SportRenfrewshire Sport Personality of the Year 2011

SportRenfrewshire recognises and appreciates the quality and achievements of sports people in Renfrewshire.

Renfrewshire sports people are amongst the best in the country and as such each year SportRenfrewshire makes awards to those who have in the opinion of independent judges been voted the best of the best in Renfrewshire.

The winners each received their award at the recent Sports Personality Awards ceremony and everyone at SportRenfrewshire congratulates the winners on their success.

 

 

 

The 2011 Sports Personality of the Year Awards

Junior Sports Personality of the Year

Alasdair McDougall.
Elderslie Golf Club

Nominated by Renfrewshire Golf Union

Elderslie’s Alasdair Macdougall started the season with a great run at the Scottish Boys at West Kilbride. At fifteen years old, he beat four highly rated players including boys international, Jack Scott and county champion Greg Nicoll and reached the quarter final where he met the scottish under 16 champion who denied him a semi final spot.

Now 16 years old, he was thrust into the limelight at the men’s Scottish Amateur Matchplay at Gullane. first, he was ballotted out on handicap and had to wait anxiously on the reserve list. He got a place at the last minute and he comfortably sailed through the first two rounds. In round three he faced number 6 seed Philip Mclean and everyone reckoned that that would be the end for young Alsadair. How wrong they were as he made headlines with a 2 and 1 victory over an established internationalist. What an achievement for the youngster – short in stature but long on courage and skill.

Alasdair’s performance and dedication to his coaching routine over the season was recognized by the selectors and he was chosen for the under 16 Scotland team to play England at Dinsdale Spa, Darlington in October.

 

 

Senior Sports Personality of the Year

Jonathon Ross
Priorscroft Bowling Club

Nominated by Paisley & District Bowling Association

Jonathan Ross of Priors Croft Bowling Club who is ranked at number 15 in the world bowls rankings. Has had an extremely successful year.
Jonathan, originally from Ireland, won the Scottish out door singles championship being the first ever Irishman to do so. Winning this title meant that Jonathan had to decide what country he would play for as he was eligible to represent either his home or adopted nation if selected.

Fortunately for Scotland he decided to play for his adopted country at International level. On declaring his allegiance to his adopted country he was duly picked to play for Scotland where he will join a team skipped by Alex Marshall a five-time winner of the World Bowls Tour title.

Jonathan’s inclusion in the Scottish Team set up is sure to bring our country success.

 

 

 

Coach of the Year

Kristy MacIntosh

Nominated By OB Muay Thai

Kirsty Macintosh of OB Muay Thai a former Silver Medallist in the IFMA World Championships held in Kazakhstan gave up competing due to injury. However this did not end her love affair with the Sport of Muay Thai Boxing and upon her retrial from the ring immediately took up a coaching role in the sport.

Kirsty has been coaching for around 10 years passing on her great experience to young participants of Muay Thai. She became the child protection officer for Muay Thai and was responsible in no small part for putting in place the Child Protection Policy of the Scottish Thai Boxing Association.

She not only works around Renfrewshire imparting her skills but indeed works with other coaches around the country to ensure the coaching standards in Scotland remain at a high level. She also works to raise funds for protective equipment as well as coaching children to pass grading and is also a recognised judge for grading and competition.

Kirsty sets up and indeed oversees taking young fighters to Thailand to train with some of the Great Masters at the Fairtex Muay Thai Gym in Thailand.

Fundraising plays a major role in covering costs for the youngsters to take these trips and last year some £8000 was raised to achieve this end.

 

All photographs courtesy of Joe Reilly