Billingham Bears finished a creditable third in the Peterborough Under-16 tournament at the weekend. A late pull out from Telford Raiders meant that seven teams competed and a reschedule of the games had to be made.

Each team now had to play each other and the top two at the end of the series of games would contest the final. Bears against Peterborough Vipers was the first game of the tournament and after a goalless first period Michael Farn gave Bears the lead on 24.31 and he doubled the advantage three minutes later.

Four minutes later it was 4-0 as Robert Dowd and James Flavell found the back of the net. Flavell was playing as an out-player instead of his usual netminding role in this game. He and Richard Griffiths shared matches as netminder and out-player.

Paisley Tomahawks were next Bears' opponents and narrowly lost 3-2. Dowd and Anthony Price put Bears 2-0 ahead at 17.17 only for two goals in a minutes tied the scores at 26.05 two minutes later. Michael McKenna netted the winner.

Peterborough Pythons were up next for Billingham and finished up a thrilling 2-2. Bears twice equalised through Flavell and Paul Smith. The latter coming with only three seconds to go.

On Sunday Bears had a 3-0 victory over Ayr. Richard Griffiths opened the scoring in the fifth minutes with Price adding the others after 11 and 27 minutes.

Another last minute equaliser came against Guildford with Smith netting for a 3-3 draw with 32 seconds remaining. Robert Dowd put Bears ahead at 05.02 and Farn struck a second at 17.02 after Guildford had gone 2-1 ahead. Guildford regained their advantage at 28.56 and expected to win until Smith's late intervention.

To reach the final Bears needed a big win over neighbours Sunderland Arrows to go above with Guildford or Peterborough Pythons. However, only a Dowd strike was enough for a 1-0 win.

Overall Bears only went with nine skaters and two netminders which was the reason why both Flavell and Griffiths had spells as out-players to further reduce Bears' numbers as Chris Thomas and Simon Bence picked up injuries in Bears' opening match against Vipers.

The most valuable player of the tournament award went to Billingham's Robert Dowd.

Bears: Robert Dowd 4+1, Michael Farn 3+3, Anthony Price 3+2, Paul Smith 2+1, James Flavell 2+0, Michael McKenna, Richard Griffiths 1+0, John Evans 0+2, Chris Thomas 0+1.

Whitley Bay Arrows defeated Telford Terrahawks 7-3 at Hillheads in their final English U12 North Promotion/Relegation play-off match to guarantee their North A League place for next season.

Arrows required a seven-goal winning margin to top the group. Arrows lost 10-4 at Telford two weeks ago. Second place behind Telford may well still hand Arrows an A League slot. If enough teams apply for North B League Whitley's top group placing is assured.

Arrows got off to a great start when Callum Watson struck at 03.22 and 05.36 to put his side 2-0 ahead. Bobby Mole increased the lead two minutes later. Liam Brown and Mole were on hand to extend Whitley's lead to 5-0 at 26.05.

Telford's efforts were rewarded with two goals in the 29th and 31st minutes. The Tynesiders' five-goal advantage was restored when both completed their hat-tricks with goals at 40.48 and 42.15 respectively. Telford had the final say with a third goal in the final minute.

Arrows: Callum Watson 3+2, Bobby Mole 3+0, Liam Brown 1+0, Alexander Simon 0+3, Craig Lydall, Jack Goddard, Ben Stothart 0+1.

Sunderland Ice Hockey Club held their annual presentation night at Roker Hotel, Sunderland, which was well attended by players, family and friends. Over 50 trophies were handed out and Sunderland Scorpions captain Jayne McClelland received four of them.

McClelland was named Scorpions' Player of the Year, Defenceman of the Year, Players' Player of the Year as well as Sunderland IHC outstanding achievement award. Scorpions finished runners-up in the women's premier league one point behind winners Cardiff Comets and the Welsh side defeated Scorpions in the play-off final after penalty shots.

Daniel Murdy and Jonathan Heslop each went away with three trophies apiece. Murdy, 14, was Commanches' Forward of the Year and Players' Player of the Year. His other trophy was Junior International Achievement Award, one of two recipients to receive one. Murdy was on England U14 duty in Fussen, Germany, in April where they finished third. Commanches' netminder Mark Thurman was in Quebec with England U13 squad who won World Pee-Wee championships international '6' class. He too received a Junior International Achievement Award.

Heslop's hat-trick of awards was Sunderland Tomahawks (U19) Forward of the Year, Players' Player of the Year as well as picking up Sunderland IHC Senior Player of the Year award.

Sunderland Awards List 2003

Sunderland Apaches Under-10s: Player of the Year Michael Elder; Forward of the Year Jack Watkins; Defencemen of the Year Mark Watson; Most Improved Player Seam Bamling; Beginner of the Year Helen Emmerson; Coaches Award Lee Gill.

Sunderland Cherokees Under-12s: Player of the Year Nathan Salem; Forward of the Year Grant Sharp; Defencemen of the Year Ross Hanlon; Most Improved Player Calum Ross; Dedication and Sportsmanship Daniel Bamling; Coaches Award Joseph Royle; Development Award Evie Roberts.

Sunderland Comanches Under-14s: Player of the Year Karl Nelson; Forward of the Year Daniel Murdy; Defencemen of the Year Mark Thurman; Most Improved Player Danny Lamb; Dedication and Sportsmanship Martyn Davies; Players Player Daniel Murdy.

Sunderland Arrows Under-16s: Player of the Year Richard Westgarth; Forward of the Year Shane Hewitt; Defencemen of the Year Jeremy Lundin; Most Improved Player Adam Kelly; Dedication and Sportsmanship Liam Pattinson; Players Player Dean Holland.

Sunderland Tomahawks Under-19s: Player of the Year Mark Lee; Forward of the Year Johnny Heslop; Defencemen of the Year Keith Barker; Most Improved Player Lewis Nelson; Dedication and Sportsmanship Matthew Whelan; Players Player Johnny Heslop.

Sunderland Chiefs: Player of the Year: Richar Danekin; Forward of the Year Michael Allinson; Defencemen of the Year Adam Hendry; Most Improved Player Keith Barker; Rookie of the Year John Wilson; Players Player Richard Danekin; Top Points Scorer: Sean Black.

Sunderland Ice Hockey Club Thank You Award 2002-2003: Debbie Shanks.

Sunderland Ice Hockey Club Outstanding Commitment Award: Jayne McClelland.

Terry McClelland Award for Outstanding Achievement Season 2002-2003: Debbie and Gary Shanks.

Sunderland Trophy Dedication Award Session 2002-2003: Brian Hamilton.

Sunderland Scorpions: Player of the Year Jayne McClelland; Forward of the Year Lynsey Emmerson; Defencemen of the Year Jayne McClelland; Most Improved Player Louise Marriner; Mot Improved Young Player Beverley Hutchinson; Players Player Jayne McClelland; Top Points Scorer Teresa Lewis; Brenda McClelland Award Claire Oldfield; Coaches Award Pauline Anderson; Most Valuable Player Teresa Lewis.

Sunderland Ice Hockey Club Junior International Achievement Award Season 2002-2003: Mark Thurman; Sunderland Ice Hockey Club Junior Player of the Year Season 2002-2003: Callum Davies; Sunderland Ice Hockey Club Junior International Achievement Award Season 2002-2003 Daniel Murdy; Sunderland Ice Hockey Club Senior Player of the Year Season 2002-2003: Jonathaon Heslop; Sunderland Ice Hockey Club Netminder of the Year Season 2002-2003: Thomas Murdy.