LAST season Bury Jaguars Junior Hockey Club finished with a clutch of awards for their on-field play and begin this campaign with two major national awards off it.

Since their foundation in 1999 the Jaguars have won numerous local trophies including Greater Manchester Youth Games medals and Lancashire county championships and the 2003/2004 season was no exception.

The club enjoyed success in the Lancashire League where their under-13 boys team and the girls' under-15 side were both crowned champions after going through the entire season undefeated.

The boys team even went through the year without conceding a single goal.

In the Greater Manchester Youth Games - where a county ban exists meaning many of the Jaguars best players are barred - the under-14 boys won the silver medal and the under-14 girls the gold.

Individual players also had success this year and an even dozen, six girls and six boys, gained county honours and several of the players went onto regional honours, in particular Andy Bull, Scott Evans, Peter Sutherland and Liam Dudley with north west England and Louise Bull and Laura Evans who represented north of England in matches over the border against Scotland.

But the club's biggest achievement has been to gain both the England Hockey Club's First Award and the Sport England Clubmark.

These accolade's are granted to clubs who can show they are models of efficiency in their organisation and activities.

The Jaguars are only the second club in the country to gain these awards and both the first club in the north and first junior club to be successful.

Club chairman Kieran Goldsbrough praised the officers and coaches of the club saying: "These prestigious awards are the result of the hard work of a lot of people involved with the club.

"They are only given to clubs that can prove that their coaching is of a high standard, that the club is open to all, that members are well looked after and that it makes a difference to the local community.

"Everyone involved with the club has played a part in this success, coaches, assistants, parents and players but particular thanks must go to Sharon Dudley who gathered the evidence and arranged courses and activities for us to put together the submission to Sport England.

"I'd also like to thank the Bury Sports Development Unit and English Hockey regional office who helped with advice and supported our bid from start to finish."

Bury Jaguars currently attract more than 100 youngsters to training sessions which are held every Friday during term time at Castlebrook High School.

Times are 4.30pm to 5.30pm for beginners and under-11s; 5.30pm to 6.30pm for under-13s (Years 7 & 8) and 6.30pm to 7.30pm for under-15s (Years 9 & 10).

The new Lancashire League season begins this month and the club welcomes new players, of whatever standard, to come along to the appropriate session.

Anyone wanting more information about the club should contact Louise Robbins, Bury Sports Development Unit on 253 6395 or Kieran Goldsbrough on 0161-761 3889.