TWO Ryedale sports stars were honoured at the BBC Sports Awards in the North at the Harrogate Conference Centre on Monday night.

Malton and Norton golfer Emma Duggleby was named Sport England's regional women's sports star after a season in which she clinched the English Ladies Open Amateur championship for the second time in her career.

She beat Ganton GC's Naomi Edwards 2 and 1 in the final at the Suffolk-based Aldeburgh course.

She was also a member of the winning Vagliano Trophy team against Europe, remaining unbeaten throughout as GB and Ireland won the tournament for the first time in 13 years.

Duggleby was also a caddy for Michael Skelton as he helped the GB and Ireland team to victory in the Walker Cup.

Pickering 400m runner, Richard Buck, who was featured in last week's new Gazette & Herald feature Ryedale Pride, was one of the four nominees from Yorkshire for junior sports man of the year.

The award went to javelin-thrower Sam Allen, from Leeds, with whom Buck trains once a month. The Lady Lumley's pupil was presented with a certificate of nomination.

Buck's personal best time of 47:71 secs, which ranks him the fourth highest British under-17 400m runner of all time, was gained at the AAA championships in August.

At the schools championships, he won with a time of 48:11 secs, while at the international schools championships, he won in 48:50 secs.

Updated: 11:03 Wednesday, November 26, 2003