SPORTING heroes from across Ross-shire took a bow at an annual ceremony which beat the weather this time around.
Ross and Cromarty Sports Council held an open meeting on January 19 in the British Legion, Dingwall, at which the presentation of its annual sports awards also took place.
The event had been postponed from December 8 due to bad weather.
Another cold and snowy night saw club representatives gather to hear a presentation by the sportscotland regional coaching and volunteer development manager, Jan Stander.
Jan outlined both his role and the objectives of sportscotland for the next few years, including development pathways, support for elite athletes and funding opportunities for coaches and volunteers.
He highlighted the need to bring tutors to local areas to allow more coaches to benefit from training. As his area includes Grampian, the Western Isles and both Shetland and Orkney, he is very aware of the limitations imposed on development by the obstacle of distance. His presentation was well received, and he duly answered the many questions asked by the members who were present.
Following his talk, Jan presented the annual Ross and Cromarty Sports Council Achievement Awards. Joan Maxwell, vice-chair, and Jenny MacLennan, Sports Council secretary, then took it in turn to read out the nominations for each of the awards.
• Breagha Hayes won the honours as junior athlete for her efforts in the sport of endurance riding. At just 13 she represented Scotland in a gruelling event in the Welsh mountains, horses and riders having to cope with extreme heat and dehydration. Her club (Scottish Endurance Riding, Highland branch) were also nominated for Club of the Year.
• Milton and District Bowling Club took the Club of the Year trophy in recognition of their many achievements, including bringing home the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils (SALSC) Men’s 50+ Bowling Trophy to Ross-shire for the first time in 21 years, having won the competition as representatives of RCSC.
• Club president Ina MacDougall rounded off their success on the night with the runner-up Administrator prize. Bill Gilmour from Invergordon Bowling Club took the honours in that category, his club nominating him for his dedication and contribution to the club since joining in 1977.
• Ross County Athletics Club’s triumphs included Alison Cameron winning the Endeavour Award for all her considerable work for the club, including organising last year’s annual Puffin Pool fun run. They were also nominated in two other categories: young athlete (Luke Shaw) and club of the year.
• Possible future Olympian rower, Alan Sinclair from Belmaduthy – a member of Inverness Rowing Club – took the award as Senior Athlete.
• Siannon Raeside of Fyrish Gymnastic Club was runner-up junior athlete, while her club coach, Emma Burns, was second to Rob Parkes, Ross Sutherland Rugby Football Club, as Coach of the Year. The committee recognised Rob’s outstanding achievements in player motivation and retention, as did Jan Stander, who commented on the high quality of the coaching nominees.
The next meeting of the Sports Council will take place on Thursday, March 22 in the Highland Football Academy, Dingwall.
And the winner is....
THE NOMINEES and winners were as follows:
Administrator/Volunteer — 1 Bill Gilmour, Invergordon Bowling Club; 2 Ina MacDougall, Milton and District Bowling Club.
Coach — 1 Rob Parkes, Ross Sutherland Rugby Club; 2 David Murray, Lochcarron Sailing Club and Emma Burns, Fyrish Gymnastic Club.
Endeavour Award — 1 Alison Cameron, Ross County Athletics Club; 2 Gavin Mackenzie, ASC Invergordon Academy and Primary Cluster.
Active Participant (Junior Athlete) — 1 Breagha Hayes, Scottish Endurance Riding Club; 2 Siannon Raeside, Fyrish Gymnastic Club; 3 Luke Shaw, Ross County Athletics Club; 4 Jack Grant, Highland Budokan Judo Club.
Active Participant (Adult athlete) — Alan Sinclair, Inverness Rowing Club.
Club of the Year — 1 Milton and District Bowling Club; 2 Ross County Athletics Club; 3 Scottish Endurance Riding Club.
