World champion boxer Josh Taylor was the toast of Scottish sport last night – and he was joined on stage by his idol.
Taylor was named Scottish Sports Personality of the Year at the 2019 Sunday Mail sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards just weeks after becoming Scotland’s first unified world champion since Ken Buchanan MBE in 1971.
A night of glory for Scottish boxing had already been assured when Buchanan, 74, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
A great night was had last night at @sportscotland awards last night. It was an honour to have won sports personality of the year. Thank you to those who voted for me & it was a great pleasure to see the legend & good friend Ken Buchanan get the lifetime achievement award. 👌🏼👌🏼 pic.twitter.com/vebaAfUxz9
— Josh Taylor (@JoshTaylorBoxer) December 6, 2019
Recognition for all
The Edinburgh duo were in illustrious company on another night of deserved recognition for people who have made an exceptional contribution to Scottish sport at all levels.
Catriona Matthew was honoured as Coach/Manager of the Year for leading Team Europe to Solheim Cup glory at Gleneagles.
The Scottish women’s hockey team won Team of the Year and mountain biker Charlie Aldridge won Young Sports Personality of the Year, while Scotland’s World Championship silver medallist wheelchair curlers won the Disability Sports Award.
Incredible feeling to be part of the team that won the disability award at the @SundayMailSport @sportscotland #ScottishSportsAwards pic.twitter.com/hW7Ol8ucR6
— Hugh Nibloe (@shug9) December 5, 2019
Taylor saw off stiff competition from Katie Archibald (cycling), Robert MacIntyre (golf), Seonaid McIntosh (shooting), Laura Muir (athletics), Jamie Murray (tennis), Andy Robertson (football) and Duncan Scott (swimming) for the showpiece award.
Football star John McGinn, who scored six goals for Scotland’s men in their UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, picked up the Editor’s Choice award and the Scotland men’s rugby team won Inspirational Performance for the extraordinary comeback that enabled them to retain the Calcutta Cup against England at Twickenham.
St Brigid’s Primary School in Glasgow won the School Sport Award while Local Club of the Year was Westquarter & Redding Cricket Club and Gary McLaughlin, chairman of Walking Football Scotland, was named Local Hero.
Well done to our Chairman Gary McLaughlin! Another win for @WalkingFootScot https://t.co/HdMxRlAwJK
— Walking Football Scotland ⚽️ (@WalkingFootScot) December 5, 2019
A celebration of sport
A star-studded guest list gathered at the Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow to celebrate and recognise the impressive array of award winners and runners-up.
The Scottish Sports Awards provides an annual opportunity to honour those who give tirelessly in communities across the country to afford others the opportunity to take part in sport.
Across the country there are countless examples of sport making a difference. Attendances at the national Active Schools programme are at 7.3million – an all-time high.
A record number of schools, 747, now hold a sportscotland School Sport Award, and there are almost 200 community sport hubs across the country.
Praise for the winners
Stewart Harris, sportscotland chief executive, said: “After another brilliant year for Scottish sport, it was an honour to hear so many success stories from the winners and finalists.
"There is so much work being done by the sporting community across the country to increase the opportunities for as many people as possible to take part in sport.
“It is important to have had another chance to recognise such dedicated and hard-working people alongside Scotland’s elite athletes, who continue to excel on the world stage.”
Find out more
- To discover more about opportunities in Scottish sport visit the sportscotland website
- Find out who were the big winners at previous Scottish Sports Awards in 2018, 2017 and 2016
