Top prize goes to the golden girls
Laura and Holly win Sports Personality
Curlers Laura Watt and Holly Wilkie-milne have been announced as joint Sports Personality of the Year in the 2023 Perth and Kinross Sports Awards.
The ceremony, held on Friday evening at Perth Art Gallery, was organised by Live Active Leisure in partnership with Perth and Kinross Sports Council.
The awards, in their 34th year, recognise the achievements of athletes, volunteers and clubs from across the county.
Both Laura (Auchterarder) and Holly (Perth) were shortlisted for the main award along with Perth Strathay Harrier track star Lois Garland.
The pair won gold with Team Henderson at the World Junior Curling Championships in March before retaining their Scottish Junior title in November.
Phil Coleman, community sport and partnership manager from Live Active Leisure, commented: “It was an absolute honour to announce Laura and Holly as joint winners of Sports Personality of the Year 2023.
“Both are outstanding athletes, having won gold with Team Henderson at the World Junior Curling Championships in March 2023 and then going on in November to retain their Scottish Junior title for an extremely impressive third year.
“Both Holly and Laura are a fantastic choice of overall winner in our celebration of local sporting talent.”
The evening highlighted the many incredible sporting achievements from local athletes, as well as the phenomenal effort volunteers, coaches and club officers contribute to the region’s sporting landscape that is thriving once more.
Coleman continued: “Once again, the calibre of our finalists was extremely high and each category proved to be very competitive.
“The event highlighted the outstanding achievements of our local athletes and the unwavering commitment of our coaches, volunteers and sporting organisations.
“We were delighted to return for a third year to Perth Art Gallery to welcome guests and finalists and celebrate our winners.
“We look forward to another wonderful year of exceptional local sport in 2024.”
— John Duncan (Crieff Juniors Football Club)
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— Perth High School Senior Boys Football Team
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— Team Lockhart (curling)
● — Connor Graham (golf ) ●
—Ron Hunter (athletics) ●
— Alex Medley (boccia)
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— Tayside Judo
● — Alan Erickson (Perth Strathtay
Harriers)
— Rachael Mcwilliams (dance)
— Bruce Bannerman (swimming) ●
— Laura Watt and Holly Wilkie-milne (curling).
■See Friday’s PA for further coverage of the awards
Once again, the calibre of our finalists was extremely high and each category competitive