West Lothian Council’s Celebrating Sport Awards 2010

Mar 4 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

WEST LOTHIAN Council honoured the county’s top sportsmen, sportswomen and coaches this week at the fourth annual Celebrating Sport awards.

This year the awards took place in Deans Community High School which was a location to fit the occasion as the brand-new Livingston school has a purpose-built sports complex including a dance studio, swimming pool with spectator facilities, full-size all-weather synthetic pitch and outdoor changing facility.

The evening was hosted by Bill Tevendale, headteacher at Inveralmond High School, who was ably assisted throughout the evening by a host of councillors and chief executive Alex Linkston.

Guest speaker at the event was multi-medal winning Paralympian Tim Reddish who is chairman of the British Paralympics Association and a board member of LOCOG, the organising committee for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games.

He both fascinated and inspired with his remarkable rise from leisure centre manager to world-record breaker, gold-medal winner and invitee to Buckingham Palace.

Tim made a splash on the international sporting stage after refusing to let a hereditary condition affect his life.

In 1988 he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa which left him blind.

But just one year after being diagnosed he took part in his first major international event, the European Championships, scooping two gold, five silver and four bronze medals.

During his 13-year international swimming career he competed in three Paralympic Games, three World Championships and five European Championships, collecting a total of 22 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze medals.

Reddish, who was honoured with freedom of his native Nottingham and also an OBE and an MBE, also boasts five Paralympic medals won at the Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney Games.

For the sports awards, the public were invited to nominate any person or group who they felt had enjoyed particular success in sport recently, with a huge response in a number of categories.

And the nominees for the county awards this year were as always of an extremely high standard.

The judging panel, which included a previous Celebrating Sport winner and representatives of sportscotland, West Lothian Council and West Lothian Sports Council, had the extremely difficult task of picking the winners in five categories.

Director of Education Gordon Ford, Provost Tom Kerr, Shirley Campbell of sportscotland, Councillor Andrew Miller and David Laing, vice-president of Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils, each presented awards. Mr Ford said: “West Lothian continues to produce outstanding individuals and teams and it was a pleasure to meet so many dedicated young athletes.

“However, great credit must go to the parents and coaches who provide support and encouragement day after day.

“West Lothian Council remains committed to developing our stars of the future.”

Swimmer Craig Benson, runner-up twelve months ago, was awarded the coveted Young Sports Person trophy, with Duncan Kuwall (Skiing) and Robert Dalgleish (Swimming) as runners up.

In the Senior Sports Person category, gymnast Douglas Shaw was the outright winner with runners up Andrea Gellan (Open Water Swimming) and Kirsty McCallum, Andrew Slack and Daniel Strang (Boccia).

The Contribution to School Sport award went to Jane Robertson from St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, with Lesley Malone (Linlithgow PE Specialist) and Jamie Crawford (Broxburn Academy) as runners up.

The Coach of the Year award was presented to Stephen Duff for his work with wheelchair basketball, who also received a £500 voucher for coach education donated by sportscotland. Grant Watters (Badminton) and Derek Marshall (Kayak Racing) were the runners up.

The Local Service to Sport Award, which is judged and provided by West Lothian Sports Council, was given to swimmer Alanna Morrison, with Ramsay Thomson (Judo) and James Warnock (Lawn Bowls) as runners up.

Local sports clubs were also recognised for their role in increasing participation and improve the quality of sporting opportunities for the benefit of local communities. Murieston United were recognised for their achievement in being the first club to attain council’s Development Level accreditation, and Craigshill Thistle and Livingston Hearts were also the proud recipients of certificates for achieving Community Club accreditation.

Bellsquarry Primary School was also presented with the West Lothian Primary Schools Swimming trophy, and Harrysmuir Primary School was awarded a plaque in honour of being the first school to achieve the Active Schools Charter Gold Award.