COUNTDOWN GAMES REVIEW TEAM SCOTLAND NEWSLETTER Issue 28 – Autumn/Winter 2018 Duncan Scott caps off 2018 with top award Swimmer, Duncan Scott capped off a spectacular year by being named as the 2018 Scottish Sportsperson of the Year, at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards. With a host of sporting stars in attendance, Duncan Scott the evening was an inspirational celebration of their outstanding achievements, as well Duncan’s success came on a superb night done their country proud, so to come away as the success of individuals, schools, for the University of Stirling swimming with this is really special. I’m just thankful clubs and teams across the whole of programme, when his coach Steven Tigg for all the support that’s behind me.” Scottish sport. took the Coach of the Year award. In the Female Athlete of the Year category, The 21-year-old swimmer became Collecting his awards Duncan Scott said: Laura Muir’s sensational season, which Scotland’s most successful athlete ever “It’s been a great year in terms of results. saw her claim three global medals and win at a single Commonwealth Games, With the Commonwealth Games and the the overall 1500m Diamond League crown, with six medals at Gold Coast 2018, Europeans after it, representing Team alongside successfully completing her followed by four medals at the European Scotland and then competing in front of veterinary degree, gave her the nod. Championships in Glasgow. Named Male a home crowd in Glasgow, that’s pretty Athlete of the Year for the second year in special in one year. Cycling also had a successful night, succession, Duncan was also awarded winning Governing Body of the Year, and the overall title, putting his name on the “I knew I’d had a good year, so that I would Neil Fachie, with pilot Matt Rotherham, Emirates Lonsdale be in contention, but I didn’t know that being named Para-Sport Athlete of the Trophy alongside I would win it. Scottish sport has been Year, after winning two gold medals at the past winners incredible this year and it just seems to be World Para-Cycling Championships and including Sir Chris getting better and better each year. The repeating the same double just two weeks Hoy, Sir Andy Murray nominations were phenomenal and there later on the Gold Coast. and Dame Katherine were so many athletes in that room that Grainger. have competed at such a high level and Para-Cycling was in the spotlight once again, as 2012 Paralympic gold medallist David Smith MBE took the Team Scot of the Year award in recognition of his incredible drive and determination in the face of adversity. A true ambassador for Team Scotland and Scottish sport, his fight to continue to compete at the top level goes on, despite the sad news that his spinal-cord tumor has returned. There were huge receptions for both Scotland’ men’s cricket and rugby teams, popular winners of Sporting Moment of the Year and Team of the Year respectively. Laura Muir Some of the award winners Cricket’s historic win over England in their at the 1992 World Outdoor Championships Paul Bush OBE, Chair of Commonwealth One Day International, was the moment and continuing all the way through to a Games Scotland, said: “Tonight has been that captured the heart of the nation and record sixth World Indoor Singles title in a fantastic celebration of what has been majority of the public vote. Whilst Rugby’s 2015. a golden year for Scottish sport, with Calcutta Cup heroics gave them the nod our athletes excelling across a packed over Team Scotland’s Basketball and Lawn In contrast, at the start of his career and schedule of championship events. Bowls teams from Gold Coast and Celtic selected to represent Team Scotland in FC for Team of the Year. Gold Coast at the age of just 16, Lucas “A huge thank you to our partners and Thomson was the winner of the Sir Peter sponsors, whose support has made this Alex Marshall MBE Heatly Trophy as Young Athlete of the Year. fantastic event possible and enables us to He has had a phenomenal 12 months, properly recognise the achievements of the finishing fifth in two finals in Gold Coast individuals, teams and organisations that and going on to win a silver and two bronze help to put Scotland on the sporting map.” at the European Junior Championships, four medals on the senior FINA Diving Over 550 people joined the celebrations Grand Prix Series and gold at the World at the Edinburgh International Conference Junior Diving Championships. Centre, where the evening was hosted by highly respected TV presenters Hazel Irvine Individuals and organisations driving and Dougie Vipond, with funds raised for success at all levels of Scottish sport the Scottish Commonwealth Games Youth were also honoured. Jim Hay was named Trust. as Volunteer of the Year for his work in Squash, SAPC Community Sports Hub took Community Hub, Club or School of the Year, whilst there was a special award marking the 2018 Year of Young People for 18-year-old Kamil Cybulski, recognising his outstanding volunteer work with Glasgow Scotland’s most successful athlete in Devils Basketball Club. Commonwealth Games history, after winning a record fifth gold in Gold Coast, Alex Marshall MBE was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of an outstanding, and still ongoing, career. A Scottish international since 1987, Gold Coast was an incredible sixth Games appearance for Team Scotland. He also holds the record for the most World titles with 20, beginning with three gold medals SAPC Community Sports Hub David Smith MBE Hazel Irvine and Dougie Vipond host the awards 2 CHAIR’S VIEW PAUL BUSH OBE 2018 is certainly proving to be another golden year for Scottish sport, with our athletes excelling across a packed schedule of major events including the Commonwealth Games, Winter Olympics and Paralympics, World Championships, Grand Slams and the European Championships and Para-Championships. Jen becomes a record breaker in Glasgow There have been so many highlights for me personally, but as CGS Chair it was a huge privilege to be on Team Scotland pays tribute to five-time the Gold Coast in April to witness Team Scotland win 44 medals, our Commonwealth Games medallist Jen McIntosh best ever medal tally at an overseas Games. The 11 days of competition Scotland’s most decorated female athlete in Commonwealth Games history, included so many inspirational and Jennifer McIntosh, has announced her retirement from competitive shooting. memorable performances. Paul Bush OBE, Chair she said: “This has I would also like to acknowledge of Commonwealth been an incredibly the huge success of Glasgow 2018, Games Scotland difficult decision the first-ever multi-sport European paid tribute to her to make, but was Championships. Another world-first remarkable career, actually taken some on Scottish soil, that allowed the wishing her all the time ago and is British team to rise to the occasion. best for the future: not in any way a These results demonstrate the “Jen has been an reflection on recent significant commitment and hard inspirational figure performances or work of all involved across Scotland’s for Team Scotland results. Over time, world-class sporting system. And in athletes in her three Games and hugely circumstances change and we have to the case of CGS, how we built on successful at World and European reconsider what it is we really want from life the incredible success of Glasgow level. She is a great ambassador for and if the cost of chasing a dream is truly 2014 and continue to show our Commonwealth Games and for the sport of worth it.” ambition to push the boundaries shooting and I hope that she continues her on the international stage. A huge involvement in some capacity as she steps Jen competed at her third Commonwealth thank you to our member sports, away from the field of play.” Games at Gold Coast 2018 in April and, who not only shared, but strived to earlier this month, won bronze at the World achieve our collective ambition and Following silver at the 2008 Commonwealth Championships in South Korea, alongside to sportscotland and the Scottish Youth Games in Pune, Jen won two gold sister Seonaid and Zoe Bruce in the 50m Government for their continued and a bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Rifle Prone Team event. expertise, support and investment. Games in Delhi, aged just 19. She went on to become the most decorated female “I have achieved a huge amount over the However we must not be athlete in Scottish Commonwealth last ten years and I am incredibly proud of complacent. There are undoubtedly Games history – a record previously held what I have accomplished,” she added. significant challenges ahead, as the by her mother, Shirley - by adding silver “Sport will always hold a special place CGF continues to make the case for and bronze to her tally at in my heart. It has taught the Games to maintain its place in Glasgow 2014. me to enjoy the pursuit of the congested international sporting excellence, not just the calendar. We also know just how Looking back on a career achievement of it. Those are difficult it still is, to secure sufficient that also saw her compete values that I intend to live funding for high performance sport, for Team GB at two Olympic the rest of my life by and I to continue to deliver the fabulous Games and win medals at am incredibly grateful for results now expected and that World, Commonwealth and having had the opportunity generate such national pride and European Championships, to learn that.” inspiration.