East Ayrshire’s most talented athletes, sports clubs and volunteers were recognised and celebrated for their sporting success and contribution to sport at the East Ayrshire Sports Council and Talented Athlete Awards evening recently.
This year saw over 50 athletes being supported through the Talented Athlete Support Programme with all athletes either National or International Champions, or representing their country in their chosen sport.
2024 has seen some notable achievements for our Talented Athletes, not only nationally, but internationally, which has added to East Ayrshire’s illustrious medal haul tally, which includes:
5 World Champions
9 European Champions
3 European Champion Runners-up
18 British Champions
6 British Silver Medals
5 British Bronze Medals
67 Scottish National Champions
18 Scottish National Silver Medals
7 Scottish National Bronze Medals
Joan O’Sullivan, Chair of the East Ayrshire Sports Council said:
“We are committed to supporting our athletes to fulfil their potential in their chosen sports both nationally and internationally. With so many athletes being supported, it really does demonstrate that East Ayrshire has produced and will continue to produce top class athletes through their hard work, determination and commitment. The success of the athletes is also a great vindication of the work that East Ayrshire is doing to support our sports clubs not only to be sustainable, but to thrive.”
In addition to a host of personal recognition accolades, the following main awards were presented:
Disabled Sports Person of the Year 2024
Winner: Cameron Radigan
Finalist: Kathryn White
Finalist: Jack Bisset
Jim Higgins Youth Sport Personality of the Year 2024
Winner: Jack Bisset
Finalist: Rhian Mitchell
Finalist: Cameron McGarey
Individual Performance of the Year 2024
Winner: Aaron Sarwar
Finalist: Laura Haggarty
Finalist: Logan Mitchell
Team Performance of the Year 2024
Winner: Ben Rutherford & Sophie Galbraith (Ayrshire Acro)
Finalist: Kilmarnock Harriers
Finalist: Cumnock Juniors 2009s
Inspiring Females in Sport Award 2024
Winner: Gillian Mitchell
Finalist: Carla Monachello
Finalist: Orla Duff
East Ayrshire Sports Council Club of the Year 2024
Winner: Senjokai Karate
Finalist: Kilmarnock Harriers
Finalist: Annanhill Golf Club
Service to Sport 2024
Winner: Chick Hamilton (Kilmarnock Amateur Weightlifting Club)
Finalist: Sarah King (Kilmarnock Rugby Club)
Finalist: Kevin White (Annanhill Golf Club)
Provost Claire Leitch added:
“This has been another inspiring event and I am incredibly proud of how much success our athletes gain and bring back to East Ayrshire. The successes that our athletes and clubs have had in national and international events make East Ayrshire the envy of a number or larger authorities across the country.
"It’s great to see East Ayrshire at the forefront of competitive sport as well as providing so many recreational opportunities with our schools and sports clubs supported by our Active Schools team and the Community Sports Hubs that we have across East Ayrshire.
“Our volunteers really are the backbone to community and grassroots sport and fully deserve to be recognised for their time and efforts too. We also can’t forget how important the role of parents, guardians and carers is in encouraging children and young people, and people with a disability, to take part in regular sport.”
For more information about the Talented Athlete Support Programme or the East Ayrshire Sports Council, please contact EASC@east-ayrshire.gov.uk