PENDLE'S fastest growing sports club held a packed annual presentation night in Barnoldswick on Sunday.

The West Craven Warriors junior rugby league club now boasts almost 100 registered playing members, aged from six to 16, and in an area where participation in rugby league was almost non-existent just a few years ago.

Now the club is one of the best-known in the north, building a strong reputation for playing and coaching top quality rugby. It also boasts a huge army of loyal supporters, many of whom attended Sunday's packed presentation night at the Queen's Hall, Barnoldswick.

Every one of the club's players received a trophy on the night in grateful recognition of their effort and commitment throughout the season, and their individual contribution to their particular team and the club as a whole.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Player of the Year Awards in each age group.

For the under-eights the winner was Jake Barrett, while Jordan Lee won the under-nines trophy and the under-11s award went this year to David Morris. In the under-13s and under-16s there are two main awards, the Coaches' Player of the Year and the Players' Player of the Year.

Karl Baldwin won both after a superb season in the under 13s squad, while in the under 16s the coaches' award went to Adrian Mardsen and the players' award to Daniel King.

The capacity audience was again treated to a well organised and entertaining evening featuring video highlights of the season projected onto a large screen specially erected for the occasion.

Keighley Cougars' winger Jason Lee was on hand to personally congratulate every player and present their award.

Since it was founded just five years ago, the West Craven Warriors' club has evolved into one of the fastest growing sports clubs in the district, and it is hoped to continue that development into next season with the foundation of an open-age adult squad, with training set to start in August.

The club applied to the Pennine League for acceptance and inclusion of an adult side in next season's divisional fixtures and club founder Steve Simpson was delighted to announce at Sunday's event that their application had been accepted.

Regular readers will also know of the club's ongoing efforts over the past three years to find a suitable local site to set up home, with pitches, training facilities and a clubhouse. However, after exploring several possibilities without success those plans have been put on hold for the foreseeable future, with the club continuing to use the facilities at West Craven High School in Barnoldswick.

The only problem there has been the increase in hire charges, imposed not by the school itself, but by Lancashire County Council as the Local Education Authority.

The school, where many of the young players are pupils, has been extremely supportive of the club and its activities, and thanks were expressed to headteacher Arnold Kuchartschuk and all his staff for that continued support.

Thanks also went to West Craven's junior schools which have allowed qualified coaches from the club into school to teach basic rugby league skills, helping to spot and foster local talent from an early age.

Anyone wanting more details about the club, training times for the various age groups, coaching for schools, and especially the new open-age team can contact Steve Simpson on 01282 844670.

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