Last updated 12:33, Friday, 21 November 2008

A DECADE ago, a young rower from Hexham Queen Elizabeth High School was crowned Tynedale Sports Council’s young player of the year after winning the boys’ double sculls at the junior world championships in Belgium/

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Next month, that same young man will be appearing at the sports council awards night again.

This time, though, Matt Wells will be presenting the trophies, not receiving them, as he shows off the bronze medal he won at the Beijing Olympic Games.

And that strong right arm will be put to good use, as he hands out 13 trophies, and numerous certificates of merit not only to people who have enjoyed success as competitors, but to those backroom boys and girls who have helped others to succeed.

The awards were decided at a marathon four-hour meeting of the sports council’s awards committee on Thursday, when the debates were animated, to say the least!

All the people named below will receive an award of some kind at the awards night, which takes place at the Tynedale Function Suite on Tyne Green at 7-30pm on December 8.

However, the name of the trophy winners will remain a closely guarded secret until the night, as will the recipient of the Stan Calvert Award for some outstanding young sports star.

The awards winners are as follows:

CLUB OF THE YEAR

Corbridge United Juniors: Club with over 200 playing members aged from six to 17. Staged McDonald’s Festival with Sir Geoff Hurst, arranged referees and coaching courses and introduced girls’ football.

Hexham Canoe Club: The most active paddle sport club in Northumberland, with the most recorded Step into Sport volunteers in Canoe England. Has a membership of over 400 from all age ranges, and stages many events, including the annual Tyne Tour - the biggest single tour in Europe.

One-Life Triathlon Club: Winners of two golds, a silver and a bronze at the national triathlon championships in Wakefield. Entrants had top swim 1,500 metres, cycle 40km and then run 10km.

Prudhoe Youth Club football club: Runs 22 teams, involving 400 young people and over 40 volunteers. Now runs two adult teams, meaning it can take youngsters from six to adult level. Won numerous cups at many different age groups,

Stocksfield Netball Club: Winners of Northumberland League at senior, U11,U13 and U15 levels, with seniors, U11s and U13s all unbeaten all season.

Tynedale Rugby Club: Enjoyed huge success on the field at first, second and third team level, as well as running a 400-strong junior section. Provided 12 players for the Northumberland team which won the County Shield at Twickenham. Carried out major improvements to the clubhouse, including the provision of new changing rooms to enable facilities to be used by women and junior footballers.

ADULT TEAM OF THE YEAR

ActiveCycles: Corbridge-based cycling club which won the North-East road racing championship, and British Cycling Federation North East team champions through Colin Humphreys.

Hexham Golf Club men’s first team: Champions of the Hadrian League for the third successive year, as well as taking the Davison Cup for the third time in four years, the county foursomes and the Hadrian League field day.

Hexham Netball Club: Winners of the Northumberland and Durham League Third Division, and the All Saints Winter League.

Tynedale Rugby Club 1st XV: Gained promotion to National League Division Two, winning 24 of their 26 matches, to be recognised as one of the top 42 clubs in England. Also reached fourth round of EDF National Trophy, beaten by Manchester - now division one - only after extra time. Also regained Northumberland Senior Cup.

Wark FC: Gained promotion to the premier division of the Northern Alliance, as well as reaching two prestigious cup finals, including the prestigious Northumberland Senior Benevolent Bowl.

Prudhoe Golf Club: Winners of the Newcastle and District Golf League for the first time in 12 years.

YOUTH TEAM OF THE YEAR

Hexham U15s: In their first season in the NABC League, took the divisional title with a perfect record, winning all 18 of their matches, scoring 138 goals and conceding just nine, to be promoted two divisions.

Prudhoe YC U13 Reds: Enjoyed their best-ever season, winning the NABC League third division without losing a game. They also won the NFA West Division Cup, and the NABC six-a-side league.

Prudhoe YC U10 Reds: Won every competition they entered – Tyne Valley Insurance Tynedale Mini-Soccer League, league cup, West Division Cup and five-a-side competition.

Team Northumbria: A trio aged 14, 13 and 11 from Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club, who represented Northumberland at the National School Sailing Association’s team racing challenge at Rickmansworth, and finished runners up in their age group, and 11th overall.

Tynedale Harriers U17s: Travelled down to Hartlepool to compete in the 102nd North Eastern Counties Cross Country championships in appalling conditions, and came back with gold medals.

HIGH SCHOOL TEAM OF THE YEAR

Haydon Bridge U15 rugby team: County schools 10-a-aside champions, and Tyneside Schools 15-a-side champions.

Hexham U16 basketball team: Enjoyed a superb season which saw them defeat regional teams from Sheffield and Manchester to reach national finals at Nottingham. There they defeated teams from Sheffield and East Midlands, before going down 41-35 in the final to a team from Haringey in London.

Hexham U15 rowing boys’ team: Silver medal winners in coxed four at the National Schools regatta.

Hexham U15 rowing girls’ team: Bronze medal winners in coxed four at the National Schools regatta.

Hexham U15 rugby: Reached final of the Northumberland Cup against Newcastle RGS, whom they had already beaten 39-0, but the final was never played for technical reasons.

Prudhoe U19 trampoline girls: Finished second in the North-East regional finals to go through to the zonal finals, where they finished in the top six.

MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM OF THE YEAR

Corbridge year eight netball team: Unbeaten since they were formed in year six,won West Tyne league and tournament double.

Highfield year 8 girls’ cricket team: Represented Northumberland in Northern regional indoor finals, and performed exceptionally well, only losing out on a place in the national finals by a handful of runs.

Ovingham Kwik Cricket team: Reached national finals of prestigious competition, reaching the last 16 from an entry of 13,000 schools, and played at Leicestershire’s Grace Road round.

YOUNG SPORTS LEADER OF THE YEAR

Daniel Anderson: Successful rugby coach of both boys and girls from Haydon Bridge High School, who also lends his expertise to middle schools pupils as part of his 150 hours of volunteering.

Kurtis Beck: Prudhoe lad who has completed 200 hours of community volunteering at his judo club, and now coaches rugby as well.

Chloe Glendenning: Sixteen- year-old water sports expert from Wark, who organises youth events for Hexham Canoe Club, as well as coaching at all other levels.

Amy Legard: All rounder from Prudhoe High School who has achieved 100 hours of leadership in the community. As well as coaching badminton, she coached, acted as scorer and played at Stocksfield Cricket Club, on top of umpiring girls’ cricket and scoring at basketball – and organising the school sports day.

Charlotte Orrock: Netball coach at Prudhoe High School who has done 200 hours coaching, and got her gold Step into Sport award.

Richard Piggford: FA level one football coach with Wark Juniors, who ran two summer soccer weeks and started his own coaching business with a £2,500 grant.

DISABLED SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Edward Common: Muscular dystrophy victim all-rounder, who was part of the Northern Thunder Powerchair football team, which finished runners-up in the premier league, and qualified to play in the champions league in France. Also competed in the junior athletics championships in Blackpool, where he won three sets of gold medals, and set a national record in the precision bean bag.

Will Smith: Badminton player who lost a leg to cancer, but interrupted his A levels to represent Great Britain at the European championships in Dortmund, and came home with silver and bronze medals.

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Sandra Hyslop: Outstanding wild water canoeist from Hexham who while still a junior helped the senior Great Britain team to second place in the senior world championships at Ivrea in Italy - the first senior women’s medal in 13 years. She became European junior champion at both classic and sprint in Valtellina in Italy, a feat she repeated in another international event at Buochs in Switzerland, as well as taking bronze in the team event. Her total of five medals is the highest ever won by any British wild water racer, male or female, in a single season.

Lynn Marr: Prolific athlete from Stocksfield who has continued to dominate running events on all surfaces, indoor and out, and over a wide range of distances. She won a team gold medal in the British 10 mile road race championship at Hexham, as well as an individual bronze, and further golds came over 3000m both indoors and out in the Scottish championships. She also won numerous other medals of all colours, and was North-East overall track champion at from 800-3000m. She was selected to run for Scotland.

Kate Wilkinson: Inspirational rower from Kirkwhelpington who won a trophy at the Chester-le-Street regatta, just 18 months after being diagnosed with breast cancer, and undergoing a mastectomy.

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Sean Heads: Hexham golfer who is captain of England Universities team which won the Home Internationals, as well as a Northumberland county golfer, and winner of the Northumberland County foursomes with Martin Coup.

Stuart Oliver: The most successful British `truck racer of all time, Stuart Oliver from Bardon Mill won the British championship at this most spectacular of events for a record breaking eighth time in his MAN. Also competed on the European circuit.

Chris Paisley: Great Britain and Ireland international golfer from Stocksfield who helped his team win the St Andrew’s Trophy, and has been selected for next year’s Walker Cup in America. Currently ranked 20th amateur in the world, he was runner-up in English Amateur championship, but won the Czech Amateur title in Austerlitz.

Michael Robson: Clay pigeon shooter from Allenheads who won all three main trophies at the prestigious Middleton Shoot in one day - the first time the feat had been achieved in the competition’s 58-year history. In doing so, he did not miss a single target.

YOUNG PLAYER - BOY

Matthew Burns: Water skier from Prudhoe who took the silver medal in the national championships in Lincoln, and added a bronze in the combined events.Became the first premier league skier from the North East in 10 years.

Jonathan Cousin: Played for the prestigious North of England U18 rugby team.

Andrew Cumberlidge: Talented 17-year-old swimmer from Hexham who was an Olympic trialist, and is ranked third in the country for his age at 50m and 100m freestyle, and at 50m butterfly.

Aidan Harbottle: Prolific goal scorer from Hexham, who netted 70 goals in the NABC League last season, taking his grand total for the last four years to 240.

Matt Henderson: Stocksfield boy who is a member of the Great Britain U17 cadet epee squad, competing with success in Germany Austria and Sweden, and at 15, had already been selected for the GB U20 squad to compete in Italy next month. Won national gold medals at U17 and U18 levels, and is ranked third in the country at U18 epee.

Ross Keady: Gained county honours in two sports – a member of the Northumberland rugby squad, and opening bowler for the Northumberland U15 cricket team.

Philip Scandle: Played for the prestigious North of England U18 rugby team.

Chris Scrimshaw: Oarsman from Wark who was fifth in the national championships in his single scull, and then teamed up with three other boys to take bronze in the coxless quad.

Billy Stevens: All-rounder from Haydon Bridge who plays rugby for Northumberland. and also represents the county at shot and discus.

YOUNG PLAYER - GIRL

Jenny Bradley: All-rounder from Hexham QEHS who is a member of Sunderland ladies’ football team, and represents Northumberland and the North at hockey.

Jenny Bradshaw: Sixteen-year-old from QEHS who was an England U19 netball trialist, as well as being county champion at both long jump and high jump, going on to represent the North in the English Schools championships.

Steph Bruce: Outstanding middle distance runner from Corbridge who had well over a dozen top three finishes in major regional events, and represented Northumberland in the London Mini Marathon.

Anna-Louise Glendenning: Canoeist who is ranked fifth in the country at slalom, as well as being a successful coach, and playing rugby for her university.

Chloe Glendenning: Top canoeist from Wark who also rows, plays rugby, and plays in goal for the Northumberland girls’ football team.

Jane Hanson: Top class athlete from QEHS who was fourth in long jump in English Schools championships, and fifth in national combined events championships. Ranked in top 10 in North East in seven different disciplines.

Ginna Lamb: All rounder from QEHS who captains the North of England rugby team, as well as playing hockey.

Ffion Owen: Northumberland hockey player from QEHS who also plays rugby for the North of England.

Hannah Shotton: Very talented endurance rider, who wins races of up to 171 km on horseback. Won three top trophies at regional level, and in the national awards, picked up trophies for highest points for a young rider, and was reserve young rider champion. Also Scottish junior champion.

Catherine Sadler: Ten-year-old all-rounder from Allendale who is Cumbrian county gymnastics champion, player of the season for Hexham Netball Club, runner up in Tynedale cross country championships, won numerous player of the match awards for Allendale U10 football club, and set three school records in Allendale Middle School sports day.

Stacey Smith: Won the 800m silver medal in the National Schools Athletics championships at Gateshead.

Leigh Thompson: Hexham Amateur Swimming Club star from Haltwhistle who is Scottish national butterfly champion in her age group.

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Jocker Armstrong: A driving force behind the success of Wark FC for 60 years. Played for the club from 1948-68, helping them to a treble one season, and was then club secretary from 1970-2005. Played a couple of games at the age of 52 - and scored twice! Having inspired Wark to win the Northumberland Minor Cup in 1985, he was a key figure in their promotion to the premiership this season, at the age of 80.

Dave Barden: Recently retired after coaching Tynedale Harriers for over 25 years, making a substantial contribution tot he development of the careers of Olympian Nick McCormick, and fellow award winner Stacey Smith. Has given countless hours of service to the Harriers.

Lorraine Glendenning: Key figure in the success of Hexham Canoe Club, with particular emphasis on the Tyne Tour, although she is also in Tyne Green just about every weekend of the year, doing everything from opening up the boathouse in the morning to closing it at night. Organises numerous events, as well as acting as a coach herself. ,

Bobby Timperley: Another inspirational volunteer from Hexham Canoe Club, always willing to help out in any way she can, despite the fact she is receiving treatment for a serious illness.

DISABLED PERSONALITY

Jacky Blackburn: Hugely respected volunteer at Hexham Spinal Unit Sports Club, assisting wheelchair users each Friday afternoon, and in doing so, becoming a friend rather than a worker.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Tom Borthwick: Inspirational coach of Tynedale Rugby Club first XV, who not only masterminded the team’s promotion to National League Division Two, but also did it playing fast, open rugby. Not content with that, he also steered unfancied Northumberland to victory over favourites Cornwall in the County Shield final at Twickenham.

Jim Chambers: Worked extremely hard to develop the junior section at Hexham squash club, taking some from complete beginners to county standard players. Also organises numerous events at the club.

Christine Hall: Head coach at Tynedale Amateur Swimming Club for the past 18 years, moving from the old fashioned pool at Prudhoe to the brand new pool at Hexham. Her total dedication sees her coaching from 5-30am four times per week, as well as on four evenings per week. Has coached several swimmers of national medals, and has organised training camps as far away as Dublin.

Pauline Higgins: A maths teacher at QEHS who also runs the school rowing club, which involves everything from supervising training on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday all year round, to driving the minibus to events. Also involved in fund-raising, and has seen crews enjoy considerable success at regattas around the North-East, culminating in national honours.