Hosted by Bill McGuirk (NECAA Chairman) and Chris Betts (NECAA Track and Field Secretary), the presentation of awards for the North Eastern Grand Prix 2015 took place at Gateshead Stadium on the 28th September.

Local and global celebrity Steve Cram spoke of what in his younger days had been the Tyneside Track League, when he ran against fellow Jarrow and future international team mate David Sharp and other now famous athletes.

Now called the North Eastern Grand Prix and competed for on six evenings between April and August at Gateshead and Monkton Stadiums, the events are open to all athletes from U13s to Seniors. Weighted points are won by the first six athletes in each event, which can include any of all track events up to 3000m, all jumps, and all throws.

Sunderland AFC's prime supporter and now media commentator made the awards to the first six athletes in each age/gender category judged on the accumulated points over the season.

At the ceremony this year Sunderland Harriers were well represented by six athletes; the Girls' and Boys' Captains, three sprinters, and a Veteran all-rounder. Jessica Fox (4th U20W), Mark Smith (3rd U20M), Declan Murray and Reece Carroll (1st and 5th U17M), Samantha McKenzie (6th Senior Woman), and Phil McCluskey (1st Senior Male) received their awards in front of a lively audience.

Of the six athletes, Declan won his age group for the first time, Phil on the other hand had been the gold medallist eight times in the last nine years.

After light refreshments, the guest speaker posed for photographs with all the recipients.