RISING STARS OF SPORT

For many of the sports enthusiasts who have loyally supported Sport Newcastle’s Annual Dinner through its 40 years, the evening’s highlight is the announcement of the year’s Rising Stars of Sport.

These awards have spotlighted the best of the city’s young sportsmen and women making their mark at national or international level. Teenagers like Paul Gascoigne and Jonny Wilkinson went on to become genuine superstars.

For many though, the Rising Star award was a first major acknowledgement of their progress and a huge encouragement to take their talents as far as they could. Now reaching Rising Star status is an important step in securing valuable personal grants.