, Sam Williams (cricket); Jason Hawkins (historic rally) Jonathan Hawkins (rallying) and Tom Marshall (athletics)

Sportswoman: Natalie Powell (judo); Franky Reid-Warrilow (three day eventing), Sara Williams (rallying); Jessica Sims (bowls) and Heidi Davies (mountain running & athletics)

Team of the year: Brecon RFC Youth; Llandrindod Wells Ladies Bows 55s Rink Team; Crickhowell Rugby 1st XV; Christ College Girls Hockey First XI; Brecon Integrated Sports Ass Basketball, Brecon CC 1st XI; Brecon AC Jnrs, Talybont on Usk CC

Young Sports Star: Ellie Cain (martial arts), Daniel Hiscocks, Tomi Lewis (rugby); Heidi Davies; Alex Walton (enduro racing). Kyle Davies (rugby)

Disabled sports star: Rob Davies (para table tennis), Steve Sebburn (para cycling and running); Morgan Jones (para sprinting); Pauline Wilson (para bowls)

Veteran sports star: Robert Weale (bowls); Scott Powell, Paul Jones (football); Dylan McPhee (cricket); Tim Davies (mountain bike racing); Colin Griffiths (cricket); Austin Davies (athletics)

Volunteer of the year: Terry Dickson (Brecon various sports); Ken Price (bowls); Derek Osborne (athletics); Brian Skinner (cricket); Malcolm Bates (enduro)

For more pictures from the awards see this week’s Brecon & Radnor Express on sale from Wednesday, March 28