RSS Press releases

The Dumfries and Galloway Coaching Awards are a partnership between our Council and sportscotland. The awards recognise the contribution achievements of coaches and volunteers and their dedication to their chosen sport. The awards celebrate and raise the profile of the work done by these hard-working sportsmen and sportswomen. The awards attracted a good number and standard of nominations from across Dumfries and Galloway and provided the panel of judges with some real debate when selecting winners. This year the Coaching Awards consisted of 9 categories: Young Person’s Coaching of the Year; Community Coach of the Year; Development Coach of the Year; Performance Coach of the Year; Young Coach of the Year; Disability Coach of the Year, Official of the Year, Young Volunteer of the Year (Under 25 years) and Volunteer of the Year (over 25 years). Three of the regional winners are from Annandale and Eskdale and are listed below. All regional award winners have been entered automatically into the sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards 2013 with a further chance for entry into the UK coaching awards later in the year. Ronald Ogilvie, chairperson of Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee said, “These awards show what committed coaches and volunteers we are fortunate to have within Dumfries and Galloway and Annandale and Eskdale. The awards help to raise their profile, showing how valuable they are to clubs, schools and sport in our area." DISABILITY COACH OF THE YEAR JIM SLOAN (ATHLETICS COACH – ANNAN DISTRICT ATHLETICS CLUB) Jim has been supporting athletics in the region for a number of years and working with people with a disability for the last 8 years. Jim always gives 100% effort to his athletes and expects them to give that back in their training and in competitions. In addition to coaching each week, Jim attends events and competitions throughout the year. This includes the week-long trip to the Special Olympics in Bath where Jim has to prepare the athletes for the competition days. He also has to care for and look after the athletes the whole time the team are away as the athletes do not attend with parents or carers. Jim is a dedicated and hard working coach who is well respected by the athletes and their families and support workers. He trained the Special Olympics athletes twice a week for 6 months leading up to the games in Bath in August to ensure they were sharp and fully prepared. This is a huge commitment to undertake these duties 24 hours a day for 6 days and Jim always showed patience, support and enthusiasm throughout the trip and was an asset to the team. The athletes he coaches have had notable success at Scottish Championships and the Special Olympics and this is due in no small part to Jim’s dedication and commitment to his athletes, coming out to train them in all weathers all year round. YOUNG VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR (UNDER 25 YEARS) LUCY THOMPSON (MULTI SPORTS COACH / VOLUNTEER) Lucy Thompson started volunteering with the Leisure & Sport programme in 2012 and her volunteering has been very important to the sustainability of many of the events and programmes in Annandale and Eskdale and in particular the Sports Academy. Lucy is equally comfortable helping with various activities for the under 5s on the Active Start Programme as well as leading and supporting sessions for secondary school children. Lucy now delivers a number of after school sessions in local primary schools and has always made herself available for events and activities. Lucy volunteers endlessly without reward or asking for reward and she is well-suited to her volunteering role. Lucy’s reward for her efforts is being chosen to volunteer at the 5 Nations Rugby, the Ryder Cup, and also the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games which is surely due to her commitment, dedication and professionalism. VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR (OVER 25 YEARS) MHAIRI PRINGLE (ATHLETICS COACH – ANNAN DISTRICT ATHLETICS CLUB) Mhairi has worked tirelessly to develop Annan District Athletics Club (ADAC). Mhairi not only coaches every week, she takes on more than her fair share of the club’s athletics business. Mhairi works full time and takes her three daughters around the country to compete in athletics. She finds time to promote athletics within schools as well as athletics taster sessions, Startrack etc. Mhairi does all the club paperwork from newsletters, entry forms, promotional leaflets, and all the organising of Annan River Race. The club is now accredited to Scottish Athletics and this is largely due to the work of Mhairi who is now looking to progress the club to podium award status. Mhairi is presently working through modules for a level 3 coaching. Mhairi continues to support and encourage all athletes within the club to be the best they can be and supports them to reach their own personal goals.