SUB four-minute miler Tom Carter was Vale Royal AC's athlete of the year, at the club's annual presentations on Friday.

Carter was the 1,000 athlete to break the four-minute barrier when he ran 3.58 during a year when he also represented England in the 1500m.

The Cuddington athlete had not recovered from injuries in time to compete seriously for a Commonwealth Games vest, but is expected to be a contender for British Olympics team in two years time.

Nicky Archer, who trains with the UK endurance squad, won the senior women award. Archer, who lives in Crowton, was runner-up at the Cheshire Cross Country Championships, 21st in the British Universities event, set personal-best times in all her distances, won several races and climbed in to the top 10 under 23s British long-distance rankings, all in 2005-06.

Special mention was given to Gareth Williams, winner of the North Wales 10k title, 10 years after first winning the race.

Stevie Stockton was named as the outstanding athlete of the year.

She was the winner of the Cheshire Under 17s 3000m in a competition-best time of 10mins 22secs. She won the Cheshire Schools 1500m and achieved national championship qualifying times in three distances, coming second in the 1500m final.

The Sir John Deane's College student also won the International Schools 1500m at Dublin and the North of England 3,000m.

In the UK she is ranked eighth over 1500m, ninth for 3000m and finished third in the Inter Counties Cross Country.

Stockton - and clubmate Hannah Weedall - represented England at the World Schools Cross Country Championships in Italy on Monday.

Best team performance trophy went to the Under 17s girls, North West and Northern Road Relay champs, namely Laura Lambert, Stevie Stockton, Hannah Weedall, Lorna Timms, Louise Bosson, Corinne Kinvig, Emily Deaman, Victoria Jones, Rachel Clews.

Special mention went to the Cheshire U13s 100m relay winners Steph Knight, Alicia Shaw, Sophie Terry and Kelly Gibson.

Merit Award for contributions behind the scene went to Jane and Dave Lambert.

Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy was the guest of honour at the presentations at Hartford Social Club.

Other recipients were: U11s - Louse Towers, Jade Evans, Lewis Healey; 13s - Hannah Paver; U15s- Kathy Stringer, Andrew Clews; U17s - Laura Lambert, Hannah Hewitson, who holds two North of England triple jump titles and was a silver medallist at the UK Indoor Championships in February, Hannah Weedall, who ran for England at the World Cross Country Championships on Monday, James Griffiths, who is ranked in the national age group 800m top 10; U20s - Steven Mitchell; Masters - John Telford, sixth in the UK over 45 800m Championships.

About 50 youngsters received Norwich Union Shine certificates. Sports Hall Athletics certificates were presented by Under 11s coaches Pearl and Billy Hodgkinson.