The 2009 England Athletics National Awards programme, sponsored by Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne, has seen volunteers from across the country recognised for their contributions in supporting the development of the sport.

There are twelve categories of award which recognise the work of clubs, volunteers, officials and coaches, as well as the areas of partnership and disability athletics.  We are pleased to announce the resuts of the first stage of the programme - the nine English Regional Award winners for the 12 categories.  You can read more about the regional winners in the local area news pages over the following weeks.  Congratulations to the following winners:

Category	EAST	SOUTH EAST	LONDON
Junior Club of Year	City of Norwich AC	Slough Juniors	Havering Mayesbrook AC
Senior Club of Year	not awarded this year	Arena 80	Newham and Essex Beagles
Services to Coaching	Tim and Pauline Ash	Mike Smith	John Isaacs
Development Coach	Barry Johnston	Mike Baron	Jane Farrier
Performance Coach	John Stow	Keith Fleming	John Herbert
Young Volunteer of Year	Jessica Barber	Jo Booker	Rachel Blackie, Lauren Blackie, Dan Haque, Scott Huggins
Services to Volunteering	Beth Harris	Barry Sides	Don Turner
Official of Year	Paul Rutter	Darryl Quinn	Gill Freeman
Services to Officiating	Noel Moss	John Lofts	Andy Glover
Club - Community Partnership	Cambridge and Coleridge AC	Maidenhead AC	Orion Harriers AC
Services to Disability	Richard Hunt	Sandra King	Jamie Bath
Services to Athletics	Ralph Burrows	Mike Scott	Judy and John Vernon

Category	SOUTH WEST	EAST MIDLANDS	WEST MIDLANDS
Junior Club of Year	East Cornwall Harriers	Wreake Runners	Halesowen AC
Senior Club of Year	Yeovil Olympiads Mens Team	Mansfield Harriers	not awarded this year
Services to Coaching	Peter Clark	Richard Pentin	Trevor Marsay
Development Coach	Ken Holmes	Jen Knapp	not awarded this year
Performance Coach	Graham Norris	Alison Allee	Norma Pugh
Young Volunteer of Year	Adam Tofield	Sophie Arkinstall	Sam Crutchley
Services to Volunteering	Sharon Terry	Sheila O’Keefe	Maurice Endacott
Official of Year	Derek Burrows	Nick Reade	not awarded this year
Services to Officiating	Ron Little	Jack Walters	Maureen Bullen
Club - Community Partnership	not awarded this year	Ivanhoe Robins	Halesowen AC
Services to Disability	David Hatch	not awarded this year	Lincoln Asquith, Barry Gladwin
Services to Athletics	Roger Symons	Harold Billings	Gordon Anisley

Category	YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE	NORTH EAST	NORTH WEST
Junior Club of Year	Doncaster AC	Gateshead Harriers & AC	Horwich RMI Harriers
Senior Club of Year	.	Gateshead Harriers & AC	Spectrum Striders
Services to Coaching	Alwyn & Adrienne Dewhirst (Holmfirth Harriers)	Sydney Robson	Graham Pilkington
Development Coach	Sue Lawal (City of York AC)	Keith Casson	Andrew Jones
Performance Coach	Trevor Fox (Dearneside High AC)	Steve Shaw	Trevor Painter
Young Volunteer of Year	not awarded this year	Craig Birch	Horwich RMI Harriers - Rebecca Keating, Rachel Pearson, Tiffany Dacre, Jack Thomas, Mike Houghton
Services to Volunteering	Kevin Lincoln (Doncaster AC)	Kevin Flannery	Stephen Jackson
Official of Year	not awarded this year	Brian Titley	David Brown
Services to Officiating	Edwin Bellamy (Barton AC) & Sheila Bolland (Spenborough AC)	Andrea Fyall	Tony Reilly
Club - Community Partnership	.	Gateshead MBC	Preston Harriers
Services to Disability	Brian Burgin (Halifax Harriers)	Rosalind Miller	Ian Jones
Services to Athletics	Terry Bailey (Doncaster AC)	Richard Hunter	Pat Green

John Graves - chair of the EA board commented, "The regional awards programmes are one of, if not the most, important initiatives that we support as a governing body. I am delighted that this year’s programme will recognize over 100 volunteers and organizations who really make the sport tick. Without volunteers the sport would cease to exist as we know it at a local level and it is vitally important for the long term health of the sport that we recognize this contribution and support it in whatever way we can. A number of our key strategies are focused on supporting the growth and skill base in volunteering and such role models recognized in this year’s awards programme can only serve as an example to others who might be thinking of getting involved in their local club, association or community."

The regional finalists are automatically considered for recognition at the National Awards (this does not mean that all will be shortlisted) where winners will be presented with their bottle of Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne and trophy at the England National Awards & Hall of Fame Evening to be held at Aston Villa Football Club on 10 October 2009. Tickets for the occasion will be available to the public.

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