Let’s celebrate our true greats

New awards spotlight the inspirational heroes who make us so proud

SCOTLAND has become a sporting powerhouse.

We boast the world’s best tennis player in the shape of Sir Andy Murray.

Multiple gold medal-winning cyclist Sir Chris Hoy is one of the UK’s finest Olympians.

And from Jock Stein to Sir Alex Ferguson, we’ve produced some of the greatest football managers.

Sport pumps through Scotland’s veins.

Now it’s time to celebrate the brightest sporting heroes the country has to offer.

The Sunday Post has teamed up with music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins Scotland to launch the first ever Scottish Sporting Awards.

We want to recognise the most inspirational sporting figures from around the country.

It doesn’t matter whether they’re performing superhuman feats at the Olympics or putting cones out on the park on a wet Saturday morning.

From the finest coaches to the outstanding newcomers, over the next seven weeks we’ll bring you all the nominees in each of 10 fantastic categories.

Then, on Friday, March 10, all our nominated sporting heroes will gather at a star-studded bash at the glitzy Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh.

Categories like the Team Performance of the Year Award will recognise the players who come together as a group to overcome the odds.

While the Breakthrough Award will celebrate the new sporting stars aiming to become the Sir Andy Murrays of tomorrow.

And a Lifetime Achievement Award will honour one of Scotland’s biggest sporting heroes. Their identity will be revealed in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Post five days before the ceremony on March 10. But the NRS Sporting Awards isn’t just a glittering ceremony. Nordoff Robbins Scotland is the country’s largest music therapy charity, dedicated to changing the lives of vulnerable and isolated people. It helps people ranging from young children with autism to the older generation coping with dementia.

Sunday Post columnist Donald MacLeod is chairman of the Nordoff Robbins Scotland fundraising committee.

Donald is head of the HoldFast Entertainment Group, which runs many of Glasgow’s top nightclubs.

“I was blown away by the work that the charity carried out and how making music really could change people’s lives for the better,” explained Donald.

“As a musician, successful live music promoter and club owner I loved the idea of NRMTS and felt I could give something back to help others less fortunate than myself.

“We’ve had backing from the likes of Paulo Nutini, The Bluebells, Wet Wet Wet, Hue & Cry, Bay City Rollers, Barbara Dickson and many, many others.

“I always thought there was something missing in the scottish sporting awards calendar, especially an event that recognised the achievements of our great Scottish sports stars.”