Scotland women’s national football team were the toast of the 2018 Sunday Mail sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards after picking up two awards.
After guiding her team to their first World Cup finals, Scotland head coach Shelley Kerr was named Coach of the Year, while the players won the Team of the Year award.
In a tough section, Kerr’s team won seven of their eight games, overcoming higher-ranked Switzerland to take top spot in the group and qualify automatically for France 2019.
A celebration of sport
A star-studded guest list gathered on 6 December in Glasgow to celebrate another exceptional year for Scottish sport.
Scotland’s athletes have once again shone on the global stage with Team Scotland winning a record number of medals at an overseas Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, while there were many fantastic performances at the PyeongChang Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Glasgow 2018 European Championships.
But it’s about much more than delivering on the world stage. In communities across the country there are countless examples of sport making a difference.
Attendances at the national Active Schools programme have reached 7.3million – an all-time high. There are also now 192 community sport hubs in operation across the country, further increasing participation opportunities.
Among the other high-profile winners, European and Commonwealth champion swimmer Duncan Scott won Scottish Sports Personality of the Year and Dame Katherine Grainger picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award for her exceptional rowing career, which culminated in Olympic gold at London 2012.
Diver Lucas Thomson won Young Sports Personality of the Year while the Glasgow 2018 European Championships was named Sporting Event of the Year.
The Scotland men's cricket team were rewarded for their historic win over No.1-ranked England in Edinburgh with the Inspirational Performance award, while Team Scotland were successful in the Editor's Choice category for their best-ever performance at an overseas Commonwealth Games.
The School Sport Award went to North Queensferry Primary School, autism charity Team United picked up Local Club of the Year and 84-year-old athletics coach Arthur Smith was named Local Hero.
Praise for the winners
Stewart Harris, sportscotland chief executive, said: “Congratulations to all the winners, it’s been another fantastic year for sport in Scotland and that was reflected in the stories of the winners and finalists.
“Scottish athletes continue to shine on the world stage, as the record-breaking medal tally at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and some great results at the 2018 European Championships demonstrated.
“There is terrific 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 wonderful to have another chance to recognise such dedicated and hard-working people from local communities alongside Scotland’s elite athletes.”
Find out more
- For more on opportunities in Scottish sport visit the sportscotland website
- Find out who were the big winners at previous Scottish Sports Awards in 2017 and 2016
