Scotland’s Commonwealth, World and Olympic cycling champion Chris Hoy was named Outstanding Male Athlete in Glasgow, at the 27th Commonwealth Sports Awards sponsored by Clydesdale Bank. Chris was among eight of the Commonwealth’s top sportsmen and women honoured for outstanding performances over the last year across a range of award categories, in front of an extensive international sporting audience attending the 2nd Commonwealth Sports Development Conference.
Chris had been narrowly beaten to the Outstanding male Athlete title in 2006 by the Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell. But with 2007 producing two gold and one silver medal at the World Championships and three out of three possible gold medals at the World Cup in Manchester, it must rank as his most successful season to date. This was complemented further when he set the world record for the 500m flying start at altitude in Bolivia last May.
In the Outstanding Female Athlete category Australia’s queen of the pool Lisbeth Lenton took top honours. She had dominated the 12th FINA World Championships in Melbourne winning gold in three individual and two relay events to become the most successful female swimmer ever at a world championship.
Australian lawn bowler Kelsey Cottrell was named Outstanding Young Achiever and at just 17 is the youngest female to represent Australia in senior competition. In 2007 she had an outstanding year winning gold at the World Team Cup, a silver in the triples and a bronze in the fours at the Asia Pacific Championships. She was a semi finalist in the Australian Indoor Championships and won both the Queensland and NSW Opens in singles to finish the year as Australia’s number one ranked female singles athlete.
It was a competition between athletics and archery in the Outstanding Male Elite Athlete with Disability category, with Australian Kurt Fearnley coming out on top for his amazing exploits in the marathon. In 2007 Kurt won 10 out of the 11 international marathons he entered including the prestigious Chicago and New York marathons. He also won gold in the 1500m wheelchair race at the 2007 World Championships
In the Female Elite Athlete with Disability category the judges found it too close to call and awarded as joint winners England’s Danielle Brown and Karolina Pelendritou from Cyprus. Danielle’s archery prowess, particularly at the World Championships was quite incredible, not only winning gold, but setting seven world records in the process. In the pool at major British, European and World Championships Karolina won six gold medals and set three world records.
Most Outstanding Team went to the South African Rugby who won the 2007 IRB World Cup beating the holders England in the final. Coach Jake White and winger Bryan Habana went on to be named IRB coach and player of the year respectively.
In the Sports Administrator of the Year category Malta’s Joe Cassar was recognized for his significant contribution to the organization of the 1st Mediterranean Friendship Games as a joint venture with Sicily. The event aims to increase the opportunity to raise levels of competitiveness for Maltese and Sicilian athletes. Joe is the Secretary General of the Malta Olympic Committee.
It was William ‘Billy’ Stewart from Northern Ireland that collected the final award of the evening, The Lifetime Achievement Award. Billy has dedicated his life to cycling and sport in general in Northern Ireland for over 60 years.An accomplished performer on the track in the 1940s and 50s, Billy went on to be a team manager, chairman then President of the Cycling Federation and a representative on the world body. He has held a host of administrative roles culminating in Chairman of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council, a post he held from 1979 until he retired in 2006. Throughout his distinguished career the competitors were always his primary concern. He was recognized in the 2008 New Year Honours List with an MBE for Services to Sport.
Congratulating the winners, event founder Al Hamilton MBE said: I would like to offer my congratulations to all our winners announced tonight. It was a difficult job for the judges, with mor high quality nominations than ever before received for this year’s prestigious 27th Commonwealth Sports Awards. I would also like to thank Glasgow City Council and our sponsors Clydesdale Bank, for their tremendous support”.
Also in attendance at the dinner and presenting awards was the new Commonwealth Secretary General, HE Kamalesh Sharma and Mike Fennell, OJ, CD President of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Final Placings
· Sports Administrator of the Year
o Joe Cassar, Malta *
o Anne Smillie, Scotland *
· Outstanding Young Achiever (under 18)
o Kelsey Cottrell (Lawn Bowls), Australia *
o Thomas Daley (Diving), England
o Kirani James (Athletics), Grenada *
· Outstanding Male Athlete
o Chris Hoy (Cycling), Scotland *
o Nathan Deakes (Athletics), Australia
o George Achilleos (Shooting), Cyprus
· Outstanding Female Athlete
o Lisbeth Lenton (Swimming), Australia
o Veronica Campbell (Athletics), Jamaica
o Catherine Ndereba (Athletics), Kenya
· Outstanding Male Elite Athlete with Disability
o Kurt Fearnley (Athletics), Australia
o Antonis Aresti (Athletics), Cyprus *
o Steve Prowse (Archery), England *
· Outstanding Female Elite Athlete with Disability
o Karolina Pelendritou (Swimming), Cyprus *
o Danielle Brown ( Archery), England
· Most Outstanding Team
o South Africa (Rugby)
o Australia (Netball)
o New Zealand (Rugby 7s)
· Lifetime Achievement Award (athletes, coaches and administrators)
o William ‘Billy’ Stewart, Northern Ireland *
o Charles Flower, Gibraltar *
o Mac Henderson, Scotland *
Commonwealth Youth Games
Secure your table now at the CGS Annual Awards Dinner, sponsored by Clydesdale Bank, to be held at the Radisson Hotel , Glasgow on 25 October. Enjoy a pre dinner drinks reception and three course meal with wine in one of Scotland’s top hotels.
Join our athletes and guests from the world of sport, media and politics as we celebrate our passion for success. With our compere for the night, John Beattie, we will review Scottish sporting performances from the past 12 months including the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics and the Commonwealth Youth Games being held in Pune, India in October.
The evening will conclude with the awards to Scottish Junior Sportsperson of the Year and the Lonsdale Trophy for Scottish Sportsperson of the Year in association with Emirates Airlines.
The cost for a table of ten is £800. Contact: info@cgcs.org.uk to make your reservation
For full details of the CW Sales Leaflet-WEB please click the link below
Download: CW Sales Leaflet
Having not swum a stroke between October 2007 and this April prospects of qualifying for the Scottish team bound for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India (11-18 October 2008) were looking decidedly bleak for Edinburgh 18 year old Andrew Haslett.
But in a remarkable turnaround the Warrender Baths swimmer produced no less than four team times at the same meet, the British Youth Championships in August.
Last month Andrew achieved what he had thought was almost impossible by being named in the Pune bound Scottish team of 44. This week he gained further recognition after being crowned August Athlete of the Month by team partner, Clydesdale Bank.
The awards are part of Clydesdale Bank’s support programme and have been run between April and August. Athletes that demonstrated good performances in the build up to Pune were nominated for the five Athlete of the Month awards by the Scottish team’s Sport Team Managers. A Commonwealth Games Scotland judging panel selected each winner who received a £300 award from Clydesdale Bank, to help with the costs of training. Each winner’s club also received £100.
A year ago Andrew had been preparing for what he was certain would be his best season in the sport when what should have been routine surgery on a groin injury revealed other problems.
“I was diagnosed with a Gilmour’s groin,” he said. “It’s basically a hole in my groin which I had to get stitched up but when they operated they found I had a hernia as well which they had to operate on. I had eight months out after that I was totally out of the pool unable to do any training.
“I really wanted to go to India but after so long out I didn’t think there was a chance I would make it. But I went to the British Youth Championships in August, got personal bests in every race and won three gold medals, which I totally didn’t expect.”
Andrew acknowledges the Scottish Institute of Sport for helping his dramatic return, “I don’t think I’d be back swimming to any high level without them because there were lots of complications and they helped me through it. I did the physio and Strength & Conditioning brought me back to strength really quickly and I actually felt stronger when I got back than I had before.”
To achieve PBs in the British Youth Championships, in as diverse a range of events as the 200 metres Individual Medley, 200 backstroke, 200 breastroke and 100 backstroke, speaks much of Andrew’s focus and determination. His long term coach Ian Wright, is almost at a loss for words when asked how Andrew made such a rapid transformation from the injury bench.
“It was quite incredible and I’m struggling to reconcile how it’s possible,” said Ian, Youth Games Swimming Team Leader whose 10 strong team includes three of his own Warrender Baths swimmers.
“He was really motivated to come back and was hungry for success. Because places in the Commonwealth Youth Games team were up for grabs and a whole group of swimmers across Scotland had set their sights on them there was an added urgency and determination above the normal levels these kids have.”
Along with 43 of Scotland’s best young athletes, Andrew will embark for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, in just under a fortnight’s time. The Scottish team comprises 44 athletes from eight sports (athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling) together with 16 support staff. Like Andrew, these athletes are looking to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014.
“In Pune my aim is of course to try and get a medal,” said Andrew. “I’m not sure how strong the competition is but if I do my best I should be in with a chance. I would really like to go to Delhi in 2010. I’m going to Australia straight after the Commonwealth Youth Games, training for a year so hopefully that will put me in good condition.
“Everyone’s ambition at the moment is London 2012 so I’ll see how training goes then hopefully be in with a chance of qualifying. The Commonwealth Games in 2014 are another big target of mine – with Glasgow being the host city it makes it an added incentive.”
In the meantime he is delighted to be selected as the Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Month, “It’s a really big achievement, I really didn’t expect it but it’s really good to be recognized,” he added. “I will probably use the £300 to buy a new suit for the Commonwealth Youth Games.”
Congratulating Andrew, Steve Reid, Retail Director of Clydesdale Bank said, “Clydesdale Bank is proud to be supporting the Scottish Team at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune next month.
“Andrew is an excellent example of the many young people who have striven for team selection over the summer months and I would like to congratulate him on his many achievements throughout the last year. He is a worthy winner of this month’s Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Month award.”
Following the Games, the judging panel will consider performances at Pune to select a Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Games and two runners-up. A further award of £500 and £250 respectively will be awarded with £100 going to the winner’s club.
On Saturday (13 September 2008) the 44 athletes selected to represent Scotland at the third Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India 11-18 October 2008 gathered in Stirling to make their final preparations. The highlight for many was collecting their Commonwealth Youth Games kit, a symbol of the first time they will represent Scotland in a multi-sport Games and hopefully a taste of things to come.
Amongst those keen to get their hands on the kit, produced by Kukri specially for the team, were the three daughters of the past Commonwealth Games medallists Eilish McColgan (athletics 1500m), Lynsey Sharp (athletics 800m) and Jennifer McIntosh (shooting).
Enthusing about the kit and the forthcoming Games Eilish McColgan said: “The kit is in nice colours, it is good quality and it is great that it has the name of the event we’re going to and that we’re all wearing the same kit no matter what sport we’re competing in. It helps me feel part of the team.
“I’m really pleased to be selected, it’s a great achievement to be representing your country and it’s the highest standard of event that I’ve ever taken part in. I’ve never competed in a multi-sport event with an athletes’ village. It will be a good experience towards competing in the Commonwealth Games in future years, obviously with Glasgow 2014 as a target.”
Fellow athlete Lindsay Sharp is hoping to make up for disappointments earlier in the season when she goes to the Commonwealth Youth Games. “I did World Juniors this year but that was for GB. This feel s a bit more special because it’s Scotland, I feel more part of a team and representing Scotland I feel very proud. I did the 800m and got to the semis, I probably should have made the finals. I was disappointed there and so I want to make up for that in India.”
Shooter, Jennifer McIntosh is also looking forward to Pune: “This is the most important event of the year, I have been working towards it for two years and it means a lot to be selected, I’m really pleased to be in the team. I want to shoot well in India and after that hopefully go to Delhi and after that 2012 with any luck.
“I wanted to shoot at a really high standard since I was about three when my Mum won her medal.”
It is anticipated that many of the Scottish athletes, all of whom are under 18 years of age, who compete and win medals in Pune will go on to compete for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow 2014 and for Team GB in London 2012 when they should be at their competitive peak.
The team will leave for Pune from Glasgow Airport with Emirates Airlines on Friday 10 October 2008.
sportscotland today announced that it will invest £110,000 in Commonwealth Games Scotland, the body responsible for the selection and preparation of Scottish teams for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.
The funding announced today will support the CGS core operating costs during the build up to the Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Pune, India from 12 to 18 October this year.
In addition, the Scottish Commonwealth Youth Games team has been granted £50,000 from the Commonwealth Games Endowment Fund to support preparations for Pune. The fund was established by the Scottish Government following the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester to support Scotland’s Games teams.
Announcing the funding Stewart Maxwell, Minister for Communities and Sport said:
“Participation in the forthcoming Commonwealth Youth Games in India will, I hope, be a stepping stone to further success for our young athletes who dream of representing Scotland at the 2014 Games in Glasgow.
“This funding allows Commonwealth Games Scotland to put in place the structures that will hopefully deliver success for our young athletes.
“The whole nation is gearing up for the 2014 Games, the most spectacular sporting event ever to be held in Scotland. It will be an excellent opportunity to highlight Glasgow, a modern, vibrant, dynamic city and will also showcase all 21st century Scotland has to offer.”
For the first time ever, all 71 Commonwealth countries and territories will take part in the Youth Games with around 1200 athletes competing. The main benefit is that it gives athletes the chance to experience a major multi-sport Games before they are involved at senior level. This is an initiative that has already paid off, with 12 of the Scottish team from the Youth Games in 2004 gaining selection for the 2006 Commonwealth Games Team in Melbourne.
While the focus of the Youth Games is about preparing athletes and their coaches for what lies ahead, the Games in Bendigo also proved to be hugely successful for the Scottish team who netted a haul of 52 medals, finishing fourth in the medal table.
Louise Martin CBE, the new Chair of sportscotland said: “Commonwealth Games Scotland is one of our key partners and we are delighted to make this investment to allow them to continue their excellent work.
“With Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014 the profile of the Games and the Scottish team has never been higher. We must capitalise on this by ensuring that the infrastructure is in place to best support our athletes as they prepare for the Commonwealth Youth Games later this year and beyond to Delhi and of course, Glasgow.”
Welcoming the investment, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “Thanks to sportscotland funding, we have been able to professionalise our organisation, which has delivered benefits in terms of results at the last two Games. With Endowment Fund support we have been able to build on investment from our sponsors to enhance our team preparations. With 2014 on the horizon, we will continue to refine our current structure and operations to ensure we will further deliver Scotland’s aspirations of success, firstly in India and then in our home Games.”
Achieving second place in July’s British Youth Championships capped a spectacular medal-winning summer for Prestonpans boxer Josh Taylor but before the season’s final bell there was one more prize in store. Last week the teenager was awarded the Athlete of the Month from Clydesdale Bank, who, as sponsors of the Scottish team bound for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune India (11-18 October 2008), are running the awards between April and August as part of its support programme.
Athletes that have demonstrated good performances in the build up to Pune will be nominated for the Athlete of the Month award by the Scottish Team’s Sport Team Managers. A Commonwealth Games Scotland judging panel selects a winner, who receives a £300 award from Clydesdale Bank, to help with the costs of training. Each winner’s club will also receive £100.
In just two months Taylor, who competes in the 51kg Flyweight category, has not only proved a worthy contender for the British title, he also won the Youth Multi-Nations event in Finland, backed up by bronze medals in the Croatian and Russian stages of the Multi-Nations competition. Anyone would expect such combat credentials to hail from someone who has boxed for a large portion of his 17 years. Not so. Until very recently Taylor was more adept with feet than hands in the sport of taekwondo (roughly translated as the “Way of the first and foot”), which he started as a five year old and reached the heights of British Champion.
“My taekwondo instructor advised me to go to boxing lessons to strengthen my hands when I was 15 and my mum who works at Meadowbank told me there was a boxing club there so I went along,” says Taylor.
It must be advice that the instructor has regretted ever since. In his first session at Meadowbank Josh felt a natural affinity with boxing and within two months had fully transferred his allegiance to the sport.
“I always watched boxing on the telly when I was younger and I always wanted to go to it but there were no boxing clubs in my area,” he said. “As soon as I started I pretty much shut the door on taekwondo.”
Transferring skills was not completely seamless. For the first few months Taylor found it a challenge to keep his feet on the ground. “When opponents came to hit me it was very tempting to kick them,” he said with a glint in his eye, adding that taekwondo gave him the perfect grounding for his new passion.
“Taekwondo is probably why I’m such a good boxer,” he said. “It’s been great for my footwork, hand speed and fitness. In boxing we fight three rounds and I think I could last 10 rounds. “Boxing is harder and there’s a lot more contact. When you are in the ring you don’t know what’s coming next until it happens. That’s what makes it so exciting.”
Taylor has since moved to Gilmerton Athletic Boxing Club, managed by Rab Young and as a member of the Scotland squad (he holds the Scottish title) he has Scotland National Performance Coach, Kevin Smith, in his corner.
“Meadowbank was a good start but it was more of a fitness club, then I heard about all the sparring they do at Gilmerton. Rab Young is a really good match maker and he has taken me to places like Canada to fight. He also got me into the Scotland team with Kevin Smith, who has taken me to Europe, Russia, Croatia and Finland. I’m really thankful to both of them.”
Working as a relief life guard in Musselburgh Leisure Centre provides what Taylor believes is the job to fit around his twice daily training routine. “In the morning I run and do pad work and circuits,” he says. “At night I go to the club and do bag work and exercises.” And with 15 wins so far in his total of 19 bouts who can argue he has found a good balance. “It’s been the best season for me so far and in the last two months all the hard work is starting to pay off.”
An unforgettable experience this year was meeting and sparring with WBO super-featherweight champion Alex Arthur, “a brilliant experience and I learnt so much”. Although Commonwealth and Olympics Games are both Josh’s targets, he insists he wants to go the full distance and emulate Arthurs’ achievements.
“It’s great to win the Athlete of the Month award and if I get selected for the team for India I’ll be so excited,” he said. “Next season I want to win every fight I go in to, then box in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games and do well in them. Long term I want to be world champion – end of story.”
Kevin Smith, boxing’s Team Manager for the Scottish Commonwealth Youth Games team, who nominated Taylor for the Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Month Award, is keen for his fighters to set such exacting goals.
“Any boxer has to have that attitude and desire if they want to be the best, you can’t teach it and Josh has it in abundance,” he said. “One of his best qualities is his determination and his will to win. That’s in him and it’s something you want all your competitors to have.
“He’s got massive potential, he hasn’t been boxing for long and in the last 12 months he has improved immensely. If he keeps putting in the same work rate and is willing to learn I’d be very surprised if he’s not on the plane to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010.”
In the meantime Taylor hopes to be on the plane bound for this October’s Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India. He has met the selection criteria and in August, when Commonwealth Games Scotland considers all nominations against the sport’s selection policy, he will know if he is in the team.
The Pune bound Scottish team – to be announced on 21 August at University of Stirling – will comprise over 40 athletes from nine sports (athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling) together with 16 support staff. Like Josh, these athletes are looking to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014.
Congratulating Taylor, Steve Reid, Retail Director of Clydesdale Bank said, “Clydesdale Bank are proud to be supporting the Scottish Team at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune in October this year.”
“Josh is an excellent example of the many young people striving for team selection over the summer months and I would like to congratulate him on his many achievements throughout the last year. He is a worthy winner of this month’s Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Month award.”
Following the Games, the judging panel will consider performances at Pune to select a Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Games and two runners-up. A further award of £500 and £250 respectively will be awarded with £100 going to the winner’s club.
The latest issue of Countdown is out now. Catch up with the latest news on the Pune Youth Games 2008, Glasgow 2014 and other Commonwealth Games Scotland activities.
Louise Martin CBE was announced today by the Scottish Government as the new Chair of sportscotland.
Louise, who is an existing sportscotland Board Member said: “I have enjoyed a long association with sportscotland both as a Board Member and in my capacity as Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland and believe the organisation has a significant role to play in driving Scottish sport forwards.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to take up the position of Chair at this crucial time for the organisation, as it prepares to relocate to Glasgow and at the same time, ensuring it is well placed to lead the delivery of a sporting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”
Welcoming the appointment, Stewart Harris, Chief Executive, sportscotland said: “We are delighted to welcome Louise on board as our new Chair, and we look forward to working with her over the coming months and years.
“Her track record speaks for itself and I am sure her wealth of sporting experience at both national and international level will be of immense benefit to our organisation at this important juncture for Scottish sport.”
Louise retains her position as Past Chair on the Board of Commonwealth Games Scotland and will continue in her role as Honorary Secretary with the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Sir Robert Smith chaired the 1st Board meeting of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Company Ltd on Friday 25 April in Glasgow. The Board comprises representatives from the three partner organisations – Commonwealth Games Scotland, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government, with additional representation from the Commonwealth Games Federation aunder whose auspices the Games are held.
The current Board is: Sir Robert Smith – Chairman, Louise Martin CBE (CGS), Michael Cavanagh (CGS), Cllr Archie Graham (GCC), Bridget McConnell (GCC), Kate Vincent (SG), and Pam Whittle (SG). Representing the CGF are Mike Fennell and Mike Hooper and the Athlete Representative is Rhona Simpson. Up to four further members may be appointed at the Chairman’s discretion.
The Chairman nominated Louise Martin as Vice Chair and this was agreed. The new Memorandum and Articles was approved.
Prior to this first meeting of the new company, the final meeting of the Interim Board was convened when Jon Doig and others resigned as members of that Interim Board.
The recruitment process has already begun for key members of the organising committee with advertisements placed in national newspapers and on the Glasgow 2014 website.