THE British team for the 2016 Olympics was announced last week and, naturally, I'm thrilled for all the North-East athletes who've been included.

But one name jumped out from all the others on the list – 16-year-old gymnast Amy Tinkler, of Bishop Auckland.

That's because, in 2011, Amy won the "Most Promising New Talent" title at The Northern Echo's annual Local Heroes Awards, celebrating the stars of grass roots sport.

Five years on from being identified as a star of the future, Amy is heading off to Rio to represent her country.

The Local Heroes Awards, which take place in December, are one of the highlights of my year and I can't wait for this year's event.

Who knows – perhaps we'll be shining the spotlight on another Olympian of the future. Star thinking of your nominations now.

LAST week began with a depressing front page headline in The Northern Echo: "Football violence at youth cup final."

A young boy needed medical treatment, and a man and a teenager had been arrested, after trouble erupted during an under-15s football tournament at Bishop Auckland. How terribly sad.

It reminded me of last year's story about schoolgirl football referee Emily Dyke, 14, who was officiating at an under-eights match on Teesside when she was abused by parents and called a "f****** disgrace". Emily, who goes to school in Guisborough, made a heartfelt plea for respect via Facebook and featured at The Northern Echo's Local Heroes Awards in recognition of her bravery.

What kind of people kick-off at junior football matches to the extent that youngsters get hurt or abused? It defies belief.

But, on the same day that violence was breaking out at the youth cup final in Bishop Auckland, another junior football story was emerging which didn't make front page news.

The Darlington and District Primary Schools Football Team was in Manchester, lifting the national title after competing in a competition which began with 96 teams from around the country.

The final 16 included teams from big cities, including Liverpool, Manchester and Southampton but Darlington proved to be giant-killers, completing all six games on the day without conceding a goal and surviving two penalty shoot-outs. Not only did they perform superbly on the pitch but, by all accounts, they were a credit to themselves, their families and their schools off the field too.

So well done to Harrrison Jones, Charlie Wood, Danny Holmes, Joseph Sheldon, George Walker, Josh Robertson, Brennan Fitzpatrick, Jack Raper, Leon Sokell, and Luke Hegarty.

And thanks to the adults who give their time to look after the team - managers Tony Cox and Tommy Hurworth, and secretary Paul Bielby.

For every moron who makes headlines by causing trouble, there are plenty more people - young and old - who do their communities proud.

SOME appetising duties are coming my way, including a request to cut the ribbon to open the impressive new dining hall at my old school, St Peter's, in South Bank, Middlesbrough.

Suffice to say it is nothing like the dining hall of jam roly poly, suet pudding and semolina that I remember.

Afterwards, I was approached by an impeccably polite young man called Matthew Docherty, who'd heard about The Northern Echo's role in helping to establish the Butterwick Children's Hospice.

Matthew told me how his sister Lottie suffers from a condition called Patau Syndrome and is cared for at the hospice.

"My parents love Lottie so much that they've found it extremely hard to leave her with anyone but, with the Butterwick, they've found a place they can trust and it's made a huge difference," he said. "I just wanted to let you know and say thank you to them."

Matthew is just 14 and is also a credit to himself, his family and his school.

DURING a careers day at New Marke Primary School, it was a pleasure to bump into Graham Palmer, who's been making headlines for artistic reasons.

Graham, 52, is a Northern Rail conductor, who's become a bit of a star for making his station announcements in rhyming couplets.

Having become a regional award-winner for his on-the-job poetry, Graham confided in me that he's now been shortlisted for the National Rail Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on September 22. Here's my message to his bosses:

We all know we live in challenging times,

But our Graham's a star with his humorous rhymes,

A national award would be a wonderful feat,

So let him travel to London - in a first-class seat...

SCANNING the Great Yorkshire Show results in the Darlington & Stockton Times, it was interesting to see that the prize for the Dairy Cattle Jersey Breed Champion was The Northern Echo Challenge Cup, in addition to the prize money of £125.

It didn't warrant a headline of its own but "Heiffer We Got Moos For You" would surely have been a contender.