Andrew Lindsay, three time Paralympic 100m Backstroke medallist, was inducted into the Scottish Swimming Hall of Fame at the Scottish Swimming Awards on the 29 September.
The awards which took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow, acted as a double celebration of the achievements made by Scottish competitors in Aquatics events and also welcomed new athletes into the Scottish Swimming Hall of Fame.
Andrew was unbeaten for over 10 years on the international stage in his favoured S7 100m backstroke event between 1997-2007. He competed at four Paralympic games between 1996 and 2008 winning three medals, two of which were gold. Three out of the four medals won at IPC World Championships between 1998 and 2006 were also gold while his record at European Championships between 1996 and 2008 is exceptional; winning ten medals including five gold. A stalwart of the British team during this time, Andrew mentored a number of up and coming athletes including Jonathan Fox.
The swimmer who now works for Sport Aberdeen, spoke of his shock upon finding out about his induction this September:
“I was sitting reading through my emails late one Tuesday night when I read the message saying I was to be inducted and I had absolutely no inkling that this was on the cards. I was shocked.
“Apparently I was a good fit for the Hall of Fame in that I am a retired, multi-medallist who has competed at several Paralympics and European Championships.”
Sport Aberdeen’s Director of Community Leisure Operations, David Selkirk said:
“It’s fantastic that such inspirational and talented athletes work with us at Sport Aberdeen. Andrew’s achievements in his field speak for themselves and his inclusion in the Swimming Hall of Fame is recognition of this.
“Sport Aberdeen aims to create opportunities, inspire people and change lives and it’s safe to say that Andrew has and will continue to inspire Scottish Paralympic swimmers for many years to come.”
Andrew is keen to stay involved within the sport by imparting his years of knowledge onto up and coming swimmers as a coach, ideally within Sport Aberdeen.
Graeme Marchbank, Chair of Scottish Swimming, thanked all involved in the aquatic community for a successful year:
“The Scottish Swimming Awards once again acknowledge the outstanding successes achieved throughout the aquatics field from athletes and coaches to volunteers and local authorities, all of whom play an important role in leading our sport – a sport for all, a sport for life.
“Scottish Swimming has enjoyed great success over the past 12 months and once again we are delighted that there was so much to celebrate, and we look forward to 2019.”
Sport Aberdeen, the city’s largest community leisure trust, and Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE), have announced that entries for the 2019 BHGE 10K Running Festival will open today, Wednesday 17 October.
The race which is organised by Sport Aberdeen in partnership with BHGE will take place on Sunday 5 May 2019.
Event organisers are looking forward to welcoming runners and spectators from far and wide as they continue to build on past successes for the 32nd year running.
Commenting, Sport Aberdeen’s Director of Healthy and Active Lifestyle Keith Gerrard said:
“It’s always an exciting time when we open the entries for the coming year’s race. We look forward to the BHGE 10K running festival providing runners new and old with a race to remember and giving charities the opportunity to raise money for very worthwhile local causes. We are very much looking forward to receiving the first entries for 2019’s event.
“Each year we are overwhelmed by the support given to the event from the community. The festival is an important part of Sport Aberdeen’s commitment to creating opportunities, inspiring people and changing lives through sport and physical activity.”
Make Aberdeen’s longest running road race your latest challenge and sign up for BHGE 10K 2019 here.
On Saturday 6 October a team of nearly 30 keen Sport Aberdeen staff and Board Members, led by Chairman Colin Taylor, descended on Sheddocksley Sports Centre paintbrushes in hand, ready to ‘spruce up’ the building ahead of the centre’s relaunch in late October.
The efforts concentrated on repainting external walls of the centre and various landscaping works, supported by Sport Aberdeen’s grounds maintenance company, idverde.
Speaking about the clean up day Sport Aberdeen’s Managing Director, Alistair Robertson said:
“Thanks to everyone who volunteered to work at Sheddocksley Sports Centre at the weekend. The amount of work done was fantastic and we achieved most of the tasks set for, it was a highly successful day.
“We have made a very significant impact but of equal importance, is the fact that the event demonstrated the power of team work and having a good cause to focus on. It was great to see our staff and the Board trustees working so well together.
“I am indebted to everyone who took part and was very proud at what has been done, as the pictures will testify.”
The work that has taken place over the summer has extended the fitness gym, more than doubling the space available; improving the reception space to incorporate a comfortable seating area; and transformation of the existing squash courts into dedicated exercise studios.
In addition to the clean-up works, the exterior of Sheddocksley Sports Centre has also been given a prominent makeover courtesy of a local community arts project run by Mary Butterworth and Jon Reid from their Kekun Studio
The artists who have previously had involvement in Aberdeen’s Nu Art and Painted Doors projects held walk in sessions at the centre in September in order to give the local community a chance to pass on suggestions for shapes and colours to use in the design and to let them know what the centre means to them.
Local sporting talents have been recognised at Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2018.
Now in their 25th year, the awards organised by the Active Aberdeen Partnership, recognised the wealth of sporting achievements and contributions made by local athletes, volunteers, clubs and community projects who encourage individuals to be active in Aberdeen.
More than 390 people attended the event at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on Thursday 4 October, which saw 17 awards presented and over £2,500 raised for beneficiary ClubSport Aberdeen, a new and vibrant body that provides a unified voice for sports clubs in Aberdeen.
Gymnastics Coach, Sue Morgan won the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for her 25 years of dedication and contribution to the Beacon Rhythmic Gymnastics Club.
Zoey Clark triumphed in the Adult Sports Achiever of the Year category for her astounding achievements in the past athletics season, while Connor Morrison scooped the Neil Fachie Disability Sports Achiever of the Year Award for his dedication to and achievements in Para Swimming.
Commenting on the standard of award entries, Active Aberdeen Partnership Chairman, Tony Dawson said:
“The Active Aberdeen Partnership has overseen a real step change in Aberdeen’s Sports Awards and last night was, once again, a very memorable occasion, recognising and rewarding the rich vein of sporting talent that is nurtured here in the City.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors, without whom the event just wouldn’t be possible and most importantly, to all of the finalists and to those who nominated them. We wish them all continued success in their sporting careers and hope that our support perhaps played some small part in that journey.
“It was also a pleasure to present a special award to our host, Dave Macdermid, to recognise his outstanding commitment to Aberdeen’s Sports Awards over the past 25 years.”
Entertainment for the evening was provided by the Beacon Rhythmic Gymnastics Club and guest speakers, fourteen year old Aimee Work, Active Girls Committee Chairperson and Robert Wicks, Commercial Director at Aberdeen Football Club.
Other awards included the Inspiration Award which was awarded to Dean Stott, the Community Sports Project of the Year which was won by Food and Fun and Adult Coach of the Year which was awarded to Eddie McKenna.
The winners in the 17 categories were as follows:
Lifetime Achievement
Sue Morgan
Inspiration Award
Dean Stott
Adult Sports Achiever of the Year
Zoey Clark
Junior Sports Achiever of the Year
Kirsty Muir
Student Sports Achiever of the Year
Kim Beattie
Disability Sports Achiever of the Year
Conner Morrison
Disability Junior Sports Achiever of the Year
Toni Shaw
Adult Volunteer of the Year
Ronnie Kain
Junior Volunteer of the Year
Rebekah Singer
Adult Coach of the Year
Eddie McKenna
Junior Coach of the Year
Matthew Scott
Club of the Year
Grampian Flyers Basketball Club
Team Performance of the Year
Aberdeen Sports Village Table Tennis Academy
Community Sports Project of the Year
Food and Fun
Primary School of the Year
Seaton Primary School
Secondary School of the Year
Bridge of Don Academy
Community Partner of the Year – Business
John Clark Motor Group
From 1 October 2018 there will be some changes to the fees and charges at our sports centres, leisure facilities and swimming pools.
These changes are predominately on pay and play activity and excludes our memberships, coached programmes, golf, grass pitches and 3G pitch prices. For more information, please contact the management teams at local venues.
Local heating and ventilation business, Heat Connection has come on board as a first time sponsor for Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2018. The business will be the event’s Room Decoration sponsor.
Heat Connection’s Director, Steve Brands said:
“Heat Connection appreciate the dedication to training and the commitment required to achieve individual and group sporting goals.
“The Aberdeen Sports Awards are a fantastic opportunity to help promote and encourage sports in the Granite City.”
Aberdeen’s Sports Awards celebrates the wealth of sporting achievements and contributions made by local athletes, volunteers and clubs in encouraging individuals to be active.
The ceremony, hosted by the Active Aberdeen Partnership, will be held at the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre on Thursday 4 October with 17 award categories being determined on the night
Commenting on the awards, Active Aberdeen Partnership Chairman Tony Dawson said:
“It is brilliant that Heat Connection have come on board as a new sponsor, joining a host of local organisations who are backing and celebrating local sporting achievements.
“These awards are an opportunity to recognise the clear culture of sporting excellence and outstanding performance that Aberdeen has fostered.”
Beacon Sports Centre is the latest facility operated by community leisure provider Sport Aberdeen to benefit from improvements to modernise its venues and provide customers with an all-encompassing state-of-the-art health and wellness experience.
The work, which was completed at the end of August 2018 saw £81,000 worth of capital investment transforming the existing health and fitness offering for the local community as we encourage people to ‘get more, get active’.
David Selkirk, Director of Community Leisure Operations, said:
“We are delighted with the recent investment in the Beacon Sports Centre. With Bucksburn Pool also on the doorstep, the area will now benefit from high quality health and fitness equipment and a wide range of inspiring programme and activity offers. There has never been a better time to get active in Aberdeen”.
The improvements have seen the existing gym benefit from a refit and mix of new Pulse Fitness cardio and resistance equipment and a dedicated strength and conditioning suite, complete with free weights, power sled and lifting platform.
New and long-term members of the centre alike are delighted with the improvements as Beacon Sports Centre member, Chloe Gray, said:
“I have been a member for a few years, but I have been using my membership almost daily since a year past May. I have noticed a huge difference to the Beacon, for example, in the gym there is more variety of equipment and more equipment in general.
“The equipment itself, both cardio and strengthening, have improved drastically as before the resistance on some of the machinery was not challenging me, whereas now I feel like I am gaining so much more on the equipment and even in a shorter space of time.
“I would and have already recommended friends/family to join Sport Aberdeen just to even gain use of the Beacon gym as I find it very beneficial to my fitness routine.”
Sport Aberdeen and Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE) struck gold as they took home the Corporate Partnership of the Year award at the first Celebrate Aberdeen Awards, held at the AECC on Saturday 8 September.
The award recognises the ongoing partnership between the two companies, which was formed in 2010 when Sport Aberdeen took over the annual City of Aberdeen 10K, now the BHGE 10K Running Festival.
The partnership benefits Sport Aberdeen through BHGE’s provision of support, not only as the title sponsor – without which the event could not be delivered – but also through adding value to the organising committee, providing a large number of volunteers who carry out key tasks and acting as champions amongst their own workforce encouraging race entries and raising the profile of the corporate challenge.
Sport Aberdeen also benefit from BHGE’s specialist knowledge and skills sets from working globally in a corporate culture, which is very different to Sport Aberdeen’s usual working environment as a third sector company.
Both companies believe it is important to support the communities in which we are present, demonstrated through our long standing commitment to the BHGE 10K Running Festival which the partnership has developed, grown and established as one of the top community events in Aberdeen
Jill Franks, Sport Aberdeen’s Director of Performance and Planning, said:
“We are delighted that our partnership with BHGE has been recognised at this year’s Celebrate Aberdeen Awards. It certainly has us looking forward to working on improving on this year’s successes in 2019.
“Sport Aberdeen’s commitment to creating opportunities, inspiring people and changing lives through sport and physical activity regardless of barriers such as age, cost, ability and gender is reflected directly in an event such as the BHGE 10K Running Festival.”
The partnership has evolved over the years and BHGE are also a sponsor and supporter of Aberdeen’s Sports Awards, another not for profit event which benefits the local community and shines a light on the sporting achievements and contributions made by local athletes, volunteers and clubs.
In addition, the partnership further raises the profile of Sport Aberdeen internally at BHGE and externally with other Oil and Gas companies and the wider Aberdeen business sector, enabling Sport Aberdeen to promote its Active Workforce product to a wider business community.
A spokesperson for BHGE said:
“We are proud to support Sport Aberdeen in the wonderful work they do to make sport and physical activity accessible to everyone in our local community. It is wonderful to be recognised for the achievements both companies have made through our partnership.”
The Active Girls Committee (AGC), facilitated by Sport Aberdeen’s Active Schools team has been awarded £7,100 after a successful grant application to the Year of Young People National Lottery Fund.
AGC’s aim is to get more girls more active. The committee comprises of girls from each academy across the city who endeavour to inspire their peers and increase the number of girls taking part in regular sport and physical activity.
The funding will allow the AGC to increase the size and scope of their project across the city.
Active Schools Coordinator, Nicole Gordon said:
“It is fantastic that our Active Girls Committee have successfully received this award from the Year of Young People National Lottery Fund.
“The Active Girls Committee leaders are already working very hard throughout Aberdeen City to encourage more girls and young women to get involved in sport and physical activity.
“This money will allow them to expand their great work. The group are fantastic role models and this year will continue their focus on breaking down barriers currently stopping many young girls from participating in sport.”
The AGC have been planning various projects which will focus on increasing participation in sport and physical activity for young girls, with a strong emphasis on those from P7 to S2 age; a crucial transition period from primary to secondary school which affects individuals physically and socially.
Physical activity levels decline during this time for various reasons such as changes in routine, lack of confidence or social exclusion. The project therefore aims to break down these barriers for girls and offers a fun and safe environment to get active.
The activities will target girls with a focus on those aged 11-14 years. By utilising Active Girls Committee Leaders as role models, they encourage the participation of girls in new sports or physical activities and games. The AGC will make decisions and work collectively with other girls to increase participation whilst breaking down social, emotional and mental barriers.
The Young People National Lottery Fund is designed to inspire young people to lead active lives and encourage positive mental health.
The Heritage Lottery Fund, Big Lottery Fund and Sport Scotland along with Spirit of 2012 Trust created the fund to award grants for heritage, community and sports projects focusing on young people in Scotland.
Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Seona Reid, said:
“I am delighted that Sport Aberdeen’s Active Girls Committee has been successful in securing an award from the Year of Young People National Lottery Fund.
“This funding will help young people to make a positive change in their lives and I wish Sport Aberdeen every success as it works to improve young people’s health and wellbeing in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Young People.”
Today, 20 August 2018, Beth Tweddle MBE, Olympic, World and European medallist in Women’s artistic gymnastics along with Colin G. Taylor, Chair of Sport Aberdeen, officially opened the Alex Collie Gymnastics Performance Centre, a dedicated and specialist gymnastics centre, catering to everyone from young children to seasoned gymnasts.
Beth spoke to the assembled audience and stressed the importance of high quality facilities, expert and committed coaches but also the need for supportive parents to help any young gymnast succeed.
The audience were treated to 4 solo floor routines by City of Aberdeen Gymnastics Club (COAG) gymnasts: Innes Reid, aged 16; Lexi Walker, aged 11; Mackenzie Reid, aged 11 and Kirsty Fowler, aged 14.
The Centre which is managed and operated by Sport Aberdeen, underwent significant refurbishment in January 2018 after funding was secured by Sport Aberdeen and COAG to purchase new men and women’s GYMNOVA apparatus comprising of new high bars, rings, asymmetric bars, beams and floor pads, to allow for a fully functioning permanent gymnastics set up.
Sport Aberdeen’s Gymnastics Pathways Coordinator, Aynsley Henderson said:
“It is an exciting time for Gymnastics in Aberdeen, especially having Beth Tweddle with us today to help celebrate.
“Gymnastics is already making a great impact within the City and we are looking forward to helping it develop to its full potential.
“As well as delivering our Sport Aberdeen programme, we work with clubs to create a pathway for gymnasts across the city. Recreational or elite level, we believe gymnastics can be enjoyed by everyone.
“Gymnastics is an inclusive sport with its diverse disciplines of; Men’s and Woman’s Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Disability and many more! I am looking forward to seeing the future of gymnastics in Aberdeen.”
The day also marked the launch of a Gymnastics Aberdeen and it’s new city-wide, 40-week gymnastics programme which has facilitated over 140 new spaces for children interested in getting involved in gymnastics across the city.
This means there are now over 1,000 spaces city wide in Kinder Gym and Preschool gymnastics for children as young as 18 months old up to primary 1 age. Gymnastics Aberdeen also provide Recreational Gymnastics and Trampoline for school aged children.
Gymnastics Scotland’s Head of Development, Steve Paige said:
“Scottish Gymnastics congratulates everyone involved in the Alex Collie Centre. It is great to see the work of Sport Aberdeen and partners come to fruition, bringing about the opening of another dedicated gymnastics facility.
“Having the Alex Collie Centre will directly benefit the sport in the city by supporting an increased gymnastics programme allowing gymnasts to increase their training and enjoy more time in the gym.”
Local Commonwealth Games gymnast Izzy Tolometti, who has previously trained at Alex Collie was also in attendance, hosting a Q&A session and giving a speech on the importance of the centre for local gymnastics.
Beth Tweddle closed out the event by hosting a workshop with a selection of COAG coaches and gymnasts.