It was his best year out on the track and Matthew Doig’s achievements have now been recognised.
The world record-breaking Luncarty racerunner was delighted to be crowned the Perth and Kinross disability sports person of the year.
Live Active’s awards night was called off due to the coronavirus outbreak but Matthew made sure to tune in to their live virtual ceremony on social media.
A pupil at Perth Grammar School, he was announced as the winner following a memorable 2019 which included a new world racerunning best at 5000m distance.
Racerunning is an athletic discipline for disabled athletes or ‘racerunners’.
Athletes use a running bike, a three-wheeled frame with a saddle, body support and most notably, no pedals.
Matthew (14), a Perth Strathtay Harrier, achieved the success in Copenhagen but it was a 12 months littered with medal-winning performances across the country.
“I was really pleased,” Matthew said of his award win. “I watched the virtual ceremony on TV with my family and was excited when they announced my name.
“I didn’t want to get my hopes up beforehand as everyone in the category had a fantastic year and Alex medley who was also nominated is one of my good friends too.
“2019 has been my best year yet and I achieved all I set out to do. I wanted to beat my personal bests at each distance.
“And I did this at the CPISRA International Racerunning Championships in Copenhagen.
“I enjoy the longer distance runs and practised these at training and at the North Inch which was good fun and helped me to keep going.
“It was brilliant to get a world record in the 5000m in Denmark. I did it in 23.33 which is also the senior world record for the RR3 classification.
“I was exhausted afterwards. It was great having my family and friends cheering me on during that race which definitely helped me to keep going.
“It was the last race I competed in and definitely the toughest.”
Matthew started racerunning eight years ago and has continued to improve under the watchful eye of Perth Strathtay Harriers.
“I train hard and it’s made fun by my coaches and Harriers team mates, Murran, Graeme, Elaine, Wiktoria and Calum who each other encouraged and push me to improve my technique and stamina,” said Matthew.
“Since starting at the Harriers, Jim Hunter has coached, supported and encouraged me to go faster and to enjoy my sport.
“He has really helped me and my family in so many ways. I am very competitive anyway so I’m always determined to do better each season.
“My dad is also involved in my coaching and he keeps it really fun, as well as pushing me, which I like.”
Big St Johnstone fan Matthew is planning to continue his progress in the sport and has recently been invited to the British Athletics Paralympic Development Academy.
Matthew said: “It’s great to see participation in racerunning increase across the world and with that more and more athletes are improving.
“Scotland has some world class racerunning athletes in Gavin Drysdale, Kayleigh Haggo and Hannah Dines and I always look out for their results and progress as well as enjoying seeing them at competitions.
“I know I need to keep working hard, not only on the track but also on my strength and conditioning if I am to keep being successful.”
