Local sports people recognised at Ettrick & Lauderdale Awards
From those at the top of their game, to those taking their first steps into active pursuits, local charity Live Borders honoured a wide range of clubs and individuals at its annual ClubSport Ettrick and Lauderdale awards ceremony last weekend.
Gala RFC’s Netherdale clubrooms was the venue for the event which saw Selkirk’s hockey player Sarah Robertson awarded the 2019 Sports Personality of the Year Award in recognition of her 140 Scottish and Great Britain international caps.
Sarah was playing for Great Britain against Chile over the weekend in two games to qualify for the Olympics.
Linda Seggie was recognised as the Coach of the Year for her contributions to Boccia and working with people with disabilities.
Linda has volunteered with Live Borders Sports Development team for two of years whilst completing HND in Sport and Exercise: Coaching and Development course at Borders College.
With this, she has volunteered at the Boccia sessions held weekly in the Queens Centre and the Gytes Leisure Centre. The Boccia team have grown in numbers and Linda has supported them to competitions.
Linda has continually developed her coaching qualifications by attending a sign along workshop, which is a communication tool for those with learning disabilities which is a great addition in her current roles.
After winning the Ettrick and Lauderdale Clubsport Club of the Year Award in 2017, the Gala Cricket Club claimed the Team of the Year award for 2019.
On the field, 2017 and 2018 were difficult seasons. After being promoted to the East of Scotland Championship league, the second highest level in Scotland, the young Gala squad struggled.
Gala managed just four wins out of 30 league games over two seasons and were eventually relegated in 2018 back to Division One.
Gala bounced back in 2019, winning eight of their 11 matches and clinched the league title on the last day of the season.
The club followed it up a week later by winning their first Border 2020 Cup for four years, beating Selkirk in a closely contested final.
For their work in bolstering their junior numbers, the Selkirk Golf Club was recognised as the Club of the Year.
With an ageing membership the club this year, decided to focus on implementing a junior section, as their membership currently had no junior members.
New junior sessions were an instant hit with approximately 35-40 juniors aged between P1 and P7 attending each of the 10 weekly sessions. The sessions quickly progressed to the course for those who were older and looking to play a full game.
To increase appeal, sessions were priced at £1 per session or a junior membership could be purchased for just £10 for the full year which offered access to all training and full use of the course. Of the children attending the sessions, 27 of those subscribed to a junior membership.
For 45 Years of service to tennis, Christine Lawrie was awarded with the Scottish Association Local Sports Councils Service (SALSC) Service to Sport Award.
Christine’s achievements included various roles at club, district, county and national levels which was also recognised in 2011 when she received tennis’s national governing body, Tennis Scotland’s ‘Award in Recognition of Voluntary Services to Tennis in Scotland.
Included on Christine’s impressive CV are her presidential roles with Tennis Scotland, South of Scotland County, Tennis Borders District and St Boswells LTA, where she has served on many various committees including coaching, training, selection and marketing. For some 20 years, she was instrumental in fundraising at St Boswells for three new all-weather courts which former Wimbledon singles champion Maria Bueno officially opened in 1995.
The 2019 Disability Award went to Daniel Porter who received his first para-bowls Scottish cap back in September at the Home Nations International Series in Cardiff.
He recorded 3 out of 4 wins (2 Pairs victories against Wales and England, Triple victory against Wales). Scotland finished second overall 4 points behind England.
A Regular mainstream bowler in the Borders and around the UK at numerous competitions Daniel is committed to the cause. Daniel is the past 2018 Club President at Gala Bowling Club (youngest at 26 in 160-year club history) who stayed on as a committee members and player.
Furthermore, Daniel is a committee member on the Scottish Borders Disability Sport Group trying to help promote Para Bowls and more representation from Borders at National and International level.
For Daniel the ultimate aim is to follow fellow Borders Para Bowler, Mike Nicoll and represent Scotland at Commonwealth Games in future.
Blake Hedley was awarded as the Junior Sports Personality of the Year.
Blake competes in the sport of modern pentathlon made up of five sports, running, shooting, swimming, fencing and horse riding.
2018/19 has been a huge year for Blake and has brought amazing opportunities to be selected to compete for Great Britain. At the European Championships in Germany in June 2018 securing a team gold for the Under 15 boys team and an individual seventh place.
The World Championships were then held in Hurghada, Egypt in October 2018, which saw Blake win an individual silver and a bronze medal with his partner in the mixed relay.
Blake was selected again to represent Great Britain in 2019 this time for the Under 17 boys. Team GB travelled to Germany for the European Championship and Budapest for the World Championships where Blake and his team won gold.
Blake has recently been invited to be part of the GB pentathlon talent programme which provides training and support preparing athletes to compete internationally.
With an ongoing hectic training schedule Blake’s focus is now on being selected for Great Britain to compete at the youth Olympics in 2022.
2019 Winners at a glance
Coach of the Year (sponsored by Gall Robertson) – Linda Seggie
Team of the Year (sponsored by Rick Kenney) – Gala Cricket Club 1st XI
Club of the Year (sponsored by Fjordhus Ltd) – Selkirk Golf Club
SALSC Service to Sport – Christine Lawrie
Disability Award (sponsored by Rowan Boland Memorial Trust) – Daniel Porter
Junior Sports Personality of the Year (sponsored by The Trophy Guy) – Blake Hedley
Sports Personality of the Year (sponsored by Sykes) – Sarah Robertson
Live Borders is a charity. Every penny you spend with us is reinvested into supporting active, creative and healthy communities in the Scottish Borders.
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