Top trio land our Coach of the Year awards

Monday 25th November 2019

Robert Hawkins receives his award from Lord Jack McConnell (photos by Bobby Gavin)

Clubs celebrate and Mark is our Volunteer of the Year

Robert Hawkins has been named FPSG Performance Coach of the Year after a terrific year for Scottish coaches.

Superb performances by athletes across a range of disciplines was reflected in a five-strong short-list for our top coaching award.

Hill running, Para athletics, track and field and road running were all represented with Robert emerging as the choice for the FPSG Performance Coach of the Year title he also won in 2016.

Jumps coach Linda Nicholson of Moorfoot Runners took the accolade in our Development Coach of the Year award.

And there was recognition for Corstorphine AAC via the sterling efforts of David Arnott in the Club Coach of the Year award.

Here are the short-lists for each of our three coaching awards and then the nomination summaries for our three winners.

Performance Coach of the Year

Jamie Bowie

Sophie Dunnett

*Robert Hawkins

Liz McColgan-Nuttall

Andy Young

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Linda Nicholson receives her award from Paul Bush

Development Coach of the Year

Sandra Hardacre – Livingston AC

*Linda Nicholson – Moorfoot Runners

David Watson – Glasgow School of Sport

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Maria Lyle presented the Club Coach of the Year award to David Arnott of Corstorphine AAC

Club Coach of the Year

*David Arnott – Corstorphine AAC

Alison Davis – Orkney AC

Owen Williams – Lothian RC

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Here are the nomination citation for our three coach winners . . .

Robert Hawkins

Robert has coached son Callum to a new Scottish Marathon Record and superb fourth place at the IAAF World Athletics Championships this year.

Son Derek set a marathon PB this year, too, after a long absence from the sport due to injury. Robert also coaches multiple U20 scottishathletics champion Cameron Wright, as well as GB international Jess Piasecki.

Linda Nicholson – Moorfoot Runners

Linda has an innovative approach to coaching and creating cohesion across a training group spread across Scotland.

With high level planning, she has brought together high performing jumpers from across the country to form a training group with positive benefits for the athletes involved. In 2019, Stephen Mackenzie gained a Scottish Senior vest, numerous junior vests and was a European Junior Championship finalist.

Ellie O’Hara also gained a Scottish Senior vest and twice broke her own Scottish U17 record outdoors. In total, athletes coached by Linda won 33 medals in the scottishathletics and Scottish Schools AA Championships this year.

David Arnott – Corstorphine AAC

David has a relaxed and approachable coaching style. He knows how to motivate athletes and create an enthusiastic and productive environment.

His squad of distance athletes have produced some fantastic club results this year with Scottish records and Championship Golds among the accolades.

David holds open sessions at the weekends for athletes to attend and his commitment to the club is relentless, with the club values very much at heart.