SUNDERLAND swimmer Matt Wylie and Teesside wheelchair racer Jade Jones were the big winners at the North East Disability Sport Awards.

The awards, which are in their 14th year, recognise the achievements of athletes, clubs, coaches and schools from across the North-East, and were staged at Slaley Hall.

The male personality award went to British, European and Paralympic swimming champion Wylie, who claimed the Paralympic S9 50m freestyle gold medal by four hundredths of a second in Rio.

Jones, who was the winner of the female personality award, competed in three different disciplines in Rio, and set personal best times in four different events last season.

The Team of the Year award went to Middlesbrough Powerchair Football Club, who last season became the first team to gain promotion to the Premiership Division of the National League. The club were also crowned champions of the North East Powerchair Football League.

The Coach of the Year was named as Ros Miller, who coached her son, Stephen, to a bronze medal in the club throw at last summer’s Paralympics, and also leads a group of local athletes.

The Young Male Achiever award was won by swimmer Jamie Blott, who is currently ranked as the country’s number two in the S6/SB5 100m breaststroke, while the Young Female Achiever award went to another swimmer, Ellen Stephenson, who became the 100m IM champion at the Down Syndrome Nationals.

Jean Lordon, executive director at Tees Valley Sports, said: “It’s great to see so many individuals and club within our region getti9ng nominated and recognised at the awards. It shows the level of participation in disability sport is not only increasing, but that it is getting more and more publicity and we have some incredibly talented athletes locally.”


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STEPHEN MILLER was in impressive form last weekend as he claimed a silver medal at the Sharjah International Open in the United Arab Emirates.

The Cramlington club thrower, who took his Paralympic medal tally to six when he won bronze at last year’s Games in Rio, produced a strong series of throws in the F32 event.

A throw of 29.53m in round five was followed by an even better effort of 29.66m in the final round of the final, ensuring Miller finished on the podium.

The North-Easterner was beaten by Czech athlete Frantisek Serbus, who triumphed with a 30.75m effort, and feels he could have been even closer to the winner had he performed at his absolute peak.

Miller had previously claimed another silver medal at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, with the two displays representing an impressive start to his season.

He tweeted: “Got my target 29.66 – best I’ve thrown in Dubai, but gutted not to get the win. Didn’t throw well, but the winner deserved it.

“Two silvers from two comps out here, but more importantly time in the frame. I’ve got the power – just gotta learn how to use it.”