Athlete Grant Baillie has been crowned East Kilbride Sports Personality of the Year after the town’s big prize night returned for the first time in four years.
The East Kilbride Athletic Club star was recognised for his outstanding season in masters events, which included him winning gold at the Scottish Indoor 3,000m in Glasgow, the Scottish Cross County in Aberdeen and Scottish 10k and 5k Championships.
He also represented the Scotland team at the British and Irish Cross Country Championships, helping them to sixth place.
Baillie was one of four EKAC members to take home prizes from the Village Theatre ceremony on April 25. Niall Walker won the coach of the year gong, Angus Wilkinson claimed the junior male under-18 award and Anne Thomson was administrator of the year.
Meanwhile, wheelchair para athlete Nicola Russell, who also competes in martial arts, won the adult female prize after a fantastic season saw her take gold at the Scottish Wheelchair Cross Country Championships in the 1k and 10k categories.
She also won gold at the British Masters Judo Championships and became British Taekwondo National Wheelchair Poomsae champion for the third year running.
For the first time ever, the under-18 female prize was shared as cricketer Nayma Sheikh was announced as the joint-winner alongside athlete Meghan Porterfield, who saw her gran and fellow athlete Isobel Walters pick up the veteran award.
Caledonia Gladiators owner Steve Timoney also made a surprise appearance as he told guests about his plans to bring the basketball club to the town later this year.
Sports Council chair Jim Ballantyne said: “It was a very successful evening and it was fantastic to be back. This was our first awards since 2019 and we congratulate all our worthy winners and nominees on their recognition.
“This year, the nominees were not as plentiful as they have been in the past and hopefully, now the awards are back to normal, more clubs and teams will make nominations next year.
“Thanks to the Calderglen High School Jazz Band for performing and to Cliff Smith for giving his time to be our MC once again.”
■ EK Sports Council will hold their AGM on Tuesday, May 16 at Hunter House at 7.30pm.
EK Sports Awards full prize list
Adult Male/overall winner
Grant Baillie (Athletics)
Adult female
Nicola Russell (Wheelchair athletics and martial arts)
Coach
Niall Walker (Athletics)
Club
All Star Elite Trampoline Club
Administrator
Anne Thomson (Athletics)
Veteran
Isobel Walters (Athletics)
U18 Female
Joint winners, Nayma Sheikh (Cricket) and Meghan Porterfield (Athletics)
U18 Male
Angus Wilkinson (Athletics)
U12 Male
Thomas Hill (Taekwondo)
Senior team
EK Ladies Rugby
Junior team
St Kenneth’s Primary School athletics team
Sporting primary school
Greenhills Primary
Services to sport
Jean Ronnie (Badminton)
Special awards
Jodey Hughes for Commonwealth Games participation in weightlifting
EK Gymnastics Squad for competing with Scotland in Budapest
Kate Fraser and Thomas Traynor for International Children’s Games participation
Gordon McCulloch chairman EK United, recognising work at Kirktonholme Pitches by EKYM and EKYC
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