A RUNNER and sports enthusiast has been rewarded for her volunteering efforts by Olympian and track athlete Jo Pavey who presented her with a young volunteer of the year award.

Holly Newman, 20, from Melksham travelled to Exeter Golf Club where she was presented with the award for the junior category, aged 14 to 25 for her coaching at Avon Valley Runners.

Whilst working as a teaching assistant at Melksham Oak Community School, Miss Newman completed a course on Leader in Running Fitness and was the first woman in the running club to finish the course Coach in Running Fitness, meaning she could lead and coach groups herself.

She now coaches junior running sessions at the club two nights a week and once a month on a Saturday.

Miss Newman is also on the juniors committee at the running club, as well as the adults and social committee, and even helps with fundraising and marshalling some of their race events.

Miss Newman said: "I was very honoured to get the award as there are a lot of people at the club who give a lot of time and people who have helped me complete her my course.

"I was really thrilled to meet Jo Pavey, I have watched her complete on TV many times so it was a real honour.

"Jo was lovely and made lots of time after to talk to everyone, she talked to me for quite a while after giving tips and sharing stories. She seemed like a really lovely down to earth person."

Miss Newman started running with Avon Valley Runners in 2010 when her parents, who are also keen runners, attended a beginner's group to which she went along and helped with subsequent beginners courses.

She started running properly a couple of years later when the Junior Avon Valley Runners was formed.

This coincided with the Park Run starting in Trowbridge, so Miss Newman volunteered there for a year as well as running it several times herself.

She said: "There is such a friendly and inviting atmosphere for all at the Park Run."

As she got older and joined the adult section of the club she wanted to keep her ties with the Junior and so Miss Newman started her volunteering journey by helping with the juniors.