A VET started rowing only eight years ago when her adult daughters took up the sport has been honoured at an awards ceremony.

Gill Prescott, from Durham, was last night (FRI) named winner of the Sporting Achievement of the Year title at the County Durham Sport and Physical Activity Awards.

The 55-year-old joined Durham Amateur Rowing Club in 2005, when her triplet daughters took an interest in the sport.

She began training 12 times a week and has since won the British Indoor Rowing Championships seven years in a row and took six gold medals at last year’s World Masters rowing championships held in Germany.

In the last 12 months she has set a new world record for her age group and won 20 events across the UK, including Henley.

Around 300 guests, including members of the Spennymoor Town’s victorious FA Vase team, attended the awards held at Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham City.

Among the other unsung heroes honoured at the ceremony was Malcolm Weet, volunteers at Middleton in Teesdale Community Fitness Suite who won the Contribution to Physical Activity award.

Matthew Porter, of Bishop Auckland Table Tennis Club, was named Coach of the Year, while 17-year-old swimming enthusiast Adam Woods, from Sedgefield, won Young Coach of the Year.

Esh Church of England Primary, near Durham City, and Greenfield Community College, in Newton Aycliffe won the schools awards.

The Volunteer of the Year award went to Andy Burgess, of Crook Cricket Club, while Jordan Pout of Chester-le-Street was named Young Volunteer.

The title of Sports Club of the Year was won by Bishop Auckland Rugby Club, with Bishop Auckland Table Tennis Club taking the junior award.

Artistic gymnast Amy Tinkler, from Sedgefield, won the Young Sporting Achievement honour while the contribution to sport award went to Barry Cook from Derwentside.

The awards were presented by cyclist Mark Colbourne MBE, who won gold and silver at the London Paralympic Games.