Sports award for newly-promoted sergeant

Sergeant Danni Hodgkinson pictured with her award. Photographer: Corporal Anil Gurung / MoD Crown.

A Wallsend soldier has run away with the Female Athlete of the Year accolade at the annual British Army Sports Awards.

Newly-promoted Sergeant Danni Hodgkinson had an outstanding year – representing England on three occasions and setting the North of England record in the 3,000 metres.

The 35-year-old follows in the footsteps of running great Dame Kelly Holmes in winning the prestigious award. She has represented the Army and Combined Services for a number of years.

Sgt Hodgkinson said: “I am just so happy to win this award as the competition out there was very high.

“I have been running for a lot of years, so to win the award at the age of 35 is a really big achievement.”