Otley athletics coach Gordon Agar has been rewarded for almost 30 years in athletics by being presented with the Yorkshire Electricity Coach of the Year award at a dinner in the Elland Road banqueting suite.

Gordon stepped forward to receive his award at a function where the MC was Roger Greenwood and former YEP columnist John Morgan was the chief speaker.

It was the fourth time Gordon had been nominated for the award and he has also been nominated a similar number of times for the services to sport award.

Gordon started out in athletics with Bingley Harriers but left them 22 years ago to coach with the Guiseley-based Skyrac AC where he has remained ever since. He has brought a number of internationals to prominence but perhaps now gets greater satisfaction from his work with athletes with disabilities. He is the England coach for middle distance running for athletes with learning difficulties.

Gordon's sporting affiliations have not just been with athletics for he helped found Horsforth soccer side Westbrook Wanderers and also managed and trained the Otley side Cambridge Albion. He has had a life long interest in helping youth achieve through sport and he worked as a youth leader at one time.

The sporting fortunes of the Agar family are at an all time high at the moment with brother Rowland a director of Silk Cut Challenge Cup finalists Bradford Bulls and cousin Brian president of promoted Otley RUFC.

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