Athletics: Harriers to fore on award night; INSIDE TRACK.

Byline: BY BILL McGUIRK

A GOLDEN awards evening at Newcastle- Gateshead Hilton went off with lots of fizz, thanks to the input of sponsors Heidsieck Monopole champagne.

It was the second such gettogether hosted by England Athletics North East and attracted around 140 guests, many of whom were on hand to receive a small token of thanks for their endeavours during the past 12 months.

Coaches, officials and volunteers were the main recipients, but this time round there were awards for athletes.

Stephen Miller, back from his exploits in Beijing where he picked up a silver medal to add to his three Paralympic golds, was the guest of honour.

And he helped to present the awards together with Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and Jeanette Pickard, chief executive of the Tony Blair Foundation.

Just as they did last year, Gateshead Harriers consolidated their position as the leading North East club by picking up numerous awards as the night unfolded.

There were four categories under the banner of Club of the Year and the Tyneside outfit won three of them - the same three they lifted 12 months ago.

It was no surprise that they won the award for track and field as a result of their third place in Division One of the British League. Under the management of Jeff Sturrock, they just missed out on a place in the Premier League for next season.

The Junior Club of the Year award is also set for the trophy cabinet at the International Stadium after Hilary Forest accepted it in recognition of Gateshead being the only club in the country with two teams in the National Young Athletes League.

The Inclusivity Club award was once again in Gateshead's hands for its contribution to disabled athletics in the region.

The Off Track category went to Redcar Race Walking Club, with the efforts of Beijing Olympian Johanna Jackson helping to lead the revival of the sport on Teesside.

Gateshead members were back in the spotlight once more when it was time to present the Volunteer of the Year awards.

Jason Stobbs picked up the Young Volunteer trophy for his sterling work coaching children between the ages of eight and 11.

The 21-year-old has also been responsible for organising the Gateshead Harriers kids' series of events.

Stobbs was joined on the stage by a stalwart at the other end of the age spectrum, Chris Betts, who was the instigator of the kids events as well as undertaking a great deal of fund-raising on behalf of the club which earned him an award for Services to Club Development.

The Club Volunteer award went to Dave Kitching for his unseen work with one of the region's fledgling organisations.

Kitching has been with Blyth Athletics Club since its formation in 1981 and, for the past 20 years, has held the finances together as treasurer as well as being at the helm of the Blyth Valley 10k and Blyth Sands races.

Awards for officials was next on the agenda, with Durham City's John Gurney, the chairman of the North East Counties Officials Association. lifting the Services to Officiating trophy.

Gateshead's Jenni Mersh was awarded the Newcomer of the Year trophy, while Nick Hodgson was awarded the Off Track Trophy and Peter Terry and Mick Fraser awards for Track and Field officiating.

There were some popular winners among the coaching awards and none more so than Derek Wilcox, who was named Participation Coach of the Year.

Wilcox, who coaches Gateshead athletes at the International Stadium. has, over the past 12 months, helped to keep the conveyor belt of talented youngsters to the fore.

Kirk Barclay, another coach who operates at the International Stadium, received the Podium Coach of the Year award.

Over the past 12 months the standard of hurdling in the area has been something to be proud of with a lot of it down to Barclay's input.

Among his charges are Lauren Dewdney and Rebecca Liddell, who won gold and silver medals in the English Schools' Championships.

The Performance Coach of the Year went to another popular winner, Barry Forster, for his work with the all-conquering Chester-le-Street women's endurance squad.

For the second year running the Services to Coach Development award went to Peter Tate of South Shields.

Over the past decade Tate has contributed enormously to the growth and development of high jumping in the region.

His High Jump Academy at Monkton Stadium has proved so successful that he is now developing a second site in Blaydon, so we can look forward to more high flyers in years to come.

The final individual awards of the evening were for outstanding performances by athletes, an innovation this year.

For the second year running athletes from the region excelled in the English Schools' Championships, so the judges had a tough task deciding on the winners.

In the end, pole vaulter Tim Parkin (Gateshead) was adjudged the best male Athlete of the Year, while Teesside hammer thrower Kayleigh Mills (Middlesbrough AC) picked up the female award.

Two special presentations were made to Teesside's Jean Simmons and Ros Miller for their Services to Athletics.

Sue Skirrow, of Alnwick Harriers and Keith Wilshire, Blyth Running Club, brought proceedings to a close when they were jointly awarded the Athletics Partnership for their support and development of athletics within Northumberland.

The two clubs have combined forces to compete in the National Young Athletes League, which gives their athletes the opportunity to compete at events across the region.

England Athletics' Regional Manager, Richard Hunter, the MC for the evening, said: "The region has a wealth of talent and what we've seen is that this talent is in good hands.

"As a sport we must encourage local authorities to promote athletics events and support clubs in the region to ensure we are recognised nationally and internationally leading up to 2012."

THE National Trust/Friends of Gibside, in association with Blackhill Bounders, promote the 12th Fruit Bowl Seven Trail Race in the the grounds of Gibside Estate on Sunday, November 2 at 10am.

Entries, which are limited to 500, go to: Joy Bell, 12 North View, Medomsley, Consett, Co Durham DH8 6PJ by October 17.

HEATON Harriers are offering a pounds 100 bonus to any male or female breaking their Town Moor Memorial 10k Road Race record.

The five-race programme on November 9, on footpaths around the Town Moor and Exhibition Park, starts with a mini-minor 1km contest at 9.50am with the main senior event due off at 11.02am.

Entries, which close on November 2, go to: Race Secretary, Flat 3, 31 Osbourne Road, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 1JR.

CAPTION(S):

CARRY ON COACHING: Derek Wilcox, Barry Forster, Kirk Barclay and Peter Tate; GOOD FOR GATESHEAD: Janice Kaufman, Hilary Forrest and Jeff Sturrock; OFFICIAL LINE-UP: Mick Fraser, Peter Terry, Jenni Mersh and John Gurney