Judges draw up shortlist for Best of Hartlepool Awards

Judges, from left , Nicola Meldrum, Chris Cordner, Gavin Foster and Janine Fowley.

The panel of experts was made up of Janine Fowley, Stagecoach North East operations manager; Gavin Foster, managing editor of The Hartlepool Mail; Nicola Meldrum, from the Johnson Press events team, and Chris Cordner, features content co-ordinator.

This year, the Best of Hartlepool competition is being held in association with Niramax and in which Specsavers, Stagecoach North East and Hart Biologicals are category sponsors.

On April 7, judges drew up a shortlist and list of winners for each category.

Miss Fowley said she found the judging a tough process. She said: “We decided to sponsor the Green Champion award as greener, smarter travel is our strap line so it was a cause close to our hearts. The Role Model of the Year category had excellent nominees who were very inspiring.

“I found it to be really enjoyable to hear about the amazing achievements of the people of Hartlepool.

“I would say the Volunteer of the Year and Fundraiser of the Year were the toughest categories to judge because everyone has done so well.”

Of the judging process, Mr Foster said: “It is difficult to judge a winner from such a high standard of nominees who are such a huge inspiration.

“It promises to be a fantastic evening.”

Mr Cordner added: “The standard of entries shows what an amazing selection of people we have in Hartlepool.”

Watch out in your Mail for coverage of the awards night on April 26.