BRITISH long jumper Chris Tomlinson was the guest of honour at Jersey Spartan Athletic Club’s 40th anniversary annual awards dinner.

At the Royal Yacht Hotel, Tomlinson was on hand to present some of the awards with the season’s best track athletes announced as hurdler Peter Irving, for his five personal best performances before mid-May, and Joanne Gorrod.

Gorrod, who also won the best female road runner award for winning every JSAC road race she ran in, set four new club records in the ladies’ over-35s 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m. She also won a gold medal in the 10k, and silvers in the 5k and 1500m Island Games events in Rhodes.

Teenager Jamie Stevenson, the UK ranked No 2 last year for shot, was announced as the best male field athlete because of his numerous achievements including being crowned the Scottish U20 shot champion and gaining a silver medal in the English Schools’ shot event.

Lauren Therin was the best female field athlete and won an outstanding performance award for her achievement in winning the BUSA Championship gold medal javelin with a club record throw of 52.09m.

Therin, ranked UK No 5 last year for javelin, was a triple gold medallist at the Island Games in shot, discus and javelin and also won bronze medals in the latter two at the England Athletics under-23 Championships.

Therin, a high-profile bobsleigher, was also presented with the International Island Games Association Records certificate for her record-breaking discus throw of 44.91m in Rhodes last summer.

Sophie Twinam’s unexpected silver medal in the 400m hurdles brought her the most meritorious Island Games performance award and Amanda Brown’s silver medal in the half marathon gained her a trophy for an outstanding performance in road running or cross-country.

The ladies’ team of Jo Gorrod, Sarah Bruce, Sarah Corcoran, Carol Knight and Claire Forbes got the best female masters performance for finishing second in the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon team event.

The President’s Trophy went to Grant Stenhouse who has been coaching for many years and is now taking a break with Jim Evans announced as Clubman of the Year for his contribution to the club.

Other awards went to Tom Brown (best male road runner), Ana Goncalves (best newcomer — road running), and Philip Ahier (best masters performance, male).