Plymouth Leander voted "Team of the Year"

Plymouth Leander was voted "Team of the Year" with the club's World, Commonwealth and European champion Ben Proud named "Sports Personality of the Year" at Devon and Cornwall Sports Awards 2018.

The club's Head Coach Robin Armayan was also runner-up in the "Coach of the Year" category.

The awards, sponsored by Plymouth College and St Austell Brewery, recognise sporting excellence across the two counties- with winners announced at a glittering awards evening at Plymouth Pavilions.

Ben Proud, who recently bought his first home in Plymouth and remains a member of Plymouth Leander, has had a great year - successfully defending his 50m freestyle Commonwealth title, while also adding two silver relay medals to his haul. He ended the year on a high as he became European 50m freestyle champion - with a time that makes him the fastest man in the world in water (wearing a textile suit!).

Plymouth Leander took the club title against tough competition from Exeter Chiefs, Plymouth Argyle Ladies Football Club and Plymouth Parkway. In 2018, PL took 12 swimmers from six countries to the Commonwealth Games on Australia's Gold Coast - more athletes than any other club in the country. The #bluearmy went on to win the National Arena Swimming League and, last October, Plymouth Leander was named "South West Swimming Club of the Year".

"Coach of the Year" was a tough category and the club was delighted to see Head Coach Robin Armayan finish runner up behind fellow Frenchman Alex Rochas from Plymouth Diving. Robin was said to have had an "impressive year" as head of Plymouth Leander and as Director of Swimming at Plymouth College. The citation highlighted the large number of PL athletes at the Commonwealth Games and recognised Robin’s success with Tom Fannon at the European Championships. He was also selected for the Swim England Coach 2024 Programme.