Matthew claimssports awardstitle

The Covid-19 shutdown didn’t stop Hamilton Sports Council from recognising the town’s top amateur performers over the past year.

Earlier this month, HSC went ahead with their annual awards, taking to Twitter instead of the usual Hamilton Town Hall venue to announce that karate star Matthew Miller was their individual athlete of the year.

The Yamakai Karate Club member was in fine form at home and abroad in 2019, winning gold in the Scottish International Open and taking bronze in under-21 under-60 kilos category at the Basel Open, among many more medal successes.

Matthew’s coach, Jim Ross, said:“we are so made up for Matthew. He works incredibly hard and is an inspiration to all the young members.”

It was a good year all round for martial artists with Hamilton Judo Club picking up two awards.

The full list of winners were as follows: Adult individual award –

• Matthew Miller (Yamakai Karate Club)

• Young male individual – Matthew Anderson (Celtic Football Club)

• Young female individual – Yvonne Brown (East Kilbride Amateur Swimming Club)

• Adult volunteer – Joe Lynas (Hamilton Judo Club)

• Young Volunteer – Eilidh Barclay (Uddingston Grammar School)

• Sporting Primary School – St John The Baptist PS

• Sporting Secondary – Larkhall Academy

• Junior Team – S3 Holy Cross Netball • Adult Team – Hamilton Gymnastics Club Senior Display team

• Club of the Year – Hamilton Judo Club

• Coach of the Year – Martin Miller (Celtic Football Club)hamilton

• Rosebowl Award – Fiona Mcdougall (Hamilton Gymnastics Club)

• Scottish Club Sport (sportscotland award) – Lynsey Hogg (Hamilton Accies Women FC).