The 2016 Northern Echo Sports Awards

SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

JACK LAUGHER

There have been some stellar performances from athletes in our region to celebrate this year, but none match Ripon diver Jack Laugher’s heroics at the Rio Olympics.

Laugher made British sporting history when he teamed up with Chris Mears in the final of the 3m synchronised springboard, with the pair becoming Britain’s first Olympic champions in diving as they claimed the gold medal.

He then added to his tally by claiming a silver medal in the individual 3m springboard, shaking off a rusty qualifying programme to produce a series of stunning dives when it really mattered in the final.

The success was all the more notable as it followed a difficult Olympic experience at London 2012, when Laugher failed to make the final as he achieved a mark of zero for one of his dives, which he failed to execute successfully.

The embarrassment might have scarred other athletes, but Laugher, who learned to dive as a youngster with Harrogate and District Diving Club, is made of sterner stuff, and he has spent the last four years developing into one of Britain’s most successful sportsmen.

Two gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games confirmed his progress, but Rio saw him elevate himself to a whole new level as he overtook Tom Daley to become the poster boy of the British diving team.

Runner-up: Jess Eddie

Third: Laurence Whiteley

2015 Steph Houghton

2014 Katy McLean

2013 Ben Stokes

2012 Kat Copeland

2011 Tony Mowbray

2010 Adam Johnson

2009 Joanne Jackson

2008 Tony Jeffries

2007 Paul Collingwood

2006 Graeme Storm

YOUNG SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

AMY TINKLER

For the second year in a row, Bishop Auckland teenager Amy Tinkler has towered over the rest of the region’s youngsters in terms of sporting achievement. Despite being the youngest member of Team GB at the Rio Olympics, she was one of the nation’s biggest stars.

She was only 16 when she competed in the Olympic floor final, but a remarkable routine saw her claim the bronze medal behind the legendary Simone Biles as she became only the second British female in history to win an individual gymnastics medal.

The overall winner at The Northern Echo’s Local Heroes Awards, she is an inspirational role model for young North-East girls interested in sport, and continues to train with her friends at South Durham Gymnastics Club, based in Spennymoor.

Runner-up: Georgia O’Connor

Third: Daisy Coill

2015 – Amy Tinkler

2014 – Jack Laugher

2013 – Matthew Fisher

2012 – Josef Craig

2011 – Jack Hermeston

2010 – Jordan Henderson

2009 – Savannah Marshall

2008 – Jemma Lowe

2007 – Kieren Emery

2006 – Paul Drinkhall

OVERSEAS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

GASTON RAMIREZ

Middlesbrough have been the region’s big winners on the football pitch this year, and having played a pivotal role in last season’s promotion success, Uruguayan forward Gaston Ramirez has followed up with a series of impressive performances as Aitor Karanka’s side attempt to establish themselves in the Premier League.

Ramirez joined Boro on loan from Southampton in January, and scored seven goals in his 18 Championship appearances as the Teessiders clinched automatic promotion in second position.

He was the Man of the Match as Boro claimed a point on their return to the top-flight against Stoke, and scored crucial goals in the home wins over Bournemouth and Hull that did so much to help his side climb the table.

Runner-up: Juan Pablo Socino

Third: Patrick van Aanholt

2015 – Dimi Konstantopoulos

2014 – Jonas Gutierrez

2013 – Keaton Jennings

2012 – Tim Krul

2011 – Dale Benkenstein

2010 – Jose Enrique

2009 – Michael Di Venuto

2008 – Dale Benkenstein

2007 – Ottis Gibson

2006 – Dale Benkenstein

COACH OF THE YEAR

MARTIN GRAY

Darlington’s rise through the non-league ranks has been one of the most remarkable North-East sporting success stories of the last decade, and former Sunderland midfielder Martin Gray has been at the forefront of the revival.

Gray has managed Darlington throughout their rise from the Northern League, and in May, he was able to celebrate the club’s third promotion in the space of four seasons as they triumphed in the Premier League of the Northern Premier Division.

That elevated the Quakers to National League North – just one level below the Conference – and an impressive start to the current campaign sees them sitting in fifth position ahead of Monday’s return to Darlington, and a new home at Blackwell Meadows. As well as managing the team on the pitch, Gray has also been a driving force behind the club’s successful relocation.

Runner-up: Aitor Karanka

Third: Rafael Benitez

2015 – Aitor Karanka

2014 – Jon Lewis

2013 – Dean Richards

2012 – James Harris

2011 – Alan Pardew

2010 – Steve McClaren

2009 – Chris Hughton

2008 – Geoff Cook

2007 – Roy Keane

2006 – Fab Flournoy

PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

KEATON JENNINGS HITTING A CENTURY ON HIS TEST DEBUT

Given the strength of his performances in the County Championship season, Durham opener Keaton Jennings was extremely unfortunate not to make the England Test squad for the ongoing tour of India.

However, the South Africa-born batsman got his chance when Haseeb Hameed was forced to return home because of injury, and he took it in spectacular fashion.

Jennings’ first international innings got off to a shaky start when he was dropped on nought, but the 24-year-old grew increasingly assured as the runs began to flow and was eventually dismissed for 112 as he became the first England player to score a century on his first day as a Test cricketer since 1948.

Runner-up: Amy Tinkler’s floor routine at the Olympics

Third: Darlington’s 7-1 win at Whitby Town that clinched the Northern Premier Division title

2015 – Mecca’s Angel winning the Nunthorpe

2014 – Richard Kilty wins the 60m title at the World Indoor Championships

2013 – Josef Craig breaks the world record at the World Championships

2012 – Savannah Marshall becomes Women’s World Boxing champion

2011 – Chris Tomlinson breaks the British long jump record

2010 – Simon Vallily’s Commonwealth Games gold-medal bout

2009 – Joanne Jackson’s swimming world record

2008 – Stewart Downing’s man-of-the-match display for England v Germany

2007 – Ottis Gibson claims all ten wickets in an innings for Durham v Hampshire

2006 – Newcastle swimmer Chris Cook wins gold at the Commonwealth Games

MOMENT OF THE YEAR

MIDDLESBROUGH CLINCH PROMOTION AGAINST BRIGHTON

Having missed out in the play-off final 12 months earlier, Middlesbrough were desperate to avoid a return to the end-of-season shoot-out when they lined up against Brighton on the final day of the season.

Needing a point to guarantee automatic promotion, Boro claimed a first-half lead through Cristhian Stuani, but were pegged back when Dale Stephens equalised shortly before the hour mark.

The final 30 minutes saw nerves become frayed, but the Riverside exploded in joy when referee Mike Dean finally blew the final whistle. Boro were back in the top-flight, and a promotion party could begin.

Runner-up: Durham being relegated by the ECB – and handed a huge points penalty

Third: Amy Tinkler’s emotional homecoming in Bishop Auckland

2015 – The All Blacks and Tonga perform their pre-match routines ahead of their World Cup match in Newcastle

2014 – The Tour de France field heads up the Buttertubs Pass

2013 – The first ball of the Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street

2012 – Doug Embleton and Shaun Campbell save Darlington with a suitcase containing £5,000

2011 – Chris Senior’s FA Trophy-winning goal for Darlington

2010 – Tony Mowbray’s return to Middlesbrough

2009 – Sir Bobby Robson’s memorial service at Durham Cathedral

2008 – Joe Kinnear’s rant at the press

2007 – Mathew Tait’s run in the Rugby World Cup final

TEAM OF THE YEAR

DURHAM

Durham’s season might have ended in relegation, but the fact it occurred in an ECB boardroom rather than because of anything that happened on the pitch speaks volumes for the team’s efforts despite hugely difficult circumstances.

With the club’s financial situation becoming bleaker by the week, Durham’s players pulled together to produce a series of excellent displays that eventually saw them finish fourth in the County Championship, just 30 points adrift of champions Middlesex.

They also made it to the finals day of the T20 Blast, and while next season promises to be hugely challenging with Durham starting with a points deficit in all forms of the game, the strength of their team spirit should ensure they do not collapse in the face of ongoing adversity.

Runner-up: Middlesbrough

Third: Sessay CC

2015 – Yorkshire

2014 – Yorkshire

2013 – Durham

2012 – Newcastle Eagles

2011 – Newcastle United

2010 – Whitley Bay

2009 – Durham

2008 – Durham

2007 – Durham

2006 – Newcastle Eagles

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

DENYS SMITH

Denys Smith, who died last month at the age of 92, will be remembered as the greatest racehorse trainer to have been based in the North-East.

He trained more than 1,000 winners from his base at South Church, triumphing in the Lincoln with Foggy Bell, the Middle Park with Tudenham and the Flying Childers with Mandrake Major. He also won the Scottish Champion Hurdle with Dondieu and claimed a Cheltenham Festival success courtesy of King Cutler.

His greatest triumph came at Aintree, though, as he saddled Red Alligator to win the 1968 Grand National by 17 lengths at odds of 12-1.

2015 – Kath Cassidy

2014 – Mick Mulhern

2013 – Geoff Cook

2012 – Sir Bob Murray

2011 – Dave Elderkin

2010 – Niall Quinn

2009 – Dave Parnaby

2008 – Stephen Miller

2007 – Sir Bobby Robson