MALTON and Norton Rugby Union Club were to be honoured last night by the BBC.

They won the BBC Radio York Club of the Year award for their Tetley Bitter Vase triumph at Twickenham.

York Acorn ARL Club were runners-up with Haxby Netball Club third and Bishopthorpe White Rose FC fourth.

Look North presenters Harry Gration and Christa Ackroyd joined an array of sports stars and guests at Oulton Hall Hotel, near Leeds, to announce the winners of the BBC Sports Awards in the North.

Leeds United mopped up a string of honours including Team of 2001 for their impressive progress of David O'Leary, who was named Manager of the Year. Leeds skipper Rio Ferdinand landed the Sportsman and Footballer of the Year accolades, while United's assistant coach Eddie Gray was honoured for his Special Contribution to Football.

Yorkshire's cricketers collected the Putstanding performance award for winning the County Championship for the first time in 33 years.

Other award winners were: Michael Withers (Bradford Bulls), Rugby League Player 2001, Brian Noble (Bradford Bulls), Coach 2001, Johnny Nelson, Boxer 2001, Daren Lehmann (Yorkshire CCC), Cricketer 2001, footballer Andy Monkhouse (Rotherham United), Newcomer 2001, Mike Shelley (Leeds Tykes) Rugby Union Player 2001, amputee footballer Nick Bones, disabled sportsperson 2001, kick-boxer Lisa Houghton-Smith, Sportswoman of the Year, Rotherham United manager Ronnie Moore, BBC North Award for Achievement.

Updated: 11:37 Monday, November 26, 2001