The premier night in the local sporting calendar has finally arrived.

Tonight over 250 people from the world of sport will gather at the Lough Erne Resort for the Impartial Reporter’s second Celebration of Sport.

In so doing, the sporting year 2013 will be honoured as local sports men, women, boys and girls have continued to excel and represent the region with distinction and at all levels.

The evening will commence at 7.00pm sharp with a champagne reception at and it is hoped that the meal will commence in the Ross Suite at 7.30pm. The dress code is smart casual.

The celebration will once again be compered by Graham Little and GAA star Martin McGrath will be the special guest. And it was also revealed last week that Ulster rugby stars Tommy Bowe, Paddy Wallace and Paddy McAllister will be the guests of the Bank of Ireland who also sponsor the sporting great who this year is Roslea Shamrocks and Fermanagh legend Peter McGinnity.

McGinnity’s record pretty much speaks for itself.

With 27 titles as a player, an All Star and 14 more titles as a manager it would be fair to say that Roslea Shamrocks great McGinnity is one of Fermanagh sport’s big hitters.

Add in the keenly contested seven other categories, the winners of which will be announced tonight, the large youth representation and the substantial bursary for the Young Sports Personality of the Year from Fermanagh Trust supported by the Greg Turley Bursary and it has all the makings of a great evening.

The night of course could not have happened without the sponsorship from local businesses and the Impartial Reporter recently held a informal get together with all the sponsors at Lough Erne Resort ahead of Friday night’s Celebration of Sport. Editor of the Impartial Reporter Sarah Saunderson commented: “A huge crowd of sports people and their friends and families are due to attend this premier event in the sporting calendar.

“I must make special mention of our sponsors without whom this event would simply not take place. On behalf of this newspaper and the sports people whose achievements we are gathering to celebrate, I thank them for their enthusiasm and support for the celebration we are hosting at the five star Lough Erne Resort.

“This is to be a very special event, with a full camera crew from Below the Radar to capture all the highlights of the evening and broadcast them from the big screen. Compere Graham Little will be conducting interviews with sporting greats like rugby players Tommy Bowe and Paddy Wallace along with our homegrown stars like Marty McGrath.

“It’s been a great year for sport. We are all looking forward to celebrating it.”