RSS Press releases
We publish all of our recent press releases online so you can keep up to date.
You can use special RSS software (or newer web browsers) to subscribe to an RSS feed of our recent press releases . Email pressenquiry@dumgal.gov.uk if you'd like further details on any of our press releases.
If you want to speak to a communications officer, you can find their working-hours telephone numbers and what areas of the council they cover at www.dumgal.gov.uk/pressenquiry.
Read our press releases as HTML >>
Recent releases
Last Updated: 22/11/2024 10:34:41
Annandale and Eskdale Sports Awards
Tuesday, 30 April 2019 11:14
The Annandale and Eskdale Sports Awards Ceremony for 2018, organised by Dumfries and Galloway Council, was held at the Buccleuch Centre, Langholm on Friday 26 April.
9 awards were presented to local individuals and organisations who had excelled in their chosen sport during 2018.
The evening, which received an excellent standard of nomination, also captured a fantastic year for school, community and club sport in Annandale and Eskdale with some special achievements being recognised.
The evening started with the Small School Sports Initiative of the Year Award which was sponsored by The Cumberland Building Society. Runners up were Kirkpatrick Fleming Primary School for their new weekly running club which is offered to all abilities and has improved fitness levels significantly in participants. Winners were Canonbie Primary School whose netball team and players with their hard work, dedication, commitment and team spirit won the Primary Schools Winter Netball League and Annandale and Eskdale Primary Schools Netball Festival.
The Large School Sports Initiative of the Year Award was sponsored by The Dumfries and Galloway Standard. Runners up were Annan Academy for their individual and team success at regional and Scottish gymnastics finals and representing Scotland at the British Schools Gymnastics Championships in 2018. The winning school was Hecklegirth Primary School for their most successful year in the school’s sport history with achievements across numerous sports and achieving the Sportscotland Gold School Sport Award.
Annan Travel were sponsors of the Volunteer of the Year Award which received inspiring nominations of people doing excellent work in our communities. The winner went to Marjory Spence whose efforts over the last 42 years with the Annandale and Eskdale Pony Club had resulted in the success of riders at local, area and national level. Runner up was Tracey Whiteside for her commitment, dedication and countless hours of volunteering for Annan Rugby Club including manager of the club’s Ladies Warriors Team.
A new award introduced last year sponsored by Magnox Limited to recognise the contribution of young people in sport and to coincide with the Year of Young People. The runner up was Emily Richardson for her passion, drive and loyalty to her local gymnastics clubs where she has supported many gymnasts to develop their routines and skills, ensuring each one can perform to their very best. Lauren Graham from Langholm was chosen as the winner who is a valued member of the coaching team at Langholm Rugby Club. She is also a volunteer with the Xcel Project and is described as an excellent role model to other young people.
The Coach of the Year Award, sponsored by Gretna Gateway, was presented to Annemarie Ferguson for her passion, dedication and commitment to coaching the Newington Primary School Gymnastics Team and their ongoing success regionally and nationally. Joint runners up were Marion Stewart from Dumfriesshire Pony Club who has taught young riders to not only compete but also succeed at local, area and national level, whilst sharing the delights and disasters with each individual. She was joined by Colin Warrick for his work and commitment to Annan Rugby Club and leading the Annan Ladies Warriors team to the National League 1 Championship and promotion into the Premier League.
The Young Sports Personality of the Year Award was again sponsored by Grange Quarry Ltd. and included ten nominations of the highest calibre. Receiving a Rising Star Award for someone who has made significant progress in 2018 was 16-year-old swimmer Ava Simpson from Lochmaben who had competed at events at a British level and was selected as a member of Scottish Swimming's National Youth Development Squad. Runner up was 16-year-old Nicole Proudfoot who represented Scotland on three occasions in 2018 and won numerous medals in the Long Jump and Combined Events. Young Sports Personality for 2018 went to 17-year-old Katie Reville from Templand who gained her first Scottish vest sprinting for Scotland and won medals for her country who she represented three times in 2018.
There were a record 11 nominations in the Team of the Year Award sponsored by Rostrum Sportswear Ltd of Lochmaben. Runners up were Gretna Football Club Walking Football Team who won the Scottish Walking Football Cup in June against 31 other teams from across Scotland with Annan Academy Show Jumping Team winning this year’s team of the year for their success at the Inter Schools Championships.
Sponsored by Ashleybank Investments, the Lifetime Achievement Award was won by Philip Gunn who started his Karate journey in 1976 aged 25 years old. He moved to Langholm in 1988 where he set up Langholm Karate Club which is still going strong. He has competed at European and World Level and in 2018 aged 68 was awarded his Rokudan or 6th Dan. Runner up in 2018 is Merlin Dernie who herself was a member of Dumfriesshire Hunt Pony Club as a youngster. She has since spent the last 18 years as District Commissioner demonstrating resilience, diligence and strong leadership skills. She has played a vital role in the achievements of many young people and helped make their equestrian dreams become reality.
The evening also recognised some special achievements in 2018 including Hecklegirth Primary School achieving the sportscotland Gold School Sport Award and Young Sports Leaders who were recognised after supporting the delivery of school, club and community sport in 2018. Three sportscotland Dumfries and Galloway Coaching Awards winners were presented with their awards, including Emily Richardson, Cammy Little and Margaret Mannall. Moffat Rugby Club were also presented with a Special Recognition Award for being shortlisted at the Sunday Mail and Sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards in 2018.
The main awards from the second year of the “Welcome to Langholm” Future Champions Awards were presented which provide financial support to talented young athletes from Annandale and Eskdale to enable them to fulfil their potential and become the medal winners of the future. £11,500 was presented to twenty-two young people on the evening with a further five young people receiving £250 bringing the total awarded to £13,000.
Receiving £500 were Anais Anderson, 11 from Annan (Dance), Molly Reville, 14 from Templand (Athletics), Lewis Bell, 18 from Langholm (Athletics), Zoe Irving, 20 from Langholm (Boccia), Kyla Dodd, 16 from Lockerbie (Shooting) and Ava Simpson, 16 from Lochmaben (Swimming)
Receiving £1000 were Ryan McCormack, 19 years from Lockerbie (Curling), Danny Gracie, 16 years from Annan (Athletics), Finlay Waugh, 16 years from Annan (Athletics), Nicole Proudfoot, 16 years from Annan (Athletics), Katie Reville, 17 years Templand (Athletics) and Thomas Diggle, 21 from Lochmaben (Shooting).
The main category of the evening was the Sports Personality of the Year Award sponsored by Anderson’s Joinery and went to a young lady aged 18 years of age who had a fantastic year in 2018. Kerstin Dodd’s experience in shooting came as a 10-year old through a local pony club where she practiced the sport of tetrathlon, a combined events sport that also included swimming, running and equestrian. Her focus turned to shooting when she had just turned 13 years old where Michael Jones and Tim and Morag Liddon were fantastic support and motivation as her first coaches before she progressed through to the Scottish Junior Development Squad. At this point, Hugh Hunter, a vastly experienced performance shooter and coach was recruited to help her progress through the ranks in Scottish shooting. This would include monthly visits to Glenrothes and London but would benefit enormously through a support network that included coaches, fellow shooters, friends and family, in particular younger sister Kyla. Kerstin won a number of titles at regional, national and British level with the pinnacle of her career coming in 2018 when she was selected for Team GB three times at the Junior World Cup in Germany, Nordic Championships in Norway and the Junior World Championships in South Korea.
Chair of Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee, Councillor Stephen Thompson, said: “These evenings are a great opportunity to recognise the sporting talents in Annandale and Eskdale, but the back-story is just as important. The amount of time and effort put in by all the teachers, coaches, volunteers and parents is what enables the opportunities for our talent to participate and progress. We are very lucky that sport in Annandale and Eskdale is in such good hands and long may it continue.”
Vice Chair of Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee, Councillor Adam Wilson, said: “The Awards were an excellent opportunity to celebrate the enormous effort and talents of the sporting stars of Annandale and Eskdale and we are grateful to our event sponsors who allow us to organise an event fitting of the occasion. The record number of nominations and of such quality for such a small area again highlights the strength and depth of sporting talent and support we have in our area and every nominee on the evening would have been a worthy winner.”
9 awards were presented to local individuals and organisations who had excelled in their chosen sport during 2018.
The evening, which received an excellent standard of nomination, also captured a fantastic year for school, community and club sport in Annandale and Eskdale with some special achievements being recognised.
The evening started with the Small School Sports Initiative of the Year Award which was sponsored by The Cumberland Building Society. Runners up were Kirkpatrick Fleming Primary School for their new weekly running club which is offered to all abilities and has improved fitness levels significantly in participants. Winners were Canonbie Primary School whose netball team and players with their hard work, dedication, commitment and team spirit won the Primary Schools Winter Netball League and Annandale and Eskdale Primary Schools Netball Festival.
The Large School Sports Initiative of the Year Award was sponsored by The Dumfries and Galloway Standard. Runners up were Annan Academy for their individual and team success at regional and Scottish gymnastics finals and representing Scotland at the British Schools Gymnastics Championships in 2018. The winning school was Hecklegirth Primary School for their most successful year in the school’s sport history with achievements across numerous sports and achieving the Sportscotland Gold School Sport Award.
Annan Travel were sponsors of the Volunteer of the Year Award which received inspiring nominations of people doing excellent work in our communities. The winner went to Marjory Spence whose efforts over the last 42 years with the Annandale and Eskdale Pony Club had resulted in the success of riders at local, area and national level. Runner up was Tracey Whiteside for her commitment, dedication and countless hours of volunteering for Annan Rugby Club including manager of the club’s Ladies Warriors Team.
A new award introduced last year sponsored by Magnox Limited to recognise the contribution of young people in sport and to coincide with the Year of Young People. The runner up was Emily Richardson for her passion, drive and loyalty to her local gymnastics clubs where she has supported many gymnasts to develop their routines and skills, ensuring each one can perform to their very best. Lauren Graham from Langholm was chosen as the winner who is a valued member of the coaching team at Langholm Rugby Club. She is also a volunteer with the Xcel Project and is described as an excellent role model to other young people.
The Coach of the Year Award, sponsored by Gretna Gateway, was presented to Annemarie Ferguson for her passion, dedication and commitment to coaching the Newington Primary School Gymnastics Team and their ongoing success regionally and nationally. Joint runners up were Marion Stewart from Dumfriesshire Pony Club who has taught young riders to not only compete but also succeed at local, area and national level, whilst sharing the delights and disasters with each individual. She was joined by Colin Warrick for his work and commitment to Annan Rugby Club and leading the Annan Ladies Warriors team to the National League 1 Championship and promotion into the Premier League.
The Young Sports Personality of the Year Award was again sponsored by Grange Quarry Ltd. and included ten nominations of the highest calibre. Receiving a Rising Star Award for someone who has made significant progress in 2018 was 16-year-old swimmer Ava Simpson from Lochmaben who had competed at events at a British level and was selected as a member of Scottish Swimming's National Youth Development Squad. Runner up was 16-year-old Nicole Proudfoot who represented Scotland on three occasions in 2018 and won numerous medals in the Long Jump and Combined Events. Young Sports Personality for 2018 went to 17-year-old Katie Reville from Templand who gained her first Scottish vest sprinting for Scotland and won medals for her country who she represented three times in 2018.
There were a record 11 nominations in the Team of the Year Award sponsored by Rostrum Sportswear Ltd of Lochmaben. Runners up were Gretna Football Club Walking Football Team who won the Scottish Walking Football Cup in June against 31 other teams from across Scotland with Annan Academy Show Jumping Team winning this year’s team of the year for their success at the Inter Schools Championships.
Sponsored by Ashleybank Investments, the Lifetime Achievement Award was won by Philip Gunn who started his Karate journey in 1976 aged 25 years old. He moved to Langholm in 1988 where he set up Langholm Karate Club which is still going strong. He has competed at European and World Level and in 2018 aged 68 was awarded his Rokudan or 6th Dan. Runner up in 2018 is Merlin Dernie who herself was a member of Dumfriesshire Hunt Pony Club as a youngster. She has since spent the last 18 years as District Commissioner demonstrating resilience, diligence and strong leadership skills. She has played a vital role in the achievements of many young people and helped make their equestrian dreams become reality.
The evening also recognised some special achievements in 2018 including Hecklegirth Primary School achieving the sportscotland Gold School Sport Award and Young Sports Leaders who were recognised after supporting the delivery of school, club and community sport in 2018. Three sportscotland Dumfries and Galloway Coaching Awards winners were presented with their awards, including Emily Richardson, Cammy Little and Margaret Mannall. Moffat Rugby Club were also presented with a Special Recognition Award for being shortlisted at the Sunday Mail and Sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards in 2018.
The main awards from the second year of the “Welcome to Langholm” Future Champions Awards were presented which provide financial support to talented young athletes from Annandale and Eskdale to enable them to fulfil their potential and become the medal winners of the future. £11,500 was presented to twenty-two young people on the evening with a further five young people receiving £250 bringing the total awarded to £13,000.
Receiving £500 were Anais Anderson, 11 from Annan (Dance), Molly Reville, 14 from Templand (Athletics), Lewis Bell, 18 from Langholm (Athletics), Zoe Irving, 20 from Langholm (Boccia), Kyla Dodd, 16 from Lockerbie (Shooting) and Ava Simpson, 16 from Lochmaben (Swimming)
Receiving £1000 were Ryan McCormack, 19 years from Lockerbie (Curling), Danny Gracie, 16 years from Annan (Athletics), Finlay Waugh, 16 years from Annan (Athletics), Nicole Proudfoot, 16 years from Annan (Athletics), Katie Reville, 17 years Templand (Athletics) and Thomas Diggle, 21 from Lochmaben (Shooting).
The main category of the evening was the Sports Personality of the Year Award sponsored by Anderson’s Joinery and went to a young lady aged 18 years of age who had a fantastic year in 2018. Kerstin Dodd’s experience in shooting came as a 10-year old through a local pony club where she practiced the sport of tetrathlon, a combined events sport that also included swimming, running and equestrian. Her focus turned to shooting when she had just turned 13 years old where Michael Jones and Tim and Morag Liddon were fantastic support and motivation as her first coaches before she progressed through to the Scottish Junior Development Squad. At this point, Hugh Hunter, a vastly experienced performance shooter and coach was recruited to help her progress through the ranks in Scottish shooting. This would include monthly visits to Glenrothes and London but would benefit enormously through a support network that included coaches, fellow shooters, friends and family, in particular younger sister Kyla. Kerstin won a number of titles at regional, national and British level with the pinnacle of her career coming in 2018 when she was selected for Team GB three times at the Junior World Cup in Germany, Nordic Championships in Norway and the Junior World Championships in South Korea.
Chair of Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee, Councillor Stephen Thompson, said: “These evenings are a great opportunity to recognise the sporting talents in Annandale and Eskdale, but the back-story is just as important. The amount of time and effort put in by all the teachers, coaches, volunteers and parents is what enables the opportunities for our talent to participate and progress. We are very lucky that sport in Annandale and Eskdale is in such good hands and long may it continue.”
Vice Chair of Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee, Councillor Adam Wilson, said: “The Awards were an excellent opportunity to celebrate the enormous effort and talents of the sporting stars of Annandale and Eskdale and we are grateful to our event sponsors who allow us to organise an event fitting of the occasion. The record number of nominations and of such quality for such a small area again highlights the strength and depth of sporting talent and support we have in our area and every nominee on the evening would have been a worthy winner.”
£600 was raised from the evening’s raffle with organisers expressing thanks to all local organisations who had donated prizes for the evening. The money raised was donated to the Cycle to Syracuse Team who delivered a moving presentation on the evening. During their mission, the Cycle to Syracuse team had been raising money to help provide counseling services in Lockerbie Academy for young people aged 12 to 25.
Page last updated: 20/05/2022
