Tony Rigby has been honoured for a lifetime of playing table tennis and helping others to get into the sport.
A stalwart of the Preston League and Lancashire & Cheshire League, Tony won the Lifetime Achievement award at the 11th annual Preston Sports Awards.
Tony has been involved in the sport for 50 years and among his accolades has won the Preston Championship six times, the veterans’ title nine times and a total of 14 doubles titles.
A county player for many years, he also represented Great Britain’s team in the European championships for Post Office/mail companies three times, winning two gold medals.
As well as the playing side, he has been a qualified coach for 40 years and has run the Preston Championship for 25 years.
Alongside Jim Clegg, he masterminded the opening of Preston TTA’s St Augustine’s centre 11 years ago.
Tony said he was delighted to have won the award and added: “I just enjoy being involved in table tennis. I just enjoy playing and luckily I was involved at work as well.
“I like coaching the kids, not so much to make top players but keeping them off the streets and giving them something to do so when they go off to university they can meet people through sport.
“I’ve had a good life through table tennis.”