The countdown to the 2013 Maitland Sportsperson of the Year awards has begun with only 32 days until the winners of the city’s most sought after sporting prizes are announced.

The evening, which will mark the awards’ 50th anniversary, will be held at the Maitland Town Hall on March 7 with former champions from the generations to be part of the ­proceedings, along with the current crop of nominees.

Those present-day athletes will attempt to make the illustrious honour roll which includes the likes of Olympians Simon Orchard, Brendan Sexton, Josh Ross and Don Brook as well as Maitland Pickers legend Terry Pannowitz, wheelchair tennis player Marny Cringle and inaugural 1963 winner Marguerite Jenkins, nee Ruygrok.

Among those up for the open and junior ­sections this time around will be 2012 trophy holders Maddi Elliott and Abbey Harkin, who impressed selectors once again last year. 

The 2013 nominees also include world cup winners and national representatives and they come from 13 different sports, from hockey to harness racing and athletics to Aussie rules.

Profiles on each of the athletes can be found on page 22 of today’s Mercury with readers encouraged to take part in the 2013 People’s Choice awards.

The competition coupon is on page 23 and simply by voting for your favourite Maitland sportsperson of 2013 you will be in the running to win $1000 worth of gift vouchers to spend at Stockland Green Hills.

All you need to do is fill in the details, cut out the coupon and return it to the Mercury office at 6/555 High Street, Maitland.

Readers can vote as many times as they like and coupons will appear daily in the Mercury until Friday, February 28, with entries due by close of business that day.

The People’s Choice champions, for both open and junior divisions, will be determined by those nominees with the most votes and will be announced on the awards night along with the winner of the People’s Choice readers’ prize drawn at random.

Awards for the open and junior sportspeople of the year, junior encouragement and team of the year, both open and junior, will also be revealed next month.

The 2013 Maitland Sportsperson of the Year awards night will be a fund-raiser for the Mark Hughes Foundation.

Major sponsors of the awards in 2013 are the Maitland Mercury, PRD nationwide, 

Maitland City Bowls, Sports and Recreation Club, Stockland Green Hills and the Athlete’s Foot.