KEIGHLEY were major winners at the annual Bradford Sporting Awards.

England rugby union full back Ellie Kildunne was named Sportswoman of the Year, while Keighley-born cricketing superstar Harry Brook shared the Sportsman of the Year prize with England colleague Adil Rashid.

Meanwhile, Keighley Cougars picked up three awards for their superb achievement in winning all 20 of their League One matches in 2022.

Kildunne is one of the most feared attackers in the England team, switching to union at Keighley RUFC after playing rugby league for Keighley Albion.

Clubwise in union, she has since represented Gloucester-Hartpury, Wasps and now Harlequins, and scored England’s opening try in the delayed World Cup final against New Zealand last November.

However, England eventually lost the match 34-31, although it is considered to be the greatest women’s rugby match of all time.

Brook, from Burley-in-Wharfedale, had a sensational 2022, going from an uncapped player at Yorkshire to being a mainstay of the England team in all three formats.

He helped his country win the T20 World Cup, alongside Rashid, and gained a lucrative contract to play in the Indian Premier League for Hyderabad Sunrisers as a team-mate of Rashid’s.

Neither Brook, Rashid nor Kildunne were present at the glitzy bash at the Life Centre Events, which was compered as usual by BBC TV’s Tanya Arnold, and attracted a record attendance of 500.

However, Brook gave a video message from abroad, stating: “I want to say a massive thank you for this award.

“2022 was an amazing year for me with one or two highlights, such as the World Cup win and my first Test 100 in Pakistan.

“I want to thank the community in Bradford for supporting me.”

Cougars won the Professional/Club Team of the Year award, the Coach of the Year award (Rhys Lovegrove) and the Sporting Highlight of the Year award.

Joint Cougars owner Mick O’Neill said: “It is super for me, my son and his partner, who have taken over and are doing a great job and it is great award for Keighley, which is a little bus stop past Bradford.

“I am fed up of hearing about Bradford and we are not bothered about the Bulls.”

O’Neill added: “The club is already growing as we have lads in who are energetic, and we need good players in and it will grow further.

“It is a great town if we are winning and our ambition for the rest of the season is to at least make the top six and go from there.”