Sean thrilled with Athlete of the Year, Rodger lands first Para coach award

Saturday 12th November 2022

Sean claims marathon silver in Birmingham (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Sean Frame didn’t take long to demonstrate the kind of determination and dedication required to become our 4J Para Athlete of the Year.

The Commonwealth Games silver medallist from Birmingham 2022 was on stage at the 4J Annual Awards at 11pm on a Saturday night in Glasgow.

Within barely 12 hours he was back on the roads of the Borders to race the Jedburgh 10k and post a PB performance.

And athletics followers who live in the Moffat area are liable to see plenty of Sean this winter – and in the coming years – with the 25-year-old keen to build on a breakthrough 2022.

‘I am ecstatic with the 4J Para Athlete of the Year award,’ said Sean, who is coached by Joyce Rammell.

‘Even though I was nominated there was no guarantee I would win. Samantha(Kinghorn) and Melanie (Woods) have both had really strong years, too, and would have been deserved winners so for me to win felt amazing.

‘The memories of the summer are still strong. My family were there at the marathon at the finish and they were so proud.

‘As I have said before, as I was coming in towards the finish and in the silver medal position there was great support from the crowd . . . but all I could hear was my mum and dad.

‘That feeling when you know all your hard work has paid off is brilliant. It makes it all feel worthwhile, the sacrifices and the training.

‘I’m excited now to see where training can take me two, three or five years from now.’

It can’t be easy training for wheelchair racers training outdoors during a Scottish winter, but Sean made light of any issues.

‘Winter training is quite similar to the summer but sometimes you do have to be more cautious out on the roads with the chair,’ he said.

‘Wet surfaces, snow, ice can all make things tricky. You might need extra layers of clothing but essentially it’s the same work you have to do.

‘‘I will be back doing the miles this winter and my programme involves a fair bit of gym work, as well.’

Great way to end the race season at Jedburgh 10k with a PB. Well done to all racers who participated.@nathanmaguire2 @Sam_Kinghorn @BenRowlings @HanCockroft pic.twitter.com/oTcYCFD6b3

— Sean Frame (@SeanFrameT54) October 31, 2022

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Melanie Woods (left) and Samantha Kinghorn on the Alexander Stadium track at Birmingham 2022 (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Awards winners in club, coach, volunteer and Officials category

For the first time for 2022, scottishathletics introduced a Para Athlete Performance Coach of the Year accolade into our 4J Annual Awards.

This follows on from a couple of years ago bringing in the Janice Eagelsham MBE Para Development Club of the Year award to reflect the progress of integrated training at a number of our clubs.

The Para Athlete Performance Coach of the Year title this year went to Rodger Harkins, who is coached to Team Scotland duo Samantha Kinghorn and Melanie Woods.

‘Rodger coached Samantha Kinghorn and Melanie Woods to third and fourth place finishes in the Commonwealth Games T53/54 1500m,’ said Pamela Robson, National Disability Pathway Officer

‘Both athletes are making significant progress and setting PBs across a range of distances. Ben Rowlings has also recently joined the coaching group and Rodger is supporting him back from injury.

‘Rodger was relatively new to wheelchair racing prior to working Samantha and Melanie but he has developed himself rapidly in this area, which has been a key reason for the continued progress of each athlete.’

Unfortunately, Rodger was unable to attend the Annual Dinner. Steve Doig and Joyce Rammell also short-listed for Para Athlete Performance Coach of the Year.

*The Dallas Trust Trophy was awarded to Samantha Kinghorn for her Commonwealth Games bronze medal and Paralympian Joann Butterfield collected that on Samantha’s behalf.