Two youngsters from the Bradford area have won British Weight Lifting awards for 2013.

Bradford’s Luke Jones is young volunteer of the year and Denholme’s Rebekah Tiler is young weightlifter of the year.

Jones notched up the most hours’ work at the British Weightlifting Championships, while Tiler won the European Youth Championship in Lithuania last year and was one of ten nominees in the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Both are coached by Eddie Halstead at Mytholmroyd, who has been named male coach of the year for bringing the best out of Bingley Grammar School pupil Rebekah at his Mytholmroyd base.

Ashley Metcalfe, British Weight Lifting’s chief executive, who is also a Bradford League cricketer with Farsley, said: “These awards are about showcasing those people that have really made a difference to our sport in the last 12 months.

“We rely massively on volunteers and supporters to ensure our sport can go from strength to strength. They are often the unsung heroes of the sport and behind any successful performance are numerous people who have given their time and effort to help the lifter on their way.

“Many of these people often remain in the background. They are passionate and committed individuals whose voluntary support has not only helped drive our lifters but also encouraged many other people to become involved and to develop the sport.

“As an organisation we are always immensely proud and grateful of our voluntary support. It is absolutely essential and massively appreciated.”