We're very proud of what we've achieved at Olney. The overriding aim for our section is to develop a love for the game and the club, and to be recognised at these awards is fantastic.

- Fraser Bull

Olney RFC scooped Youth and Mini section of the year last night at the National Rugby Awards, beating off strong competition from 300 entries.

Junior co-ordinator at Olney, Fraser Bull, said: "We're very proud of what we've achieved at Olney. We've doubled in size over the last five years with over 100 active volunteers, thriving in every age group and particularly in our girls section. The overriding aim for our section is to develop a love for the game and the club, and to be recognised at these awards is fantastic."

450 players participate in Olney’s Mini and Junior Section and last season saw huge success across the age groups.

The Under 17s team were crowned Midlands Champions, and reached the semi-finals of the National Colts Cup. The Girls U18 team hit a similar high, being the Midlands and Eastern Counties Champions and reaching the semi-final stage of their National Cup competition. In the younger groups, both the U14s and U16s finished second in their leagues, and in the Mobbs Memorial Tournament the club won one age group, were runner up in another and semi-finalist and quarter-finalist in the other two age groups – showing great depth of strength across the age groups.

There were also international successes for junior players Fraser Strachan – called into the Scotland Under 18 squad – and Lucy Attwood – who played for England Under 18 Girls team.

Most groups in the Mini and Junior section at Olney have around 40 players and the club has never turned away anyone who wants to join - players of all abilities are welcomed. The club ran tours for every age group, with many teams playing clubs from higher tiers and doing well; showing that cohesive squads breed success. A development festival was organised at Olney giving players who don't always get the chance to play in festivals for their clubs their own chance to shine, this has been incredibly popular with local clubs.

The Mini and Junior section at Olney RFC start training again on Sunday mornings from 4 September

The Youth and Mini section of the Year award was sponsored by Little Scrummers