#SALachieve! We’re short-listed for Governing Body of the Year

Friday 16th August 2019

scottishathletics are in the running for the Governing Body of the Year award at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards 2019, following our previous wins in 2016 and 2017.

The nomination comes alongside a nomination for Edinburgh AC as Community Hub, Club or School of the Year, and Fiona Davidson of Aberdeen AAC as Volunteer of the Year – see below for more on these nominations.

The Governing Body of the Year nomination for scottishathletics recognises the 56 Scottish records broken in 2019 to date, along with superb international performances from Scottish athletes.

These include a record 17 Scots competing at the European Championships last summer, bringing home five medals, followed by seven medals from seven athletes at the World Para Athletics European Championships.

There were a record five medals for Scottish athletes at the 2019 European Indoor Championships in Glasgow, including a historic ‘double-double’ for Laura Muir.

This was followed by the second highest Scottish representation at the European Junior Championships for almost half a century, Jacob Adkin winning European Mountain Running gold and Jemma Reekie making history as the first British athlete ever to win double gold at the European U23 Championships.

We have also, in the past year, become the first governing body of sport in the world to create a competition pathway for 3^rdgender athletes, have trained over 600 jog leaders in mental health awareness through our partnership with SAMH and launched a National Club Development Framework for Scottish clubs.

With membership up 9% on 2018 and over 120,000 participants in licensed events, with participation booming as well as progress in club development and coach education.

‘We are delighted that scottishathletics has been short listed for the National Governing Body of the Year Award for 2019 at the Team Scotland Awards,’ said chief executive, Mark Munro.

‘It is always great honour and privilege to be short listed for these awards and recognises another phenomenal year, not only in global medal terms but across all areas of the sport.

‘It also recognises the efforts, skill levels and success of our army of volunteers on the ground that make the sport happen 365 days of the year. I would also like to congratulate the other NGBs short listed and wish them all the best on the night.’

Also nominated are Cricket Scotland and Scottish Disability Sports – read more on the Team Scotland website.

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Beth Dobbin – one of a number of Edinburgh AC athletes landing GB vests and setting Records in the past year

Edinburgh AC, nominated for Club of the Year, are one of the largest and most successful athletics clubs in Scotland and the United Kingdom – they have over 560 athlete members and 85 active volunteers.

With their main training base closed for major refurbishment, the Club have overcome the challenges of being split across multiple temporary training venues and continued to strive forward and develop.

The club’s membership has grown by a further 12%, in the last 12 months, with new satellite sections being established, helping to engage a waiting list of almost 100 young athletes and providing regular links to schools.

At the European Athletics Championships in August 2018, Edinburgh AC had a phenomenal five athletes representing Great Britain and over the last 12 months the club have had 13 different athletes representing Great Britain, 33 athletes representing Scotland and club athletes setting 10 National records.

The senior women’s team currently compete in the premier division of the UK Women’s League, the only Scottish club to do so, and at junior level the club reached UK finals in both U13 & U15 and U17 & U20 age groups.

The club’s athlete membership is inclusive and consists of a large proportion of female athletes, athletes with a disability, involves members from diverse communities across Edinburgh and athletes from aged nine to over 80 years old. To deliver this programme the club have 50 active coaches and over 30 active officials – the largest contingent of any club in Scotland.

Gary Leek, Head of Communications at Edinburgh Athletics Club said: ‘To be a finalist in the Team Scotland Awards is a proud moment for the club which has pulled together, working hard led by a great team of volunteers, the board, coaches, officials, sub group leaders and families.’