Following an outstanding season that saw him lift a second Wimbledon crown, become the first player to defend an Olympic singles title and help Britain to a historic first Davis Cup win for 79 years, Andy Murray added another accolade, as winner of the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy and 2016 Scottish Sportsperson of the Year at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards in Edinburgh last night (28 Sep).
With more than 50 Scottish Olympians and Paralympians from the recent Games in Rio in attendance, the evening was a star-studded celebration of their outstanding achievements as well as the success of individuals, schools, clubs and teams across the whole of Scottish sport.
It is the third time that Murray has scooped the top award, first taking the title jointly with Sir Chris Hoy in 2012 after London Olympic gold and claiming the title outright the following year after his first Wimbledon title. Fittingly his third triumph comes in a year which saw a repeat of both these achievements, along with a record fifth Queen’s Club title and other notable firsts, including becoming the first British man to reach the French Open final since 1937. Indeed it was a special night for tennis, with Britain’s Davis Cup Team named Team of the Year, and Gordon Reid Para-sport Athlete of the Year, following a first Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, Wimbledon singles and doubles titles and Paralympic gold and silver.
Andy Murray said: “It has been a fantastic season for me winning Wimbledon and retaining my Olympic title and I am delighted to be awarded the 2016 Scottish Sportsperson of the Year Award for the third time, particularly given all the incredible performances by other Scots this year.”
Heather Stanning’s five year winning streak in the coxless pairs, culminating in a second Olympic gold in Rio with Helen Glover, gave her the nod for Female Athlete of the Year ahead of fellow rower Katherine Grainger and cyclist Katie Archibald, while Grainger’s outstanding achievements over a long and illustrious career were also recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Just beginning her career at 16 years old, triple Paralympic medallist in athletics, Maria Lyle, took the Sir Peter Heatly Trophy for the Young Athlete of the Year.
One of the most eagerly anticipated results of the night was Sporting Moment of the Year, after thousands cast their vote in an online poll, and it was Hibernian’s last minute winner to lift the Scottish Cup after a 114 year wait that took the glory.
Alongside the achievements of Scotland’s top athletes and teams, the individuals and organisations driving this success were also honoured. Ben Higson and Steven Tigg jointly took Coach of the Year in recognition of the phenomenal success of their group of University of Stirling swimmers, whilethe late Richard Thomas was named Sports Leader of the Year, his input at Boxing Scotland, prior to his sudden passing in March, leading to a complete renaissance of the sport.
A record year for scottishathletics saw them claim the award for Governing Body of the Year, while Aviemore Community Sports Hub and Scottish Disability Sport’s Disability Inclusion Training programme were the winners of Community Sports Hub, Club or School of the Year and the Legacy 2014 Award respectively.
In a poignant presentation, Team Scotland judoka and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Steph Inglis was named Team Scot of the Year, following her incredible recovery from life-threatening head injuries sustained in a motorbike accident while teaching youngsters in Vietnam.
In the other big news of the night, Clyde, the face of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, was revealed as the new Team Scotland mascot. Following his big entrance on the night, the popular figure is back in a new role, cheering on Team Scotland all the way to Gold Coast 2018 and beyond.
Paul Bush OBE, Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “These Awards in their new format have been a resounding success as we celebrate what has been a truly outstanding year for Scottish sport. The phenomenal achievements of 2016 auger well as we look ahead to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 18 months’ time, where many of these athletes will go for gold for Team Scotland.
“A huge thank you to our sponsors, whose support has made this fantastic event possible and enables us to properly recognise the achievements of the individuals, teams and organisations that help to put Scotland on the sporting map.”
Over 600 people joined the celebrations at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, where the evening was hosted by double Olympic Gold medallist Shirley Robertson, OBE and comedian Fred MacAulay.
Award Winners
Scottish Sportsperson of the Year – Emirates Lonsdale Trophy
Andy Murray OBE, Tennis
Male Athlete of the Year – sponsored by Commonwealth Games Scotland
Andy Murray OBE, Tennis
Female Athlete of the Year – sponsored by EDF Energy
Heather Stanning MBE, Rowing
Para-Sport Athlete of the Year – sponsored by CGI
Gordon Reid, Wheelchair Tennis
Team of the Year – sponsored by PSL / Canterbury
GB Davis Cup Team, Tennis
Coach of the Year – sponsored by University of Stirling
Ben Higson & Steven Tigg, Swimming
Sporting Moment of the Year – sponsored by The Scottish Sun
Hibs score last minute goal to end 114 year wait for a Scottish Cup title – Football
Young Athlete of the Year – sponsored by EDF Energy
Maria Lyle, Para-Athletics
Sports Leader of the Year – sponsored by Brand Oath
Richard Thomas, Boxing
Governing Body of the Year – sponsored by Bluefin Sport
Scottish Athletics
Community Hub, Club or School of the Year – sponsored by sportscotland
Aviemore Community Sports Hub
Legacy 2014 Award – sponsored by Legacy 2014
SDS Disability Inclusion Training
Lifetime Achievement – sponsored by Commonwealth Games Scotland
Katherine Grainger CBE, Rowing
Team Scot of the Year – sponsored by European Championships 2018
Steph Inglis, Judo
For more information on the 2016 Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards visit http://www.scottishsportsawards.scot
The finalists have been revealed in six hotly contested award categories, as anticipation continues to mount ahead of the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Wednesday (28 September). From dozens of nominations in each category, the top three vying for the titles of Male Athlete, Female Athlete, Para-Sport Athlete, Coach and Team of the Year have been named, along with an impressive shortlist for Sporting Moment of the Year, as voted for by the Scottish public
More than 50 Scottish Olympians and Paralympians from the recent Games in Rio will be in attendance on the evening, the culmination of the official celebrations of the Scots on Team GB and Paralympics GB. They will join leaders from the worlds of sport and business, as the stunning achievements of individuals, schools, clubs and teams across the whole of Scottish sport receive the recognition they deserve. This special night of inspiration and entertainment will be hosted by double Olympic Gold medallist Shirley Robertson, OBE and comedian Fred MacAulay.
Awarded to the individual athlete or team, whose achievement represents excellence in sport at the highest level, winners of Male Athlete, Female Athlete, Para-Sport Athlete and Team of the Year will go forward with a chance to add their name to the historic Emirates Lonsdale Trophy as the 2016 Scottish Sportsperson/Team of the Year, following in the footsteps of past recipients including six time winner Sir Chris Hoy.
Many of the Olympic and Paralympic medallists will be in contention for a range of the awards including tennis player Andy Murray, rowers Heather Stanning and Katherine Grainger, cyclists Callum Skinner and Katie Archibald, Stirling University’s swimming quartet, not to mention Paralympians, Libby Clegg, Gordon Reid, Maria Lyle and Jo Butterfield.
As we honour Scotland’s sporting heroes, the coaches who have worked behind the scenes to guide them to unprecedented success over the past 12 months will also step into the limelight with three outstanding candidates named as finalists for Coach of the Year.
The Scottish public have come out in force to vote for Scotland’s Sporting Moment of the Year. Thousands have cast their vote in an online poll, run by Team Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Sun, to decide which of eleven Scottish sporting performances over the last 12 months deserves to take the title. From an initial list of eleven, the public’s top five have been revealed, with the winner to be announced on Awards night.
Paul Bush OBE, Chair, Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “2016 has proved beyond doubt that Scottish sport is truly in a golden age. The individuals and teams shortlisted represent the absolute pinnacle of achievement in sport and I look forward to celebrating with them on what will be a memorable and inspirational night.”
Category Finalists
Male Athlete of the Year – sponsored by Commonwealth Games Scotland
Andy Murray – A historic year including becoming the first British man to reach the French Openfinal since 1937, the first player to win the Queen’s Club title five times, the first player to win a second Olympic singles title and the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win a second Wimbledon title.
Duncan Scott – Age 19, and last year’s winner of the Sir Peter Heatly Trophy for the Young Athlete of the Year, swimmer Duncan Scott continued his rise in the sport in 2016, claiming two Olympic silver relay medals in the 4x200m Freestyle and 4x100m Medley events.
Callum Skinner – Stepped into the large shoes of Sir Chris Hoy to anchor home Team GB’s Team Sprint squad to Olympic gold. He went on to deliver personal bests on route to silver in the Individual Sprint – a first major championship medal in the event.
Female Athlete of the Year – sponsored by EDF Energy
Heather Stanning – Won Olympic gold in the coxless pair with Helen Glover, their 39th consecutive win in a five year streak in which they have become the current World, Olympic and European Record Holders and reigning Olympic, World, and European Champions.
Katie Archibald – Took Olympic gold in the Team Pursuit after having ruptured her posterior cruciate knee ligament and fractured her elbow in a motorbike crash in December. The team set world records in each round on route to victory.
Katherine Grainger – Became Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian following a gutsy silver in the women’s double sculls in Rio. The first British woman to win five medals in separate Olympic Games.
Para-Sport Athlete of the Year – sponsored by CGI
Jo Butterfield – Set a new world record in the F51 Club Throw as she added the Paralympic title to her 2016 European gold, and gold and bronze from the IPC World Championships in October.
Gordon Reid – Claimed his first Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open before winning both singles and doubles titles at Wimbledon and capping his season with Paralympic singles gold and doubles silver.
Libby Clegg – Took double gold in Rio in the T11 100m and 200m after a roller-coaster experience which saw her break the world record in the 100m semi-final, be disqualified, reinstated and win gold.
Team of the Year – sponsored by PSL Team Sports / Canterbury
GB Davis Cup Team – Andy Murray clinched the decisive point at the World Group final in Ghent, Belgium as Great Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936. The team effort was expertly co-ordinated by Scottish captain Leon Smith.
Team GB 4x200m Men’s Freestyle Relay – Of the five Team GB swimmers involved in heat and final, four were Scottish, as Team GB stormed to silver behind the USA, and broke the British record in Rio.
Scotland Women’s Football – The first senior Scottish football team to qualify for a World Cup or European Championships since 1998 as a 2-1 win over Iceland secured their place at Euro 2017.
Coach of the Year – sponsored by University of Stirling
Karen Ross – Coached wheelchair tennis player Gordon Reid to a first Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, both Wimbledon singles and doubles titles and singles gold and doubles silver at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
Ben Higson and Steven Tigg – Coached their group of University of Stirling swimmers to success including 11 medals at the 2016 European Championships and three Olympic silver medals from the four squad members selected for Rio.
Leon Smith – As team captain, led the first GB Davis Cup team to lift the trophy since 1936. Leon has been at the helm throughout the five year journey from the third tier to glory.
Sporting Moment of the Year – sponsored by The Scottish Sun
Rugby 7s: Scotland’s last second victory at London 7s as Dougie Fife scores after the hooter
Athletics: Laura Muir runs world leading time to win Paris Diamond League, breaking British & Commonwealth records
Tennis: Scots Andy Murray and Gordon Reid win Wimbledon titles on the same day
Football: Hibs score a last minute goal to end 114 year wait for a Scottish Cup title
Swimming: Olympic silver in British record time for the Men’s 4x200m Freestyle relay team
For more information on the 2016 Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards visit http://www.scottishsportsawards.scot
The Scottish public have come out in force to vote for Scotland’s Sporting Moment of the Year, and asvoting enters the final day, the top five contenders for the title have been revealed.
Thousands have cast their vote in an online poll, run by Team Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Sun, to decide which of eleven Scottish sporting performances over the last 12 months deserves to take the title. From an initial list of eleven, the public’s top five have been revealed, with the winner to be announced at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on 28 September.
In what has been a truly outstanding year for Scottish sport, the five contenders still in the running are (in no particular order):
Rugby 7s: Scotland’s last second victory at London 7s as Dougie Fife scores after the hooter
Athletics: Laura Muir runs world leading time to win Paris Diamond League, breaking British & Commonwealth records
Tennis: Scots Andy Murray and Gordon Reid win Wimbledon titles on the same day
Football: Hibs score a last minute goal to end 114 year wait for a Scottish Cup title
Swimming: Olympic silver in British record time for the Men’s 4x200m Freestyle relay team
If you haven’t already voted, time is running out with the poll closing at 23.59 on Sunday 25 September. Pick your favourite and cast your vote at: http://www.scottishsportsawards.scot/vote.html
Emirates Airline and technology firm CGI have announced they will sponsor award categories at the much anticipated Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards. CGI is a first time sponsor of the event, while Emirates continue their ongoing support of the prestigious Emirates Lonsdale Trophy – the award presented annually for the Scottish Sportsperson of the Year.
The Emirates Lonsdale Trophy award will be the final and most prestigious of 13 awards presented on the night. The winners of the Male, Female, Para-Sport and Team of the Year will all be in contention, with the final shortlists to be announced later this week.
CGI, Team Scotland’s official IT systems partner, will be presenting the Para-Sport Athlete of the Year award. Janine Bailey, Vice President, UK Marketing and Communications at CGI commented, “We’re really proud to be sponsoring this important award. Team Scotland is a concept that applies across sport, and our Paralympians are some of our most inspiring athletes. It will be a fantastic evening and we’re thrilled to be supporting it.”
The Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards will take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on Wednesday 28 September. The 650 seat affair is a complete sell out.
Paul Bush OBE, Chair, Commonwealth Games Scotland added, “It’s been great to see such strong support from sponsors and the rest of the corporate community. We’ve had phenomenal interest in the twelve new awards and it seems everyone wants to be there. This event is shaping up to be the ‘Oscars of Scottish Sport’.
For more information on the 2016 Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards visit http://www.scottishsportsawards.scot
Sitting right at the heart of their communities, three of Scotland’s top performing sporting initiatives have been named as finalists for Community Hub, Club or School of the Year at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on 28 September.
Awarded to the Community Sport Hub, Club or School which has made the most progress and impact on their community over the last year, the award attracted dozens of nominations across a wide range of sporting pursuits and from every region of Scotland.
Impressing the judges with their innovation and ambition, Aviemore Community Sports Hub, Tranent & District Community Sports Club and Tryst Community Sports Hub / Larbert High School will now go head to head for the top award supported by sportscotland.
Supporting over 2600 members, 25 clubs and 160 deliverers, the Aviemore Community Sports Hub has become the largest Hub in Highland region. This growth and success can be attributed to a number of projects including female cycling club ‘Petal Power’; local health walks aimed at the older generation and the Cairngorm Sports 4 All group, set up for those with additional support needs. Performance clubs are delivering athletes onto regional/national pathways and recently piloted“The Healthy Athlete” workshop utilising local experts in healthcare, physiotherapy & nutrition. Their partnership with Kingussie High School resulted in national recognition as an exemplar model.
Tranent & District Community Sports Club has developed into a cohesive organisation with the community right at its heart, and is now a key advisory group working to develop clubs, provide additional opportunities and improve local facilities. Activities include a sporting memories group to support people with dementia, Midnight league football to reduce anti-social behaviour in a problem area and a host of volunteering opportunities aimed at improving life-skills. The past yearhas seen the introduction of a new community tennis club to develop use of recently refurbished courts and a visit to Rwanda to provide much needed resources, run coach education courses and support education through sport.
Based at Larbert High School, the Tryst Community Sports Hub aims to lead a cultural changeinspiring the local community to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. The programme and projects delivered in partnership with local clubs and organisations are the most inclusive and with the most diverse range of sports in the Central Scotland area with opportunities for all young people and adults to receive expert coaching every weekday evening and Saturday morning. Their recent success has been recognised nationally with Larbert High School winning Scottish Sport School of the Year and being awarded a Gold Standard School of Sport by sportscotland.
Paul Bush OBE, Chair, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “Community Sport Hubs, clubsand schools provide the vital base of Scotland’s sporting system, providing not just a route into competitive sport but also contributing to the health and well-being of the nation as a whole. The breadth ofactivities undertaken by our three finalists in the past year is phenomenal and they should be rightly proud of their achievements. They embody the ideals of collaborative working while meeting needs across all sections of their communities.”
The Community Sport Hub, Club or School of the Year award is supported by sportscotland, the lead agency for the development of sport in Scotland. Establishing community sport hubs comprising partnerships from across clubs, schools and local organisation partners was a key goal linked to Glasgow 2014. sportscotland’s mission is to build a world class sporting system for everyone in Scotland, making sport a way of life, placing it at the heart of society and making a positive impact on people and communities.
Winners across all twelve categories will be crowned at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards in a star-studded celebration of Scottish sport on 28 September at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
For full details of the event visit: http://www.scottishsportsawards.scot/index.html
With the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards just ten days away, Commonwealth Games Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Sun, is excited to announce the launch of the Sporting Moment of the Year 2016 public vote.
History makers, passion, emotion, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat – from the exploits of Andy and Jamie Murray in Davis Cup winning action to Laura Muir smashing the British and Commonwealth 1500m record on route to Diamond League victory in Paris, Scotland’s sporting stars have thrilled and inspired throughout the last year in an impressive array of sports.
Eleven top Scottish sporting moments have been shortlisted by our judges, with the winner to be determined by an online public vote. The award will go to the sporting performance over the last 12 months that has captured the hearts of the nation.
Scotland Rugby Sevens’ dramatic last second win over South Africa to lift their first ever World Series title at Twickenham, Gary Anderson retaining his PDC World Darts Championship crown, Ricky Burns taking a third world boxing title over three different weights and Hibernian’s last minute goal to clinch their first Scottish Cup title in 114 years were standout moments. Also in the running are a host of incredible performances from the Scots on Team GB in Rio, led by the incredible feat of Heather Stanning maintaining a five year winning streak with Helen Glover to take gold, Katherine Grainger making history as the most decorated British female Olympian of all time and the silver medal winning Men’s 4x200m Freestyle relay, where four of the five swimmers over heat and final were Scots.
Each of these moments has made Scotland proud, but which deserves to take the title of Sporting Moment of the Year 2016?
Register your vote at: http://www.scottishsportsawards.scot/vote.html
Voting will close at 23.59 on Sunday 25 September with the winner to be revealed at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on Wednesday 28 September.
Three individuals, whose leadership has inspired change in Scottish sport, have been named as finalists for Sports Leader of the Year at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on 28 September. Ian Beattie (scottishathletics), Richard Thomas (Boxing Scotland) and Maureen McGonigle (Scottish Women in Sport) comprise the strong shortlist for the prestigious award, sponsored by Brand Oath.
As Chair of Scottish Athletics Ltd, Ian Beattie has led the organisation in a quite remarkable year across all sections of the business. Working closely with the Board, staff team and sport as a whole, he has provided clear leadership to refocus the organisation, implementing his brainchild ‘Perform When It Counts’ national strategy across the sport. Encompassing not just athletes but also coaches, officials, volunteers, parents and staff members, the past year has seen a massive growthin the sport with numerous successes from participation numbers, across club and coaching initiatives, to athlete performances including record numbers selected for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Also shortlisted for leading change at the helm of a Scottish governing body is the late RichardThomas. Prior to Richard’s appointment, Boxing Scotland was in turmoil, deemed ‘unfit for purpose’ and its key funding withheld. As Organisational Director and then as Chairman, he restructured the governing body which brought, not only international success in the ring for its elite boxers, but also a huge and much needed improvement in the sport’s standards of governance. As a result Boxing Scotland received the biggest funding increase of any Commonwealth sport for the 2015–2019 cycle as the sport continues to enjoy record growth and success. Prior to his sudden passing in March 2016, Richard’s input oversaw a total renaissance of the sport and laid the foundations that will see it prosper for many years to come.
Maureen McGonigle is the founder and CEO of Scottish Women in Sport. An organisation set up to educate the Scottish public, media and commercial investors on the role of sport in driving gender equality, SWIS specifically looks to increase the number of women who participate, coach and lead sport in Scotland. The International Women’s Day social media campaign #pledgeforparity and the second Scottish Women in Sport Conference, attended by over 150 leaders from local authorities, schools, clubs, businesses, politics and governing bodies, were highlights in 2016. Maureen has established SWIS as a lead organisation with policy makers, opinion formers and decision makers, bringing gender equality solutions to prominence.
Congratulating the finalists, Paul Bush OBE, Chair, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “From an incredibly strong list of nominees our three finalists stood out for the positive impact they have made in their respective positions, leading transformative change and altering perceptions. This award highlights people whose unwavering commitment may otherwise go unnoticed but who are crucial role models of good leadership within Scottish sport. We’re proud to celebrate these inspirational leaders and the platform they have afforded to others to realise their ambitions.”
Category sponsor Brand Oath is a branding agency specialising in the design and production of high value, bespoke tender and bid documents for commercial organisations, particularly in the sports sector. The company’s impressive resume includes producing campaigns and materials for the successful London 2012 Olympic Games and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bids and recently were behind the development of the new Team Scotland brand.
Winners across all twelve categories will be crowned at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards in a star-studded celebration of Scottish sport on 28 September at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
Following a record breaking performance from Team GB’s Olympians, it is now the turn of the nation’s Paralympians as the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games begin on Wednesday 7 September.
There will be 33 Scottish athletes in the ParalympicsGB team, competing across 12 different sports and, with a wealth of World and Paralympic medallists among their number, hopes are high for a successful Games.
Defending Paralympic champion and ten time World champion Neil Fachie heads the list of four Scottish cyclists heading to Rio. He competes in the Tandem B Kilo and Sprint with Englishman Pete Mitchell, while Fachie’s Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games pilot Craig MacLean teams up with Welshman James Ball. London 2012 silver medallist Karen Darke looks to go one better in the H1-2 road race while Hannah Dines competes in the T2 Trike, having switched from racerunning at the end of 2013.
Sam Ingram will represent ParalympicsGB at a third consecutive Games having taken bronze at Beijing 2008 and silver at London 2012. With World and European medals also to his name, the visually-impaired judoka is the most decorated athlete on the British Judo Paralympic programme.
It will also be a third Games for six time tennis Grand Slam winner Gordon Reid. Reid made Wimbledon history this summer by winning the first ever men’s wheelchair singles tournament, also taking the doubles title alongside partner Alfie Hewett. He reached the quarter finals at London 2012and is a real contender for gold in Rio.
Current World champions Alison Patrick and Hazel Smith compete in the PT5 triathlon and havealready had success on the Paralympic course, winning the test event in 2015. Patrick switched to triathlon from athletics in 2013 and is a two-time world and European champion.
There are six Scots selected in the athletics squad, including current World record holders Jo Butterfield (Club / Discus), Stef Reid (Long Jump) and Libby Clegg (100m / 200m). They are joined by marathon runner Derek Rae, wheelchair racer Samantha Kinghorn and 16 year old multiple World and European sprints medallist Maria Lyle.
Four Scottish swimmers will take to the pool in Rio with the youngest team member 13 year old Abby Kane from Largs. Multiple World medallist Andy Mullen will go for a first Paralympic medal in the S5 events, having claimed four golds at the 2016 European Championships while Stephen Clegg and Scott Quin could also be in the frame for a podium place.
Six of the 10 boccia players are Scots with the McCowans making it a family affair. Scott McCowan, a world silver and European bronze medallist, will be making his second Paralympics appearance and will be joined by younger brother Jamie, as well as their parents Gary and Linda who are ramp assistants. Joshua Rowe, Patrick Wilson and Kieran Steer round out the Scottish boccia contingent, along with current World champion Stephen McGuire.
Archer Nathan Macqueen competes in the compound open on the back of European Championship silver earlier this year and Team Scotland Glasgow 2014 powerlifter Micky Yule comes into Rio having taken gold at the 2016 Invictus Games.
Martin Hickman, David Porcher and Jonathan Paterson take to the field with the 7-a-side football team, while Robyn Love competes in wheelchair basketball and Michael Kerr in wheelchair rugby.
The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games take place from 7- 18 September. Good luck to everyone fora successful Games.
Scots on ParalympicsGB:
Nathan Macqueen – Archery
Jo Butterfield – Athletics
Libby Clegg – Athletics
Samantha Kinghorn – Athletics
Maria Lyle – Athletics
Derek Rae – Athletics
Stef Reid – Athletics
Robyn Love – Basketball
Gary McCowan – Boccia (ramp assistant)
Jamie McCowan – Boccia
Linda McCowan – Boccia (ramp assistant)
Scott McCowan – Boccia
Stephen McGuire – Boccia
Joshua Rowe – Boccia
Kieran Steer – Boccia
Patrick Wilson – Boccia
Karen Darke – Cycling
Hannah Dines – Cycling
Neil Fachie – Cycling
Craig MacLean – Cycling (pilot)
Martin Hickman – Football
Jonathan Paterson – Football
David Porcher – Football
Sam Ingram – Judo
Micky Yule – Powerlifting
Michael Kerr – Rugby
Stephen Clegg – Swimming
Abby Kane – Swimming
Andrew Mullen – Swimming
Scott Quin – Swimming
Gordon Reid – Tennis
Alison Patrick – Triathlon
Hazel Smith – Triathlon (guide)
Recognised for their success in driving participation, development and performance at all levels of Scottish sport, three organisations have been shortlisted for the title of Governing Body of the Year at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on Wednesday 28 September 2016.
Netball Scotland, scottishathletics and Boxing Scotland emerged as finalists from a strong list of nominees, in what has been a fantastic year for Scottish sport and are now vying to scoop the award sponsored by Bluefin Sport.
With the launch of a new, modern image and innovative programmes from recreational to international level, Netball Scotland are committed to raising the profile of the sport and inspiring players at all levels. Capitalising on interest following Glasgow 2014 has resulted in a staggering 60% increase in membership since Glasgow 2014, 35% in the past year alone. With initiatives like the Bounce Back to Netball adult recreational programme, the sport is reaching out to new audiences including bringing island and rural communities within the national programme.
At the elite level, the national team are now ranked inside the world top ten and a new national franchise, the Scottish Sirens, will join the top flight of the Vitality Netball Superleague next season which is being broadcast by Sky. Investment in age group performance has also seen record results at European level, with medals at the Netball Europe U17, U21 and Open Championships.
It has been also been a bumper year for scottishathletics with a raft of medals at World, European and Commonwealth events across all disciplines and age groups. The 15 Olympians selected for Rio 2016 comprise the largest Scottish representation for a century, with a further six athletes selected for the Paralympics Games which get underway this week.
Underpinning this success is the new national strategy ‘Perform When It Counts’ delivering the highest competition entry numbers since the 1970s with over 120,000 athletes participating in scottishathletics permit events over the past year. The strategy has also driven significantly increased membership of clubs and the recreational jogscotland programme, as well as the launch of eight new clubs and centres, catering for para-sport athletes, in partnership with Scottish Disability Sport. Along with innovative developments in coach and club development and the creation of an industry leading physical competency programme, scottishathletics is working hard to ensure that the success of 2016 is repeated in years to come.
With four medals from four athletes at the Commonwealth Youth Games last year, two medals at the European Youth Championships and a record six gold medals at the GB Elite Championships, Boxing Scotland have had much to celebrate performance wise over the past year.
Their commitment to club and coach development and to eliminating traditional barriers and prejudices, is perhaps even more impressive. The development of an online members’ portal has revolutionised the way clubs interact with the governing body, while in March, Boxing Scotland launched a new SQA accredited Level 1 coaching qualification. 59 coaches successfully completed the award in the first three months and will go directly into catering for growing membership numbers, including a phenomenal 38% increase in the number of registered female boxers. Committed to promoting equality, Boxing Scotland also has plans to expand on the successful Glasgow based ‘Knockout Boxing’, the first initiative to provide an open environment for the LGBT community to engage in the sport.
Paul Bush OBE, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “Governing bodies sit at the heart of Scottish sport, putting in place pathways for athletes, coaches and officials from their very first contact with the sport through to achieving their aspirations at international level. Our three finalists stand out for their innovative approach and commitment to the development of their respective sports and we look forward to celebrating their achievements at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on 28 September.”
Sponsor of the Governing Body of the Year Award, Bluefin Sport is one of the UK’s leading insurance brokers providing risk management and insurance solutions to the sports and leisure industry. Representing sporting organisations, including governing bodies, from grassroots through to the professional levels they provide independent advice, access to all leading insurers and the ability to design specialist insurance programmes to both organisations and high profile individuals.
Winners across all twelve categories will be crowned at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards in a star-studded celebration of Scottish sport on 28 September at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
Three of Scotland’s brightest sporting prospects have been named as finalists for the Sir Peter Heatly Trophy and the title of Young Athlete of the Year at the 2016 Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards on 28 September. Swimmer Kathleen Dawson, boxer John Docherty and para-sport sprinter Maria Lyle are in the running to take the prestigious award sponsored by EDF Energy Renewables.
As finalists, they follow in the footsteps of some of Scotland’s current stars including 2015 winner, swimmer Duncan Scott, who recently returned from the Rio Olympics with two silver medals. The credentials of this year’s nominees suggest they all have an exciting future ahead.
At the European Swimming Championships in May, Kathleen Dawson became the first Scottish woman to break the one minute barrier in the 100m Backstroke as she lowered the Scottish record three times on route to winning the bronze medal. She went on to swim the lead off leg in the 4 x 100m medley relay, taking gold with her GB team mates. At the age of 18 she is now the Scottish record holder in all three backstroke events.
18 year old boxer John Docherty is recently returned from watching the action in Rio, where he was one of only two boxers chosen for Team GB’s Ambition programme for future Olympic prospects – just reward for a year in which he has amassed a collection of major championships medals. He took gold at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa and silver at the European Youth Championships before announcing his arrival at senior level by taking the Scottish title, silver at the British Championships and gold at elite international level in Belgrade.
At 16 years of age Maria Lyle has a track record that many senior athletes would be envious ofand is set to make her Paralympic Games debut in Rio. In 2015 she won silver medals in both the 100m and 200m T35 races at the IPC Athletics World Championships, adding gold in the 4x100m relay as Great Britain stormed to victory in a new world record. Most recently, she smashed her personal bests to take triple gold at the 2016 IPC European Championships. She took the 100m and 200m titles in European records and set another world record as part of the 4 x 100m relay squad. In Rio she will go up against Australian rival Isis Holt in one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the Paralympic Games.
Paul Bush, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “The breadth and depth of nominations received for this award, and the wide range of sports represented, shows that the future of Scottish sport is in good hands. We have an incredibly strong line up in our three finalists. I congratulate them on their tremendous achievements over the past year and look forward to following their future successes.
Sponsor of the Young Athlete of the Year Award, EDF Energy Renewables, is an experienced wind farm developer and operator with sites spanning the length and breadth of the UK. They operate five sites in Scotland and, with several projects already consented or under construction, are committed to make a real contribution to the country’s targets for renewable energy and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.
CEO of EDF Energy Renewables, Matthieu Hue said: “We are delighted to support the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards and to sponsor the Young Athlete of the Year award. All the athletes have shown real dedication, strength and courage to achieve their dreams and are a real inspiration to us all. As a company, we are as committed to Scotland as they are.”
Winners across all twelve categories will be crowned at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards in a star-studded celebration of Scottish sport on 28 September at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.