EVERYONE was a winner. So said Young Person of the Year organiser Tony Gearing at this year s award ceremony for North Herts and Stevenage. Speaking after the event, Mr Gearing said: Yopey is growing all the time and the quality of the finalist is getti

EVERYONE was a winner.

So said Young Person of the Year organiser Tony Gearing at this year's award ceremony for North Herts and Stevenage.

Speaking after the event, Mr Gearing said: "Yopey is growing all the time and the quality of the finalist is getting better and better.

"All the young people who take part in a Yopey are winners because they are helping to give their generation the fairer image they deserve," he said.

Finalists included Sally Rowe, Wortham Road, Royston and sisters Ruby and Grace Russell, of Greenways, Buntingford.

Sally was nominated for the award for her commitment to animals which has led to her setting up training sessions once-a-week teaching youngsters to train their pets.

Sally said: "If people knew how to care for their animals there would be a nicer relationship between the two, and both animals and owners would benefit."

Ruby and Grace were nominated for their commitment to Girl Guides and Rainbows in Buntingford.

"They have become important figures to a lot of youngsters," said Mr Gearing.

The overall winner was Lewis Stockwell, the band master of Hitchin Air Cadets, who had built up the band despite having several stomach operations.

Cllr Reg Smith, the deputy lieutenant of Hertfordshire, said: "He put his own illness to the back of his mind and made helping others his priority."

The junior winners were the Marriotts Young Carers, a group of teenagers who look after family members with a disability or a problem.

* Young people can still be nominated for an award in this year's Yopey county final by having a wildcard entry.

* For details visit the website at www.yopey.org