Sports council picks its team of winners

Mar 13 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TWENTY four hours after sharing the Perth Guildry Sports Personality of the Year award, world champion amateur golfers Wallace Booth and Gavin Dear enjoyed a reception from First Minister Alex Salmond at Bute House to mark their achievements.

They were joined by proud family members in the capital.

Earlier, at the Perth and Kinross Sports Council Awards night held at the Civil Service Club, the achievements and commitment of local athletes and coaches was celebrated.

Scottish internationals Gavin (Murrayshall) and Wallace (Comrie) added another honour to their list following their 2008 victory, along with Callum Macauley, in the Eisenhower Trophy.

It attracted teams from around the globe to Adelaide and the Scots posted an impressive margin of victory over the more fancied Americans.

It’s an event which, in the past, has featured players ranging from Jack Nicklaus to Sergio Garcia before they stepped up into the professional ranks.

This week, the Perthshire pair paid warm tribute to the coaching they had received at local level and from the Scottish Golf Union.

Their exploits edged out Guildry award contender Eve Muirhead, from Blair Atholl, who captured the world junior curling championships last year.

The Highland Spring Young Sportsperson of the Year accolade went to Perth Grammar School pupil Laura McKinlay, a Scottish international netball player.

The Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils’ award was presented to Jim Hitchen, whose dedication to local sport over many years was hailed by Councillor Bob Ellis, chairman of Perth and Kinross Sports Council. He was described as “dedicated, devoted and forward-thinking.”

Veteran Blair Atholl rifle club member Alastair Allan was unable to attend the event.

The 92-year-old has given more than 100 years commitment to his favoured sport and that secured the Perth Trophy Shop Merit Award.

The Perth and Kinross Ladies County Team won the Sports Council’s Team of the Year award for winning the Northern Inter-County championships for the first time in 24 years.

Several individual members enjoyed success on the national and international stage.

Boccia champion Joshua Rowe captured the Perth and Kinross Leisure Disability Sport Achievement Award while Kirsteen Ross, of Kinross Cricket Club, was the winner of the Sport Tayside Coach of the Year award.

Her husband John accepted it on her behalf.

Respected Blairgowrie tennis and hockey coach Susan Whiteford received the Perth and Kinross Council George Mortimer Trophy for Service to Local Sport.

Perth Guildry Sports Personality of the Year: Wallace Booth and Gavin Dear

Highland Spring Young Sportsperson of the Year: Laura McKinlay

Perth Trophy Merit Award: Alastair Munro (rifle shooting)

SALSC Award: Jim Hitchen

Perth and Kinross Sports Council Team of the Year: Perth and Kinross Ladies County Golf

Perth and Kinross Leisure Disability Award: Joshua Rowe, Scottish boccia champion and a third place competitor in Montreal.

Sports Tayside and Fife Coach of the Year: Kirsteen Ross, Kinross Cricket Club.

Perth and Kinross Council George Mortimer Service to Local Sports: Susan Whiteford (tennis)