LUCTONIANS' TONY Knight claimed the top prize at the North Midlands' inaugural volunteer awards evening at Sixways.

Knight, a former area bank manager, has been one of the leading lights in Luctonians' £500,000 clubhouse development, giving up many hours to fill in the forms necessary to secure funding.

The former lower team winger with Luctonians received his volunteer of the year award from North Midlands president Peter Jordan at a ceremony attended by around 120 other club volunteers.

Brian Ing (Ledbury), Byron Smith (Bromsgrove), and Luke Nixon (Malvern) were all nominated for young volunteer of the year but lost out to Keiran McMahon, of Old Salteians.

Kidderminster Carolians' Chris Hopkirk was nominated for junior club volunteer of the year.

Bill Breeze, Tim Carder, Graham Maiden (all Kidderminster Carolians) and Wynfre Davies and Adrian Eyre (both Hereford) were all nominated for senior club volunteer of the year.

In the award for long service, there were nominations for Clive Adams, Roger Bowkett, Robin Farr, Kevin Davies (all Tenbury), Dave Burke, Knight (Luctonians), Brian Garrett and Nigel Oakes (both Kidderminster).

The North Midlands Society of Rugby Football Referees presented the DL Thomas Trophy for most improved referee to Richard Hackett. The Alan Dunsbee Trophy for the most hospitable club went to Bromsgrove.

Droitwich also received an award for becoming one of the first 10 clubs in the country to attain third year status in the RFU's Seal of Approval.