ATHLETES from across the Borders have been honoured at an awards night at Gala Rugby Club.
The annual ClubSport Ettrick and Lauderdale event took place on Friday (October 20) and welcomed stars from a wide range of sporting disciplines.
The Sports Personality 2023 gong was presented to golfer Jack McDonald, who won both the Borders Champion of Champions and the Border Strokeplay Championship events this year, when he was also selected to represent Scotland at the Home Internationals. Additionally, he was a semi-finalist in the Scottish Amateur matchplay championship and is ranked at 777 in the world.
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McDonald – who is a member of Schloss Roxburghe, where he also works part-time in the pro shop – said: “It’s been a pretty good time for me over the last 12 months. I’ve played as much golf as possible and put the hours in. It sounds simple, but that’s definitely been the key.
“It’s good to get this award, not just for me but for the sport itself as golf isn’t really recognised in the Borders. I’m now looking to get some warm weather training to be ready for next year. My aim is to turn professional and compete in the majors which is every golfer's dream.”
The Junior Sports Personality prize went to cricketer Maisie Maceira. She started her journey at the age of nine at Selkirk's club before making the move over to Gala and then to Carlton to play for the women’s team.
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She said: “I love cricket and I hope to represent Scotland in the World Cup. The award came as a complete surprise but I’m proud to have won it. I’m hoping to make cricket a full-time career by joining a county club in England.”
Andrew Milligan, a professional tennis coach, won the Junior Coach award for his volunteering with young players in Earlston and Selkirk, and helping to run cross-Borders tennis events.
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Garry Fraser won the Coach of the Year gong for the work he is doing now to popularise girls’ football in the Borders. In his role as girls' pathway co-ordinator for Melrose FC, he has revolutionised the sector and the number of girls attending training has skyrocketed.
The Disability Sport award was presented to Ross Ferrando for the remarkable progress he has made over the last year in the sport of badminton, winning silver in singles and coming third in doubles at the Badminton Scotland Scottish Disability National Championships.
Melrose Bowling Club won the Team of the Year honour for their amazing haul of titles over the last year.
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And the town's football outfit was named club of the year. It has 13 teams playing throughout the Borders and south east Scotland, with 90 adults playing recreational football – including 40 women and a new competitive veteran men’s team of over 35s. Melrose FC has more than 300 registered players between the ages of five to 16 years who are supported by 120 volunteer coaches.
The Wellbeing in Sport award went to Susan Falconer who has successfully engaged with many clubs across the Borders, delivering 'headstrong' workshops and embedding positive practices around discussing mental ill health.
The SALSC Service to Sport prize was collected by Graeme Sutherland, a long-serving member of the Lauder Limpers running club.
Rick Kenney won the Outstanding Achievement in Sport award for a lifetime of dedication to his chosen sport of judo, in particular up to Commonwealth and world level, but also to all sports at all levels in the Borders.
Chair of ClubSport Ettrick and Lauderdale Trevor Bryant said: “Yet again the breadth of talent on display at the awards ceremony demonstrated how the Scottish Borders continued to punch above its weight across a wide range of sporting activities from grassroots to world class, and that his committee was grateful for the opportunity to assist athletes and clubs in their endeavours.”
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