The sports 'champion' for Teignbridge has said he would rather deliver awards door-to-door than have the district's sporting heroes go unnoticed this year.

Last week this newspaper revealed exclusively that Teignbridge Council had cancelled the 2009 Sports Personality of the Year owing to staffing problems and 'consideration for the current economic climate'.

Cllr Jeremy Christophers, who has the job of promoting sporting excellence, is not satisfied.

He acknowledged the amount of work required but said the show must go on.

'There is no question that the event takes an incredible effort from the leisure department, particularly the excellent Nikki Toms, who fully deserves her nomination for the council worker of the year,' he said.

'However, the event simply must proceed this year in some form or another.'

Cllr Christophers was critical of the manner in which news of the cancellation had been broken in a press release entitled Teignbridge Is Tops For Sports Participation.

'This statement truly takes the biscuit for having more spin than a Shane Warne leg break,' he said.

'As I said at the event last year sport and recreation at Teignbridge can sometimes be regarded as a Cinderella service.

'After we've got answers about why and how the decision to cancel was taken, the elected members of this council should support our officers so the event can take place.

'However, as a measure of last resort and a bare minimum, the nominations should be taken, a panel should judge them, and if need be I will personally deliver the awards to winners.

'What is more, I will do it with pride and in recognition of the winners' dedication to making Teignbridge a better place to belong.'

Last year's overall winner, student Scott Smith now aged 17, said he was bitterly disappointed with the cancellation as the awards had changed his life.

Following last year's event he realised a lifetime's ambition to open his own martial arts school.

'I'm a bit gutted to be honest, it's a very big event and one which has given me a lot of credit,' said the lad from Dawlish who studies at Torquay Boys' Grammar School.

'It gave me a lot of confidence, I never really thought I was that good a sportsman until I won.

'It has also given me a lot of standing. My dream since I was little was to open my own school and after I won people took me seriously.'

Like Cllr Christophers he praised sports officer Nikki Toms.

'She gave me a lot of advice about setting up my business, how to promote myself. She's a genius of a woman.'

Further demonstrating his sporting nature he added: 'I'm just really looking forward to next year's event, it will be massive and I wish all the contestants the best of luck.'