People Features

Sponsored by One NorthEast and organised by Sport England North East, Sunderland City Council and BBC North East and Cumbria, the awards were presented by Look North's Jeff Brown and Charlie Charlton at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

Discus thrower Stephen Miller, sprinter Hazel Simpson, cyclist Chris Newton, rower Matt Wells and boxer Tony Jeffries were among the famous faces at the ceremony.

And the winners are...

Sports Personality of the Year: Sunderland's own Tony Jeffries - he was awarded the special accolade for his achievements in British boxing.

These include being seven times national champion, winning five European medals and nine multi nation medals and becoming the first Olympic medallist from Sunderland.

Jack Charlton with Steve Cram

Jackie Milburn Memorial Award: Steve Cram - over his career, he has won a total of eight medals, including six golds, and remains the UK record holder over the mile, 1500 metres and 2000 metres.

With this impressive CV plus his outstanding contribution to sport on an international, national and local level there could not be a more worthy winner.

Roger Hopson Memorial, Governing Body of Sport: British Orienteering

Disabled Sports Award: North East Paralympic GB medallists - Terry Bywater, Stephen Miller, Hazel Simpson and Fran Williamson.

Performance of the Year: Stephen Miller

Junior Sports Awards: Jemma Lowe

Ralph Hindle Memorial, Support to Sport: Roger Tames

Team of the Year: Durham County Cricket Club

Coach of the Year: Geoff Cook the coach for Durham County Cricket Club.

BBC Unsung Hero: Guy Fawkes, Head Coach at Billingham Amateur Swimming Club.

Tony Jeffries and all of the award winners

In 2007 former Sunderland AFC manager Roy Keane took home the Sports Personality of the Year award for securing promotion to the Premier League with Sunderland AFC and for his outstanding performance during 2007.

Judith Rasmussen, regional director with Sport England North East, said: "As always the calibre of nominees was extremely high and all deserve to be very proud of the great job they do in sport in the region.

"The North East has a lot to shout about in its contribution to the Games in Beijing and the North East Sports Awards gave us a fitting platform to pay tribute to the success of our athletes and the people who work tirelessly to support them behind the scenes. It was wonderful to have so many sporting stars with us this evening."

Amazed

Steve Cram, patron of the North East Sports Awards, said: "I never cease to be amazed by the wealth of talent in the North East and the unbounded passion for sport. Each year the quality of nominations increase and the final decisions are harder to reach.

"The North East has a lot to shout about in its contribution to this year's Olympic Games in Beijing with nine medals brought home associated with the region."