A centre which specialises in teaching the disabled to ride and drive carriages has been named Sports Club of the Year in Dartford's Young People's Sports Awards.

The Arrow Riding and Carriage Driving Centre, based in Gore Road, gives enjoyment to around 140 disabled riders each week, who are helped by 40 volunteers.

In all, five awards were announced at the annual event, one of them in the male under-14 class in which Alistair Stoddart won for his achievements in road and track cycling.

A pupil at Dartford Grammar School, Alistair finished last season ranked No.1 in his age group, which included two tours to Holland, winning nine silver medals, four trophies, as well as the “Green Sprinters' Jersey.”

Mark Heather, a member of Wilsonian Sailing Club, won his prize in the male under-21 class for beating 189 other competitors to become Topper World champion in an event held in Northern Ireland last August.

In the female under-21s, the award went to Dartford Harriers walker Natasha Fox. A pupil at Leigh City Technical College, she notched up a string of successes in national and regional competitions. Her coach, Mike Marshall, said: “She has great potential and I predict that she will make an impact as an international during the next year.”

The under-14 girls award also went to a Dartford Harrier,

Rebecca Saunders.

Ranked No.1 for discus in her age group, her throw of more than 34 metres was the longest throw in the UK by an under-13 athlete since 1991. She and club-mate Chloe Gale, who was runner-up in this award, are coached by Alan Champion.