DOUBLE Olympian Lesley-Ann Varley turned out to present awards to Swindon Harriers’ top athletic talent on Saturday night.

The club held its annual ceremony in Swindon Town’s Legends’ Lounge at the weekend and 100m hurdles ace Varley, formerly known as Lesley-Ann Skeete, handed out dozens of awards to Harriers competitors.

The two top awards of the night, Overall Best Athlete in both the male and female categories, were given to Patrick North and teenager Keeleigh Chapman respectively.

On North, club chairman Ian Larrard, who compered the ceremony, said: “He had a tremendous season in spite of the fact he was plagued by injuries.

“He recorded a club record time of 47.24 and reached the semi-final of the World Indoor Trials, and is ranked ninth in the country for under 23s.”

Under 15 sprinter Chapman was one of the younger winners on the night and hopes are high for her future in the sport.

“She is relatively young but I think it’s a mark of her talent that she has won this award,” said Larrard.

“She broke a number of records during the course of the year, was fourth in the National Indoor Championships and missed silver by just one hundredth of a second.

“She was one of the few athletes that went to the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships and came away with a bronze.”

Other winners on the night included Swedish pole vaulter Rob Warensjo and cross-country hotshots Heath Bampton and Kate Jacobs.

Athletics stalwart Geoff Danswan was presented with a tankard to commemorate a lifetime of competing, coaching, administration and acting as a starter within Swindon and Wiltshire athletics.

Patrick North finished fifth in his 400m qualifying heat in the Aviva Indoors British Trials and Championships at Sheffield on Saturday.

The 21-year-old was more than three seconds behind heat winner Nick Leavey as he came in last in a time of 51.97.

Swindon Harrier Gary O'Brien finished seventh in the inaugural running of the Wiltshire 10 road race.

Bart Thomas and Andy Bennetts of Chippenham Harriers were sixth and eighth respectively in the Melksham event.