Local sports people recognised at Ettrick & Lauderdale Awards

Local charity Live Borders honoured a wide range of clubs and individuals at its annual Club Sport Ettrick and Lauderdale Awards Ceremony held on 28 October.

Gala RFC’s Netherdale clubrooms was the venue for the event which saw Selkirk hockey player Sarah Robertson awarded the 2022 Sports Personality of the Year Award in recognition Scottish and Great Britain international achievements.

Sarah was part of the GB hockey team that claimed the Bronze Medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

In June Sarah was also inducted to the University of Edinburgh’s Hall of Fame and more recently was part of the Scotland team that won Gold in the Euro Hockey Qualifier D and qualified for the Euro Hockey Championships 2023.

Emma Pate was recognised as the Coach of the Year for her contributions to hockey and the Fjordhus Reivers.

Emma joined Fjordhus Reivers in 2018 as a player and has since become an integral part of the coaching team. She is keen to learn and develop as a Hockey Coach, her stand out attribute is her empathy and support for every player.

Last summer Emma travelled as an Assistant Coach to Spain with a National Scottish junior squad to compete against some of the best European countries. She also travelled to London with the Scottish UK School Games team in September 2022 as Assistant Coach.

The Gala Rugby Club claimed the Club of the Year award having achieved a great deal in the past year.

They are a club who enjoys encouraging rugby for all ages and abilities and assist with primary and Academy pupils to encourage their interest in rugby.

The Gala Waverley Bowling Ladies Section took home the award for Team of the Year following success across a range of competitions and events, including at the Scottish National Bowling Finals.

To have such a successful season is no mean feat considering the ladies section is one of the smallest across the Scottish Borders. These ladies have shown commitment, passion and have strived to as well as they can despite being a small team.

For her Gymnastics coaching achievements, Hannah Bradley was awarded the Junior Coach of the Year.

Part of P.H.D FUNdamentals, Hannah has gained a number of national accreditations and continues to push herself into new areas of coaching and performance.

For 25 Years of service to Gala Rugby Club, Steven Headspeath was awarded with the Service to Sport Award.

Steven’s contributions have varied across the years covering many aspects of the duties that are required in the running of an efficient club. Ranging from the management of the dressing room, to on field requirements on match days.

The 2022 Disability Award went to Daniel Porter who was selected to represent Scotland at number of Para Home Nations events held across the UK.

Daniel has achieved great success across the last couple of years at some very high profile events, including representing Scotland at the Para Home Nations held in Weston Super Mare in August. At this event, Daniel played with partner Garry Brown in the Physically Disabled Pairs helping the team to second place. Garry Brown was one of the Gold Medallists at Birmingham 2022.

Isla Paterson from the Gala Harriers was awarded as the Junior Sports Personality of the Year.

A great performance in the International trial hill race at Cademuir near Peebles in August saw Isla chosen for her second Scotland hill running vest. In searing heat, she defeated her nearest rival by almost three minutes as well as finishing ahead of all but one of the Under 20’s in the race.

In September 2022 she was once again a part of the Under 17 female team competing at the Junior Home International Mountain Running event at Ambleside. The team won a silver medal.

See the full image gallery here 

2022 winners at a glance

Junior Coach of the Year – Hannah Bradley (P.H.D FUNdamentals)

Coach of the Year – Emma Pate (Fjordhus Reivers)

Team of the Year – Gala Waverley Bowling Ladies Section

Club of the Year – Gala Rugby Club

SALSC Service to Sport Award – Steven Headspeath (Gala RFC)

Disability Award – Daniel Porter

Junior Sports Personality – Isla Paterson (Gala Harriers)

Sports Personality – Sarah Robertson