James Wilson - 2017 Rising Star

Let’s start with a sport that I’m sure personal experience has taught many, is just about the hardest game to crack - golf.

Representing golf at this years awards was 17-year-old James Wilson a student at Walbottle Campus.

They've been playing the game at Tyneside Golf Club for 137 years but nobody had ever won the junior and the senior club championship in the same year - until James managed to win both in 2016. Nor had anybody repeated the feat at County level in Matchplay competition.

This eye-catching form has brought England selection at Under 16 level and England Schools honours at Under 18.

James also achieved consistent success at senior level regionally by making 12 out of his last 15 tournament cuts and an impressive runner-up place in the North of England Under 18 competition.