Celebration of sporting talent and success
Athletes, coaches and volunteers are honoured at West Lothian sport awards
West Lothian’s top athletes, coaches and volunteers were recognised for their work throughout the year at West Lothian Council’s 2019 Celebrating Sport awards.
The council’s flagship sporting event took place last week in the Burgh Halls, Linlithgow in front of invited guests from community sports clubs, partner organisations and local schools.
All the finalists were nominated by the public for their significant contribution to sport in West Lothian this year.
Curler Annabel Skuse from Linlithgow, who represented Scotland in the World Junior Championships, was awarded the Sports Person of the Year trophy with the Coach of the Year accolade given to Swim-IT’s Fiona Donald.
The Club of the Year were Bathgate Amateur Swimming Club, with Sharyn Ramage from Linlithgow Lasers Walking Netball Group picking up the Local Service To Sport trophy and Armadale Primary parent volunteer Angela Douglas collecting the Contribution to School Sport award.
Executive councillor for culture and leisure Dave King, who officially opened the event, said: “Celebrating Sport 2019 provides us with the opportunity to honour the dedication and commitment of our local athletes, clubs, coaches and volunteers in West Lothian.
“Congratulations to everyone who was nominated and to all the finalists who have shown such a high level of talent and dedication to sport.”
Michael Stewart, Principal Teacher for Scottish Attainment Challenge in West Lothian, was MC on the night and kept the proceedings moving along smoothly in his own inimitable way.
Guest speaker was former professional triathlete Catriona Morrison MBE, who used to live in West Lothian and was an Active Schools Coordinator with West Lothian Council.
Catriona, who is now Business Development Manager at the Spartans Community Football Academy social enterprise, spoke powerfully about using sport and physical activity to intentionally bring about positive change for individuals and communities.
Other awards presented on the night were six Gold School Sport awards. This award is in recognition of a school’s outstanding achievement of putting quality physical education and school sport at the heart of their planning, practice and ethos. Andrew Baptie from sportscotland presented
Gold awards to Blackridge PS, Eastertoun PS, Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary, St Joseph’s RC Primary (Linlithgow), Stoneyburn PS and Windyknowe PS.
Jim Cameron, Head of Education (Learning, Policy and Resources), closed the event with a vote of thanks, acknowledging the hundreds of volunteers in clubs and organisations who provide all levels of sport across West Lothian week in week out. He also thanked Active Schools and Community Sport and the Burgh Halls staff for delivering such a successful event.
The full list of finalists and winners were as follows:
Contribution to School Sport Finalists: Angela Douglas ( Armadale Primary), Colin Ferguson ( Parkhead Primary), Chloe Gregor ( St Kentigern’s Academy), Samantha Wide ( St Kentigern’s Academy);
Winner – Angela Douglas presented by Jim Cameron, Head of Education.
Local Service To Sport Finalists: Paul Marr (Bathgate Thistle CFC), Michelle Jempson (Winchburgh Warriors Netball Club and Winchburgh Albion YFC), Sharyn Ramage (Linlithgow lasers Walking Netball Group);
Winner – Sharyn Ramage presented by Brian Sutherland, Scottish Club Sport Board Member.
Club of the Year Finalists:
Bath gate Amateur Swimming Club, No Limits Sports Club, WL Artistic Gymnastics Club.
Winner – Bathgate Amateur Swimming Club presented by Elaine Cook, Depute Chief Executive.
Coach of the Year Finalists: Stephen Tonge (WL Artistic Gymnastics Club), Kevin Milne ( W L Fencing Club), Fiona Donald (Swim-IT).
Winner – Fiona Donald presented by Alan Colquhoun, Culture & Sport Manager.
Sports Person of the Year: Annabel Skuse (curling), Callum Mortimer (basketball), My les Lapsley (swimming).
Winner – Annabel Skuse presented by Catriona Morrison MBE.