As the football season draws to a close, another trophy was won at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium week when Durham County beat North Riding County in final of the FA County Youth Cup, the most prestigious Under 18 tournament in the country.
It caps a great season for Durham County and captain Curtis Taylor who proudly lifted the trophy. Another team to add to the list of contenders for team of the year.
Congratulations to everyone honoured at the first Durham Sport's Awards Dinner. They recognised the often unsung heroes of grassroots sport, the coaches and volunteers without whom many teams and clubs could not function. Durham Sport also appointed two young sporting ambassadors in Michael Boal, an Under-18 England hockey international and Carly Telford, international goalkeeper for England's Under-17 and Under-19 women's football team. I am sure these two young people will inspire many others to participate, and achieve, in their chosen sports.
A couple of local young ladies are excelling on the international stage. At the tender age of 14, Amy Fossheim helped the Great Britain gymnastic team reach fourth place in the European Gymnastics championships in Amsterdam. This was the team's highest ever placing in the championships. Amy who started gymnastics when she was four is now dreaming of the 2008 Olympic Games.
Someone who may be in the running for an Olympic medal this year is Joanne Jackson of Derwentside Swimming Club. Joanne recorded the fastest time in the world this year when qualifying for the 400m Freestyle at the Olympic Trials. Joanne has also been selected for the 200m Freestyle Relay. I'm sure everyone in the region will be cheering her on in Athens.
You might not know by the weather but the cricket season is underway and sadly one of the leading batsmen in the NYSD Premier League has suffered a serious injury which will keep him out for the whole of the season. Best wishes to Darlington RA's Darren Hickey as he recovers from the cruciate ligament problem. One batsman who is staking a very early claim for the NYSD League's Player of the Year is Normanby Hall's Mark Lane. Mark is leading scorer across the Premier League and Division One so far with 201 runs in two innings, including an unbeaten 121. Maybe a tour of the Caribbean beckons!
Don't forget to join me and the rest of the team this tomorrow on 96.6tfm. We've got an extra special show lined up this Saturday to celebrate Hartlepool's fabulous achievement in reaching the play-offs. We'll have all the fun and mayhem of Soccer Saturday between 12pm and 2pm then Game On with Tom Davies live from Jackson's Wharf on Hartlepool Marina with Middlesbrough updates from Portsmouth. Then at 5pm the main event as we bring Game On Extra - full match commentary from Hartlepool United v Bristol City with James Mountford and Terry Cochrane.
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