East Ayrshire’s athletes, sports clubs and volunteers were recognised and celebrated for their success and contribution to sport this year at the East Ayrshire Sports Council and Talented Athlete Awards evening recently.
The year has seen a string of impressive achievements both nationally and internationally for the 50 athletes being supported by the council’s Talented Athlete Support Programme.
The remarkable haul includes: five world champions, nine European champions, three European runners-up, 18 British champions, six British silver medals, five British bronze medals, 67 Scottish national champions, 18 Scottish national silver medals and seven Scottish bronze medals.
Joan O’Sullivan, Chair of the East Ayrshire Sports Council, said: “We are committed to supporting our athletes to fulfil their potential in their chosen sports both nationally and internationally.
“With so many athletes being supported, it really does demonstrate that East Ayrshire has produced and will continue to produce top class athletes through their hard work, determination and commitment. The success of the athletes is also a great vindication of the work that East Ayrshire is doing to support our sports clubs not only to be sustainable, but to thrive.”
In addition to a host of personal recognition accolades, the following main awards were presented:
Disabled Sports Person of the Year 2024 – Winner: Cameron Radigan. Finalists: Kathryn White, Jack Bisset.
Jim Higgins Youth Sport Personality of the Year 2024 – Winner: Jack Bisset. Finalists: Rhian Mitchell, Cameron McGarey.
Individual Performance of the Year 2024 – Winner: Aaron Sarwar. Finalists: Laura Haggarty, Logan Mitchell.
Team Performance of the Year 2024 – Winner: Ben Rutherford & Sophie Galbraith (Ayrshire Acro). Finalists: Kilmarnock Harriers, Cumnock Juniors 2009s.
Inspiring Females in Sport Award 2024 – Winner: Gillian Mitchell. Finalists: Carla Monachello, Orla Duff.
East Ayrshire Sports Council Club of the Year 2024 – Winner: Senjokai Karate. FInalists: Kilmarnock Harriers, Annanhill Golf Club.
Service to Sport 2024 – Winner: Chick Hamilton (Kilmarnock Amateur Weightlifting Club). Finalists: Sarah King (Kilmarnock Rugby Club), Kevin White (Annanhill Golf Club).
Provost Claire Leitch added: “This has been another inspiring event and I am incredibly proud of how much success our athletes gain and bring back to East Ayrshire. The successes that our athletes and clubs have had in national and international events make East Ayrshire the envy of a number or larger authorities across the country.
“It’s great to see East Ayrshire at the forefront of competitive sport as well as providing so many recreational opportunities with our schools and sports clubs supported by our Active Schools team and the Community Sports Hubs that we have across East Ayrshire.
“Our volunteers really are the backbone to community and grassroots sport and fully deserve to be recognised for their time and efforts too. We also can’t forget how important the role of parents, guardians and carers is in encouraging children and young people, and people with a disability, to take part in regular sport.”
For more information about the Talented Athlete Support Programme or the East Ayrshire Sports Council, please contact [email protected]