RIBBLE Valley Athletic Club held their fifth annual presentation evening on Saturday at the Soccer Dome in Blackburn.

There were awards for youngsters in their first season with the club, with Josh Wilson and Jake Broughton being the best U11 and U13 male athletes, while Madison Barrientos and Libby Turner received the awards for best U11 and U13 girls.

Other age category awards went to Lucy Lennon, Amy Bristow and Kerrell Walley. Cross Country trophies were presented to Helen Wallis and Reece Clarke, while special awards for effort went to Rachel Calow and Laura Nerenberg.

Middle distance aces Sam Yates and Leigh Lennon received recognition for their outstanding performances in 2010.

Sam was fifth at the English Schools’ Championships and sixth in the Nationals at 800m in his first year as an U20, and Leigh won the National U20 800m title to add to her English Schools’ victory the previous year.

Coach Don Lennon had received the Lancashire Coach of the Year Award at the Lancashire Sports Awards evening at the Paradise Rooms on Blackpool Pleasure Beach the previous day.

Don paid tribute to Maggie Schofield, Jo Thistlethwaite, Martin Oldfield, Daniella Lennon and Alan Riding for their hard work and support since the club was formed over five years ago.