JUNIORS at Tynedale Harriers were inspired as an Olympian joined in with their training session.

Hexham born and bred runner Nick McCormick, who represented Great Britain in the 5000m at London 2012, ran alongside some of the club’s upcoming athletes as headed back to his former club to hand out trophies at the Harriers’ annual awards evening.

While Tynedale coach Peter Venus was called away for personal reasons, he left a training schedule for his junior endurance squad of Max Pearson, Tom Joyce and Alex Wood, with McCormick tagging along and being put through his paces.

He also ran alongside other teenagers at the club, and stuck around to pass on expert advice and tips on universities, competitions and training.

The visit was arranged by teenager Max Pearson who persuaded McCormick to come home and present the awards when club members gathered at Hexham Function Suite, the two meeting when McCormick presented Pearson with his silver medal at the England Athletics Championships U17 1500m, in Sheffield, earlier this year.

He was again handing over a prize to Pearson but this time it was the trophy for first place in the club’s U15 boys’ cross country category, as he finished ahead of runner-up Christopher Jackson and third placed Daniel Howells. In track and field, Ellis Leonard was the winner with Seth Kippax-Jones second and Sean Abrams third.

Ellen Ricketts was winner of the U15 girls’ XC, ahead of Arabella Chicken and Elena Bluck. Louise Smith won the T&F category, with Rosina McLean second and Ellen Ricketts third.

The top three in the U13 boys’ XC was Aidan Pinkney, Gabriel Morley and Joseph Green, with Hary Coldwell, Sam Bell and Charlie Lester making up the T&F higher ranked athletes.

Annie Anderson finished ahead of Keeley French and Jasmine Couchman in the U13 girls’ XC, and Lottie Murphy was the winner in T&F ahead of Kate Smith and Olivia Stewart. Jack Colmer won the U17 boys’ T&F with Christopher Jackson and Tom Joyce next up, with Imogen Bell on top of the girls’ equivalent ahead of Anna Channon and Courtney Heslop.

Jaycee Shotton won the U17 boys’ XC, with Hannah Pinkney edging out Laura Vickers for the girls.

Ellis Leonard and Imogen Bell won the respective Mary McGee Awards, and Ellen Ricketts was presented with the Special Achievement Award.

In the adults’ section, Darren Towart came away with a double after being presented with the chairman’s award for a male representative and the trophy for best male track athlete. Jules Pearson was awarded the chairman’s award for female member.

Matthew Burns was top performing field athlete, with Louise Griffin best female track athlete and Steph White best field athlete among the women.

Adam Pratt was star cross country runner, and Kirstie Anderson excelled among the females.

Trophies for ultra runners were handed out to Lucia Ellman and Tamsin Cass, while Paul Hutchinson was most improved in Group One, Leanne Hayter in Group Two, Chris Francis in Group Three and Bridget Broadhurst in Group Four.

Andy Green was deemed the member ‘leading from the front’ and Katie Colmer left with the coveted title of coach of the year.