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Tweeddale sports best recognised by Club Sport

The driving force of all things sport in Tweeddale turned out on Friday night for the annual regional Club Sport Awards held at the Peebles Rugby Club.

Hosted with charity Live Borders, the evening was a true celebration of success for sports men and women of all ages and abilities.

After representing Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, Gregor Swinney took home the coveted Sports Personality of the Year Award.

Whilst competing at the Birmingham games, Gregor broke his own Scottish Record in the 50-metre Butterfly to make it through to the semi-final. He also was able to reach the semi-final in the 100-metre Butterfly.

On the final day of swimming he took part in the heats of the Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay where the team placed third fastest into the final. By helping Scotland qualify for the final, he won a Bronze medal as the team went on to place third that evening.

Nine-year-old Cali Nelson claimed the award for Junior Sports Personality for her efforts in her young tennis career.

Over the last year Cali has represented East of Scotland in the Under-9 County Cup team, and she’s played in numerous high-level tennis tournaments, including recently winning the Grade 3 U9 Waverley Open 2022 in Edinburgh and the Grade 3 U9 Sunderland Tennis Centre Winter Regional tournament.

For her tireless work in swimming, Lauren Jocelyn was recognised as the Coach of the Year.

Starting her coaching career locally with Borders Elite Swim Team (BEST) in 2014, Lauren has enjoyed a long and varied coaching career that has taken her all over the globe.

In October 2017 Lauren was appointed the new National Performance Centre assistant coach working with British Para-Swimming. During the pandemic she took up a post as head of swimming at a private school and whilst there, was selected to coach the GB Paralympics Swim Team at the Tokyo 2021 Games.

Jamie Gilmour was presented as the Junior Coach of the Year.

Jamie was one of the first children to join P.H.D FUNdamentals attending the very first trampoline class held by the club at the Gytes Leisure Centre.

Jamie’s journey to where he is now has not followed the typical path set out for the majority of young people. At 17 he attended Borders College to complete a sport and exercise qualification, where he returned to P.H.D FUNdamentals to complete his work based placement.

He has since taken on and is close to finishing a modern apprenticeship with the club and has gone on to achieve UKCC Level 2 Trampoline, Pre-school Gymnastics Level 1, General Gymnastics Level 1, Men’s Artistic Level 1, Disability coaching add-on module as well as Safeguarding and First Aid.

For his service Peebles football and the winder sports community, Jimmy Moffat was awarded with a Service to Sport Award.

For 35 years, Jimmy has been a pivotal member of the club with roles including player, boss and committee member.

Outside of Tweeddale Rovers, Jimmy has been a committee member of ClubSport Tweeddale since 2015 and over the last few years has support the Alec Lucas Memorial Trust to organise events to raise funds for the charity who give financial help to local sports charities and The Royal Marine Charitable Trust Fund.

Stuart and Matthew MacDonald are two well-known faces in Peebles and were awarded the Disability Award.

Both Stuart and Matthew play rugby in the Borders Clan with Peebles Rugby Club. Clan Rugby is a format of the game that allows those with learning and physical difficulties to train and play in a modified contact version of the game.

This year Stuart, Matthew and friend Kieran received Raleri Rugby Goggles from 2020 Opticians which were funded the Scottish Borders Council Community Grant Fund enabling the players to play with the World Rugby certified goggles. The goggles have since been put to the test at the Peebles 7’s and Maroon’d at Gala.

It is safe to say both Stuart and Matthew have an infectious sense of fun, and prove to be an inspiration, not least in helping to highlight the challenges Fragile X can cause. With both continuing to show no barriers on what can be achieved where opportunity is made available.

The Peebles Rugby Club Under 16’s were presented as the Team of the Year. The team worked hard paying off with an unprecedented series of results and successes throughout the season. As result of their success, 14 of the 44 players were called up for the FOSROC Borders and East Lothian U16 Squad.

Club of the Year was awarded to the Peebles Rugby Club/Peebles High School Youth Section.

Peebles Rugby Club and Peebles High School Youth Section were nominated for club of the year because for the very first time they won the Borders Town Conference (Whole Town). During this campaign, they won by the narrowest of margins from the nearest challenger yet the S1 and U16’ teams were undefeated.

142 players across each age group have been outstanding athletes and a credit to both Club and School. Their commitment to the community and their drive to achieve overall victory has been second to none.

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