KEEPSAKES of a top Tyneside sporting couple who represented Britain at international level will be auctioned tomorrow.

Trophies, badges, medallions, plaques, tracksuits, Great Britain tops and T-shirts from events around the world belonging to Ian and Dorothy Chipchase, who live in Tynemouth, will be sold by Newcastle-based Anderson & Garland.

Ian said: “The medals and tracksuits have been in boxes in my loft for close on 30 years.”

Ian, who was born in Hebburn and later lived in Ponteland, won Commonwealth Gold in New Zealand in 1974 in the hammer throw.

On his way to victory he broke the Commonwealth hammer record three times.

The athlete, who went to Newcastle Royal Grammar School, won many national titles and competed at the European Junior Championships.

At the age of 18 he set a UK junior record for the hammer.

As a senior he also set a British record for the hammer of 70.28m in an international match against East Germany.

He also competed in the Commonwealth games in Edmonton in Canada in 1978 and the European Games in Rome in 1974.

In 1967 Dorothy Chipchase, then Swinyard, broke the record for senior girls discus distance, a title she held for 38 years.

Dorothy, who lived in Preston village in North Shields, was also in the British team for the Commonwealth Games in 1974.

She later took up coaching and in 2009 was presented with a long-service award for her contribution to athletics by the North Eastern Counties AA.

The couple, both members of North Shields Polytechnic Club, were married at Christ Church in the town in 1977.

The keepsakes are rated by the auctioneers at £50-£100.

Fred Wyrley-Birch, valuer at Anderson and Garland, said: “Local sports stories always generate keen interest and this collection of medals and tracksuits will undoubtedly be the same, thanks to the records broken by this sporting couple.”

Also up for auction will be a rare athletics medal from the 1929 North East Coast Exhibition, which attracted 4.3 million visitors.

The medal is valued at £250-£300.

It was awarded to F Bennett for the 100 yards race.