A GYMNASTICS coach is celebrating after she was named coach of the year for the Sedgefield area in the County Durham Sports and Physical Activity Awards.

Sam Robson, 21, of Bishop Auckland, won the title for her work with the Athena Sports Academy.

Miss Robson, who helped set up the club which has nearly 200 members, was at the awards ceremony at Spennymoor Leisure Centre recently.

Athena Sports Academy also won Junior Sports Club of the Year for the Sedgefield area.

Miss Robson said: “I’m over the moon to have won the award and I still can’t believe it.

“It’s being a very successful year as I won the coach of the year title and the club was also named as the junior sports club of the year.”

She has won the competition’s Young Coach of the Year Award for the Sedgefield area for the last two years. Miss Robson and the club will now take on the winners from the other regions in County Durham at the competition’s county final on October 12.

The competition is backed by Durham County Council and County Durham Sport and the awards recognise the achievements of unsung sporting heroes.

The club holds sessions at both Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre and Shildon Sunnydale Leisure Centre for youngsters aged between three and 18-years-old.

Details on the club can be obtained from Sam Robson on 07800-847-527.