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sportMoray Recognition Awards 2007 The 2007 sportMoray Recognition Awards took place on the 29th of November at the Beechtree Restaurant in Moray College. The Categories for Nomination were as follows:- The Scottish Association Of Local Sports Councils - SALSC Local Service to Sport Award. Moray Council - Junior Sportswoman Award. Moray Leisure Centre - Senior Team Award. Diageo - Club Level Award. Campbell & McConnachie - Sports Person Of The Year Award. Moray College - Junior Sportsman Award. Northern Scot - Junior Team Award. sportMoray - Coach Award. Elgin Rotary - Special Achievement Award.
SHORT-LIST PORTFOLIOS 2007
SALSC Local Service to Sport Award This Award is for an individual administrator, coach or official for their voluntary contribution to local sport over a lengthy period of time (minimum 10 years). Four individuals were short-listed for this category: Michael Milmoe, Forres Sport – Athletics Mike has been a member of Forres Harriers for 16 years and for the past 5 years he has been both treasurer and membership secretary for the club. He has spent countless hours ensuring the club remains sound financially and is instrumental in organising many fundraising events. Mike also helps to organise various local races and still competes in running events ranging from 10-50k over all terrains. A dedicated and honourable person who is an integral part of a very successful club. Gordon Logan, Elgin Sport – Football (Referee) Gordon has dedicated much of his life to football refereeing in Moray. Firstly as a referee, in the local junior and minor grade leagues and as a linesman in the Highland Football League; then as Referee Supervisor for Moray and Banff Association before finally a role as an SFA Observer. Following compulsory retirement at age 70 last season, Gordon chose not to sit back and now heads the local advisory panel specifically working with new and young referees who show potential to improve. Having spent decades assessing referees from Premier League grounds to school pitches Gordon shows no sign of losing his enthusiasm to help and nurture the current crop of referees. Gordon was the first president of the Moray and Banff Referees’ Association when formed in 1981 and in 2005 due to his lifetime commitment to the refereeing movement was made the first and only Honorary Life President. Mike Christie, Elgin Sport – Various Mike has been involved in football since his playing days at Primary School. He has played for more football teams than most people have had hot dinners! Teams have ranged from local junior sides such as Islavale and Bishopmill Utd to amateur level with West Bromwich Albion. Mike was even asked to go ‘pro’ but turned it down to come back home to Elgin! After his playing days Mike then turned his hand to coaching and has coached more teams than he was involved with playing himself! Mike has been involved with Elgin Boys Club for 41 years in a variety of capacities. As well as football Mike has a passion for fishing, cricket, snooker, amateur boxing and golf. In fact not that long ago he was on four different sports committees at the same time. Mike has also helped raise thousands of pounds for many clubs over the years and you will often find him down at Morriston tending to the pitches, equipment and gear for Elgin Boys Club. John and Helen Grant, Elgin Sport - Football John and Helen have both been long running servants of the Elgin City Supporters Club, spanning a combined total of 55 years. John has served 35yrs in various roles of secretary, vice-president and treasurer. Helen spent 20yrs as a committee member. On match days they both worked in the refreshment kiosks and have assisted in raising many thousands of pounds for the club and organising the transportation of thousands of supporters to away matches.
Junior Sportsman Award This award is presented to a male sports person who has achieved excellence at regional, national or international level. Nominees for this category must be 12-18 years of age. Four individuals were short-listed for this category. Matthew Hester, Forres Sport – Athletics Matthew has had an excellent season on the track, in February he reached the semi finals of the Scottish u17s, 400m indoor championships. He came 1st in the u17’s 100m and 400m in the Petrofac League in Inverness. In the North District Championships he came 1st in the u17 200m and 400m and also came 1st in the North of Scotland Schools 200m race. Matthew took bronze in the 400m in the Scottish Schools Outdoor Championships. He then came 5th in the British Schools Championships in the 400m. He won gold as part of the 4 x 400m relay team at the Celtic Games and is currently ranked 3rd in Scotland at 100m and 4th at 400m in the u17 age group. Peter Ettles (Jnr), Forres Sport – Cycling Peter spent the month of June in Belgium racing at least twice a week against the top juniors in Europe. Peter was unplaced in these races but was competing against young males with professional backing. On his return from Belgium Peter claimed silver in the Scottish 800m grass track ahead of his father! Peter then went on to win the Scottish Junior Pursuit title, came 4th in the Senior 4000m Championship and was best junior finishing 5th in the Kilometre Championship. A personal best at the British Junior Pursuit Championships saw Peter take 9th place overall. Darren Love, Forres Sport – Badminton Darren has become a member of the Badminton Scotland National u15 satellite squad. The National Squad is by invitation only and is dependant upon results and performance in the National Junior Championships. Darren has won many trophies this year both at local and national level: his most recent being last month when he and his partner won the SSBU u14 doubles competition in Cumbernauld. Darren devotes many hours every week to developing his technique and his personal fitness as well as his commitment to the weekly National Squad sessions that are held every Sunday in Glasgow, leaving Forres at 5.30am! Lee Millar, Elgin Sport – Rugby Lee is an extremely influential member of the Moray RFC u18 team. He also now holds a regular place in the Moray Senior XV team and is becoming increasingly influential in the good form of the team in the Caledonia North Division 2 league this season. He has also been selected for this year’s u17 Caledonia Squad which is an excellent achievement. He was voted Moray Rugby Club’s Junior Player of the Year in 2006-07.
Junior Sportswoman Award This award is presented to a female sports person who has achieved excellence at regional, national or international level. Nominees for this category must be between 12-18 years of age. Four individuals were short-listed for this category. Gemma Cormack, Macduff Sport – Athletics Gemma is a member of Moray Roadrunners in Elgin. Gemma is the UK School Games Silver medallist at 800m, the Scottish 800m, 1500m and 3000m Champion, the Scottish Schools Champion, the Celtic Games 800m Champion and the British number 1 fifteen year old at 800m. She has also achieved personal bests this year at both 800m and 1500m. Dominique Sutherland, Forres Sport – Tang So Doo Dominique has won two golds and one silver medal at this year’s Scottish Tang So Doo Championships, one gold, silver and bronze at the British Championships and two golds at the recent World Championships in Holland. As well as training regularly Dominique also helps to train the ‘young dragons’ at her local club. What makes this accomplishment even more special is that Dominique is a young carer who looks after her father and brother, along with juggling school and a part-time job to help pay for her sporting activities. Sarah Jane Smith, Archiestown Sport – Figure Skating The number and quality of Sarah-Jane’s achievements in the sport of figure skating over the past year have been significant. At the tail end of 2006 Sarah-Jane took first place in four events across Scotland. In 2007 she has had great success at Level 7 and 8 events throughout Scotland. Sarah-Jane has demonstrated fantastic personal commitment to figure skating and has passed numerous free dance and other element tests as well as maintaining a positive attitude, good nature and continued academic success. Yasmin Anderson, Elgin Sport – Kickboxing During 2007, Yasmin became the Double British Champion at Kickboxing, the Scottish Champion at both junior and senior level, the Irish Open Champion at senior level. Yasmin has also won various regional titles throughout the UK. Yasmin has started competing against senior women during 2007 across the world and has been winning competitions. She is also regarded as one of the best junior fighters in the world and is the only Scottish fighter to make the British team for the European Championships.
Junior Team Award This award is presented to a team that has achieved excellence at either a regional, national or international level. Four teams were short-listed for this category. Gordonstoun Under 18 Football Team Sport – Football This team won the Scottish Independent Schools Cup in 2006-07 season, playing the Final at Tynecastle in May 2007. This is the first time a team from outwith the Glasgow or Edinburgh area has won this trophy. Gordonstoun had to beat the following teams to reach the final – Stirling, Dundee, St Andrews, Perthshire, Hamilton College and Strathallan. They met George Heriots in the final and through showing exemplary discipline and amazing resilience they overcame going a goal behind to winning the game 2-1. Forres Bluefins Swimming Club Sport – Swimming Forres Bluefins travelled to the World Youth Friendship Games in July 2007 in Holland. The team comprised of 12 swimmers aged 11-16 years and they competed against teams from all over Europe, USA, Canada and Taiwan (in total 2,500 competitors). The team entered 136 races of which they collected 29 medals and gained 66 personal bests along the way. The Forres swimmers proved that they are great ambassadors for Scotland and forged friendships with young people from other nations. Moray Rugby Football Club u15 Team As the u15 team in 2006-07 this team carried all before it, demolishing all opposition in their League, remaining unbeaten in the North Development League by a comfortable margin. They also won the Caledonia Cup u15 competition, beating Premier League opposition along the way. As a result of last season’s success the team have been entered into the Premier League and are taking on an extremely high standard of opposition on a weekly basis. Two of the players in the team have also been selected for the Caledonia u16 squad. Moray u18s have played a pivotal role in the development of rugby at Moray RFC both this season and last, which has seen numbers increase from 90 to 144! The current players, although a year under age, finished 2nd in the North Development League in 2006-07 and won the Caledonia Shield competition in April. In the current season they remain unbeaten in the league after 7 games and a number of the players have also been selected to play in the Moray Senior XV team. One member of the team has also been selected for the Caledonia u17 squad.
Senior Team Award This award is for a team that has achieved excellence at either regional, national or international level. Two teams were short-listed for this category. Isla Volleyball Club, Keith Isla Volleyball Club have had a very rewarding season this year. They won both the North Grampian District League and also the District Cup. They have also won the Grampian 4’s tournament in March and the North Grampian District Volleyball Association Tournament in May 2007 beating National League opposition along the way. Whilst competing at the Scottish Volleyball Association Outdoor Open Tournament in Perth in June they were beaten narrowly in the mixed division one section semi final by a National League Division 1 team, a fantastic achievement for a local district league side. Tomintoul Football Club, Tomintoul This small village team, managed for the past 25 years by Johnnie Irving won their football league this year, losing only 1 game (an away game). Statistics show they scored 87 goals and lost only 20, this being achieved even though they lost their top scorer with a quarter of the season to go, to Junior Outfit Islavale. Tomintoul also posted the best disciplinary record of all the teams during the league campaign.
Club Level Award This award is presented to an individual sports person who has made a valuable contribution at club level. Four individuals were short-listed for this category. Andrew Welsh, Lhanbryde Sport – Lawn Bowls Andrew has had a long association with St Andrew’s and Urquhart Bowling Club since the early 1970s. He was elected onto the committee in 1975 and has since been president twice, secretary 19 times, treasurer 14 times, match secretary 12 times and green warden at least 3 times. Andrew has also represented the club at area and national level and has served as president for the HBA in 1999-2000 and is a registered SBA umpire. Andrew’s achievements were recognised by the club when he was awarded Honorary Life membership of the club in 2006. Mike Rodgers, Forres Sport – Orienteering Mike has been an orienteer for more years than even he would care to remember! He is one of the most highly respected and successful members of Moravian Orienteering Club and has represented RAF Kinloss in this sport on many occasions. For the last 20 years Mike has worked selflessly to advance the sport of orienteering in the area. Mike has coached and organised many local, regional, national and international events – the most recent example being the Scottish 6-Day competition held in Culbin Forest. He has encouraged youngsters and adults to take up the sport across Moray and has ran numerous taster and coaching sessions to achieve this. The fact that even through personal circumstances that actually brought him to the brink of death with a heart condition and then the best efforts of the Scottish tic imposing Limes Disease upon him (through orienteering) he still puts his heart and soul into helping others achieve the greatness he can only recall but will never again be able to personally achieve. John Mackintosh, Forres Sport – Archery John is the coach at Forres House Archers and has been for 36 years. He has taught children and adults both able-bodied and disabled. In his time he has taught many hundreds of local people the skills and discipline of the sport and remains as committed now as he was in the 60’s. Stephen Murdoch, Elgin Sport – Athletics Steve has been a coach at Elgin Amateur Athletic Club for over 10 years. His coaching covers both summer track events and winter cross country running and his enthusiasm and encouragement has endeared him to parents and athletes alike. He has also acted as the secretary for the club over the last few years. He has became involved in the wider field of athletics in the North, also acting as secretary for the North District Cross Country Association. He is a regular official at the Petrofac athletic meets as well as on the Highland Games circuit. He accompanies many of the young athletes to competitions across the UK and very rarely claims expenses from the club.
Coach Award This award is presented to an individual who has contributed locally to the development of sport through coaching at their chosen level. Four individuals were short-listed for this award. Grant McPherson and Alan Thomson Forres Sport – Swimming At Forres Bluefins where both these nominees coach, they work as one! Due to these two exceptionally gifted swimming coaches Forres Bluefins have made remarkable progress at Regional, National and International Level. Although their approaches to coaching are of contrasting styles, the training and mentoring of their swimmers dovetail and the results of the club speak for themselves. Three of their swimmers have been selected to train with the Scottish Youth Development Squads and a further six have been selected for the North of Scotland Regional Squad. Both these coaches are involved in coaching the Regional Squads such is their reputation within the sport. Two very committed and enthusiastic coaches who spend a considerable amount of time on the poolside. Pam Cantrill, Elgin Sport – Gymnastics Pam runs the Tyock Gymnastics Club in Elgin and has nearly 180 members ranging from 18 months – adult. Pam coaches voluntarily six days a week and is busy most weekends either coaching, training or at competitions. Pam is a coach for the National Gymnastics and Movement for People with Disabilities (GMPD) Squad and was recently selected to go to Shanghai as part of the Great Britain Team at The World Special Olympics. One of Pam’s personally coached gymnasts returned from the Special Olympics with 5 gold medals. Some of Pam’s other gymnasts are currently Regional, Scottish and British Champions at GMPD level. Pam has still maintained this high level of coaching despite having recently undergone major surgery. John Cockbain, Fochabers Sport – Cricket John was instrumental in forming the junior section of Fochabers Cricket Club in 1996. John started u12, u13 and u14 squads in 1996 and coached the u12 squad to win the Moray Cup in 1997 and 1998. In 1999 he coached the Mosstodloch Primary Schools team to become Scottish Kwik Cricket Champions. In 2000 he coached the Fochabers U13s to the Scottish Finals of the Sutsarn Cup. At the age of 72, John continues to coach Mosstodloch Primary School team and the Moray u13 development squad as well as coaching the youngsters at Fochabers Cricket Club. John’s coaching ability has enabled a number of local youngsters to achieve national recognition with Scotland squads at various age group levels. Through John’s sterling efforts, Fochabers Cricket Club have this year been awarded bronze status in the TOP Club Award through Cricket Scotland which is a tremendous achievement.
Special Achievement Award This special award will be given to an individual who has attained an outstanding personal achievement in sport through overcoming adversity. Four individuals were short-listed for this category. Alistair Hay, Elgin Sport – Golf Alistair has a learning disability but this has not deterred him in his great achievements in the game of golf. He has been a member of Elgin Golf Club for a number of years and now has a handicap of 17. He was in two semi finals of Club Competitions this year and in March he played in the Fife Open Multi Disability Competition in Cupar and came in first. He was then in the Scottish Disability Golf Partnership game in Fife and came second. In July 2007 he was selected to play for Scotland in a Special Olympics 4 Nations Competition in which he won a silver medal and was the best scorer for Scotland. Alistair continues to be selected to play at Scottish Disability events. Richard Steele, Aberlour Sport – Outdoor Bowls At 19 years of age just after the finish of the bowling season, Richard was diagnosed with cancer of the upper left arm. Richard underwent extensive treatment but was then diagnosed with secondary cancer which has left him with the use of only one arm. Due to the cancer Richard was unable to play bowls during 2006 but regularly came along to Aberlour Bowling club to keep abreast of the club activities. In 2007 Richard was able to start playing again and in fighting spirit entered all club competitions. His achievements during the season were winning two of the club singles competitions and runner up in another singles and pairs competition. He also won the Findhorn Centenary Invitation Triples and the Grant Park Triples at Forres. Richard’s enthusiasm and fight has been an inspiration to the rest of the club members. Holly Cantrill, Elgin Sport – Gymnastics Holly has had an excellent year and gained many titles in her sport of gymnastics and movement for people with disabilities (GMPD). Holly has gained a place in the National GMPD Squad and represented Great Britain in South Africa and a place in the Great Britain Squad that competed in the World Games in China. Holly is presently Regional Champion, Scottish Champion, British Champion (for 4th year running), National Champion, International Champion and World Champion having taken 5 gold medals at the Shanghai Special Olympics. The fact that Holly has epilepsy, cerebral palsy and moderate to severe learning difficulties has not phased her throughout her training and competing. Jackie Cayton, Lossiemouth Sport – Curling Jackie took 4th place playing for Highland Wheelchair Curling Club in the Scottish Championships this year in Kilmarnock. She was then selected for the Wheelchair Curling Olympic Squad for this year and has since been elected coach for the Moray Wheelchair Curling Club in Elgin.
Sports Person of the Year Award This award is for an individual who has achieved excellence at a regional, national or international level. Nominees for this category must be 18 years of age or over. Six individuals were short-listed for this category. Louise Mair, Elgin Sport – Tae Kwon Do Louise is the current double British Champion at 51kg at Tae Kwon Do. She is a member of the British Olympic Squad and is ranked 11th in the World. She was the first Scot to participate in the World Tae Kwon Do Championships. She took silver in the Commonwealth Games in Australia, gold in the Swedish Open, and has competed in the qualifiers for the Beijing Olympics. Louise currently trains with the Great Britain team down in Manchester. Beverley Childs, Kinloss Sport – Triathlon Beverley Child turned 50 this year and has had the most successful year of her career. It is unheard of for someone of Beverley’s age to win events such as the RAF Championships as she is up against a considerably younger field. That said, Beverley managed to win both the sprint and standard distance triathlon titles. The highlight of the year came when Beverley raced at the Triathlon World Championships in Hamburg as part of the GB Age Group team and finished the race in 5th place. Beverley has also won the following races throughout the season; female senior veteran winner of the Benromach 10k road race, Moray Road Runners 10k road race, Garioch 10k road race, Northern Scot 10k Road Race 07 Series, Turriff Sprint Triathlon, Alford Supersprint Triathlon and Nairn Triathlon. She was also the female 50+ winner of the La Cantarilla Half Marathon in Spain. Peter Ettles, Forres Sport – Cycling Peter has again had an excellent season in the world of cycling. Peter won the Scottish Championships in July by a comfortable margin of 5 seconds. In the British Masters event, Peter took bronze in the 750m time trial and also took gold in the 15k Scratch Race and retained his British Age Group title. Peter then participated in the Masters World Championship pursuit title in Australia, a personal best in the 750m time trial saw him placed 9th from 44 starters. Peter then lined up the next day for the pursuit but was unfortunately 0.338 seconds away from qualifying for the bronze medal ride off and so was placed 5th. Above all this Peter has broken District Senior and Veteran records for 10 and 25 miles and has been placed in the top three in virtually every road time trial he has ridden this year. Diane Cameron, Elgin Sport – Kickboxing In February, Diane competed in and won the WAKO British Championships in the discipline of light continuous kickboxing. She is the first Scottish woman to win this title. In March, Diane travelled to Dublin as part of the Scottish National Squad to compete in the Irish Open, despite fighting women larger than herself Diane made it through to the final losing narrowly to her opponent. Diane was selected to join the WAKO Great Britain Squad for the World Championships and fought extremely well to obtain a bronze medal, one of only 3 medals won by the British team. Andrew Adam, Elgin Sport-Tae Kwon Do Andrew was part of the senior male team which won bronze at the World Tae Kwon Do Championships in Slovenia and a silver at the European Championships in Estonia last month. As an individual competitor, Andrew currently holds the title of Scottish and British Champion. He also picked up a bronze medal at the inaugural Professor Chang Ung Cup which attracted a wide international field. As well as training for Scotland regularly down in the Central Belt, Andrew volunteers numerous hours every week to coach the next generation of rising stars. A man that eats, sleeps and lives for the sport of Tae Kwon Do! George Sim, Elgin Sport – Athletics George has for many years now been a prolific runner and member of Moray Roadrunners. He has competed at the highest level, and in spite of reaching the super-vet category at the age of 57 he continues to feature in the prize list in almost every entry he participates in. George competed in the World Masters Championships in Italy this year and took 5th place in the 5k track race and 2nd place in the 10k track event. Over the past year George ran a time which puts him second in the British records for the half marathon distance in the Masters category. |
