A COUNTY Durham mountain biker has been crowned a sporting community champion.

Oliver Graham, vice chairman of mountain bike club Hamsterley Trailblazers, in Teesdale, was recognised as part of the Barclays Spaces for Sports and Football Foundation awards on Wednesday (November 25).

Mr Graham’s dedication to sport in the village was recognised as part of a glitzy awards ceremony at a House of Lords reception where he mingled with the likes of former footballer and Football Foundation Ambassador Dion Dublin, who lead a panel discussion on the importance of local, quality sports facilities.

Dublin was joined by former England boss Graham Taylor, Southampton’s FA Cup-winning Manager Lawrie McMenemy, ex-Wimbledon, Liverpool and Spurs defender John Scales and talkSPORT presenter Georgie Bingham in lauding praise on Community Champion Mr Graham, who was selected to represent the hundreds of people, over half of which are volunteers, who make a particularly significant contribution to their local Barclays Spaces for Sports facility.

Mr Graham’s main job at the club is as vice chairman but he also heads fundraising activities and regularly helps build and design some of the most impressive mountain bike trails in the area.

He has also been instrumental in attracting new members and tourists to Hamsterley Forest and developed partnerships with local youth groups.

Since 2004 Hamsterley Trailblazers has received £55,000 worth of grants towards creating a new facility for local cyclists from Spaces for Sports, which is the UK’s largest ever sports-based corporate social responsibility programme.

Mr Graham said: “Through my roles as vice-chairman, trail builder and fundraising lead, I have seen first-hand the genuine care and attention Barclays and the Football Foundation have put into our cause.

“We have been able to attract many more participants and tourists to the site and design many new trails.

“The event was brilliant and it was nice to see that Barclays and the Football Foundation value the work we do just as much as we value their support.”

Paulette Cohen of Barclays, added: “Support from volunteers within the community has been, and will continue to be, key to the success of all our Barclays Spaces for Sports sites.

“Thanks to the hard work of Oliver and hundreds of other people who help run our facilities, more than 200 sites are providing people of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to build their skills and fulfil their potential."