'˜We want the 2016 awards to be the best yet'

Borders Sport and Leisure has unveiled details of its plans for this year's Celebration of Sport Awards.
The 2015 Celebration of Sport Awards held at Peebles Hydro. Samantha Kinghorn wins the Sports Personality of the Year award.The 2015 Celebration of Sport Awards held at Peebles Hydro. Samantha Kinghorn wins the Sports Personality of the Year award.
The 2015 Celebration of Sport Awards held at Peebles Hydro. Samantha Kinghorn wins the Sports Personality of the Year award.

The Awards, introduced in 2012, recognise the individuals, teams and events that are helping to drive forward sporting excellence and participation across the region.

For the fourth year GB Technologies will be the headline sponsor for the scheme with a number of other Borders businesses supporting individual Awards categories.

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Ewan Jackson, Chief Executive of Borders Sport and Leisure, said: “We are aiming for this year’s Celebration of Sport Awards to be the best yet.

GB Technologies logo.GB Technologies logo.
GB Technologies logo.

“For the past three years these Awards have enjoyed amazing support from the Borders public as they have voted by the thousand for the sports people they would most like to see rewarded.

“The Awards also play an important role in inspiring up-and-coming athletes, coaches and in enhancing the reputation of the Borders a as centre for sporting excellence.”

The categories in this year’s Awards will be: Event of the Year (sponsored by Murray & Burrell), Sports Personality of the Year (sponsored by GB Technologies), Team of the Year (sponsored by Borders Embroideries), Inspirational Performance (sponsored by Artisan PR), Disability Sports Award (sponsored by Borders.co.uk), Service to Sport, World Class Achievement and Positive Coaching Scotland.

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Representatives from the fields of cycling, rugby, athletics, golf, ice skating , tennis and horse-riding are likely to be amongst this years nominees.

Gordon Brown from GB Technologies said: “Our business is proud to be the main sponsor of the Celebration of Sport Awards for the fourth year and we are all looking forward to discovering who has made it on to this year’s shortlist.”

The list of nominees for this year’s Awards will be announced on February 8 and the public will be invited to cast their votes in three of the eight categories, Sports Personality of the Year, Team of the Year and Inspirational Performance.

Patrick Diack, General Manager of Peebles Hydro, said: “We’re thrilled that Borders Sport and Leisure has chosen to showcase its event at Peebles Hydro not only due to our recently refurbished public spaces and function rooms but also our passion for linking in with local activities and the well-known town we are a part of.”

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The importance of sport, not only in terms of health and fitness but also in relation to the bonds it engenders between people is recognised not only amongst the sporting community in the region but also the wider community and has led a growing number of local businesses to provide financial backing for the Awards:

The 2015 Celebration of Sport Awards held at Peebles Hydro. David Laing of the Sports Council wins the Service to Sport award.The 2015 Celebration of Sport Awards held at Peebles Hydro. David Laing of the Sports Council wins the Service to Sport award.
The 2015 Celebration of Sport Awards held at Peebles Hydro. David Laing of the Sports Council wins the Service to Sport award.

Yvonne Bruce, Director of Lauder based PR and Marketing consultancy, Artisan PR said: “We hope that our contribution in sponsoring the Inspirational Performance Award will help to enable the Celebration of Sport Awards to go from strength to strength.

“These Awards provide a crucial way for residents of the Borders to show their appreciation of the role that local athletes, coaches and clubs play in enriching all of our lives.”

William Smillie, Operations Manager, Border Embroideries added: “Sport is extremely important to us all.

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“Whilst taking part in sports the health and wellbeing benefits are clear to be seen, but more important than that is how it brings us together.

GB Technologies logo.GB Technologies logo.
GB Technologies logo.

“Most of the greatest friends people will make in life are through sports and there are fewer things better than being part of a team or the sense of achievement when participating in a sporting event.

“It’s always great to see who is top of their game and recognising all their hard work which will hopefully spur them, as well as the youngsters looking up to them, on to better things which is great for the Borders.

At Border Embroideries we are passionate about sport in the Borders, not only is it a key part of our business but we just love seeing the home grown talent emerge from some of our great clubs.”

The final winners of the 2016 Celebration of Sport Awards will be unveiled at a glittering prize giving ceremony which will take place on March 4 at Peebles Hydro Hotel.

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