FOR dedicating more than 20 years to the club, Colin Burns was presented with a fitting trophy at Tynedale Harriers’ annual end-of-season awards.

The Hexham taxi driver is one of the three senior coaches at the athletics club, and his tireless commitment to developing young athletes for two decades saw him pick up the Chairman’s Award when club members gathered at Hexham Abbey for the awards ceremony.

While never participating in athletics himself, Burns (60) has long been a key member of the Harriers and he has helped hundreds of talented people hone their skills.

He became involved with the club when his two sons Daniel and Matthew joined in 1996, and he became fully immersed in all things athletics from that point on.

Specialising in field events, Burns has watched many of his athletes go on to achieve county and inter county titles - achievements which bring him the most pleasure.

He said: “Once my children went to university, I kept on doing it because I had a group of children I was coaching who were doing well. I’ve been doing it nearly 22 years now, and I’m quite chuffed with how well some of the athletes have done. It’s quite an achievement for me, but even more so for them to get there.

“I just enjoy doing it, and it keeps young people active. I coach the different disciplines and children at different levels, and it’s very rewarding.”

Popular Harrier Kim Bluck was also the recipient of the chairman’s award, her commitment to the club much appreciated by Ian Brown and fellow members.

Among her many roles at Tynedale is press co-ordinator, and she plays a big role in raising the profile of the club. Partners on and off the training track, Lea Stephenson and Ruby Westlake left with his and hers trophies.

For Stephenson reclaimed the male track athlete of the year award which he last won in 2013, while Westlake was awarded the female equivalent after a great breakthrough year.

In a year when he hit the front pages of the Hexham Courant for racing a train, the prize for 400m runner Stephenson wasn’t so much of a surprise after another great season. However, Westlake was left stunned as she brought home the trophy after her first season in competitive racing, competing at 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m throughout the season under the expert guidance of coach Doug Maxwell.

Her efforts helped Tynedale gain promotion in the track and field league.

She said: “It was lovely to receive recognition for the effort I put in on the track over the year. It wasn’t easy competing for the first time at 39, and against people I knew I couldn’t beat.

“I’m delighted I was part of the team that achieved promotion, and especially pleased to get the same award as my partner, Lea, who said he was happier to see me get an award than to receive one himself!”

Westlake’s coach Maxwell shared the coach of the year award with Peter Venus, while there were also joint winners of the fell or ultra runner of the year with secretary Kim Firstbrook and Nicky Geoffrey impressing.

In a special award for outstanding service to the club, long-serving husband wife team Clive and Alison Shotton were honoured.

There was further success in the Burns household when Matthew Burns retained the trophy for male field athlete of the year, with Imogen Bell achieving the female prize.

After a fantastic season which has seen her win numerous veteran 45 titles, Karen Robertson was named female cross country runner of the year. Adam Pratt was male runner of the year for the second year running. Similarly to Robertson, Andy Green has been in the medals throughout the season and he was the most improved athlete in group one.

Group two’s winners was Tamsin Cass, Sue Black was the winner in group three, and Judy Skedge, who was sixth in her age group at the World Masters Mountain Championships in Italy, was the winner in group four.

Meanwhile, the club’s team of the year was the senior athletics team who travelled across the country putting Tynedale back on the athletics map.