The club scooped the title at the event in Leeds last Saturday, which concluded the end of the 2008 track and field season and was a glittering celebration of athletics success across the region.

The judges felt that Doncaster AC has made fantastic steps in attracting and training disabled athletes and the club was also commended for its work in encouraging participation from many different demographic groups from within the local community.

It also earned praise for its youngsters gaining promotion to the Northern Premier League of junior athletics and for increasing its membership to over 500 athletes in the last 18 months.

Marie Dixon, regional manager at England Athletics Yorkshire and Humberside, said: "It is great to see Doncaster AC making significant steps in attracting and training athletes with a disability - and making them worthy winners."

Club director Kev Lincoln was awarded the Volunteer for Club Development Award for his tireless efforts in driving the club forward to meet its objectives.

lOn Saturday morning former Doncaster boy, now Team GB 100m sprint star, Craig Pickering returned to the town to give a coaching master class to some of the club's budding young athletes.

Pickering, who lived in Bessacarr and went to Branton Primary School until he was eight, has just returned from competing at the Olympics in Beijing and combined the day with visiting local relatives.

His father Dave is a Level 3 athletics coach while his mother used to run for the old Stainforth and Thorne Athletic Club.

Around 30 club athletes took advantage of the coaching session which was led by national coach Pete Moore with Pickering giving specific advice on starting and sprinting technique.