Voting open for the 2015 West Dunbartonshire Community Sports Awards

Now in its second year, the awards recognise, celebrate and honour the achievements and tireless endeavours undertaken each and every day by people in the community throughout West Dunbartonshire who are passionate about sport.

The category nominees have now been finalised so let us know who you would like to win by sending us a simple text.

All you need to do is text: AWARDS (space) the three digit number of your choice marked beside the nominees below, and send it to 63333.

Votes are open now and close at midnight on September 27.

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Entries received after the closing date will not be counted but you may still be charged.

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For more information visit www.westdunbartonshiresportsawards.co.uk.

COMMUNITY COACH OF THE YEAR Derek Harvey - Glasgow Gaels Gaelic Football Club, 100 Derek, 28, is captain of the club’s men’s senior side, but dedicates his spare time to mentor the Glasgow Gaels youth section at their base in Clydebank. He also had a significant input in establishing the kids’ section in early 2014. Derek also helps co-ordinate youth matches and blitzes with other clubs in Scotland. He is very highly regarded across the whole Scottish Gaelic football community.

Jack Burgoyne – Clydebank Rugby Club, 101 Jack, 20, is legendary among primary school children for developing rugby in the Clydebank area. Known as ‘Big Boona’, he has been delivering the Clydebank Rugby Club primary school programme for two years. Jack is also the driving force behind the rugby club’s youth section. Due to Jack’s tireless efforts in the primary schools, the club was able to run two tournaments for pupils and also had its most successful youth summer camp this year.

Allan Sneddon – Haldane United FC, 102 Allan, 36, has been a dedicated coach with Haldane United’s youth section for six years and he has helped set up all seven football teams for the age groups from 2004-2009. He coaches the 2003 and 2008 sides four nights a week and manages match days on Saturdays and Sundays. This year, Allan organised a trip to Holland for 18 kids to play in a tournament – and arranged many fundraising events to pay half the costs.

Craig Floan – Glasgow Thai Boxing Academy, 103 Craig, 27, is the head coach at Glasgow Thai Boxing Academy, which is based in Clydebank. Not only does Craig coach the talented stable of fighters, he manages them and has created huge opportunities helping to organise bouts. Craig was also the man behind the two successful Thai boxing shows held in Clydebank’s Play Drome, which brought fighters from Thailand to compete against Scottish stars.

David Duncan – West Dunbartonshire Leisure, 104 David, 44, has been teaching swimming across West Dunbartonshire for 22 years. He worked his way up the ranks and is now in charge of swimming tuition at the Play Drome in Clydebank. The coach, who also taught Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ross Murdoch, has been praised for his fun coaching style and his passion is teaching youngsters from scratch how to swim.

Gary MacDonald – Dumbarton United AFC, 105 Gary, 22, has been dedicated to football coaching for eight years and helps co-ordinate the midnight football league for hundreds of kids on Fridays at Vale of Leven Academy. He travelled to Spain this summer to help Dumbarton United’s 2001 teams compete in the Costa Blanca Cup. Gary also volunteers as a coach with the Scotland U19 Learning Disability Squad, and Scotland U19 Cerebral Palsy side.

YOUNG COACH OF THE YEAR Craig Runciman, Lomond Badminton Club, 106 Craig, 20, has progressed from junior player to senior player and competent junior coach at Lomond Badminton Club. Without his dedication, the club would struggle to deliver the sessions to the 32 children that come week in, week out for coaching. An accomplished player, Craig also supports the adult section of the club by helping less able players learn new skills. He also forms part of the club committee.

Jennifer Davidson, West Dunbartonshire Gymnastics Club, 107 Jennifer, 23, coaches at all eight of West Dunbartonshire Gymnastics Club’s training groups and is lead coach of the club’s first ever competition class. She plans and leads on all of the sessions with the head coach at the club. Jenny mentors all three of the general level 1 volunteer coaches to ensure that they meet the criteria set by Scottish Gymnastics. She has helped double the number of members in the club over the last year.

Gordon Scanlan, Dumbarton FC youth academy, 108 Gordon, 21, has progressed from being a participant in the More Choices, More Chance programme in 2012, to being a volunteer support staff football coach within the Dumbarton FC academy by 2013. He’s now an assistant coach for the under 14s squad. Gordon is capable of both assisting and leading parts of training sessions, and matchday duties, and shows both dedication and responsibility to the job beyond his years.

Jack Burgoyne, Clydebank Rugby Club, 111 Jack, 20, coaches youngsters in primary schools through a partnership between Active Schools and Clydebank Rugby Club. The partnership has been in place for the last three years, with coaches from the club delivering sessions in schools which promote rugby and the club within Clydebank and Jack has been a key figure in this initiative.

William Brown, West Dunbartonshire Leisure football, 110 William, 21, enrolled at West College Scotland in Sports Coaching, where he became an integral Active Schools volunteer. William has delivered a number of breakfast, lunchtime, and after-school clubs, and after volunteering, he was employed as a community coach with WD Leisure. He delivers a variety of community clubs for Active Schools; two football clubs in Clydebank who have had great success in leagues.

Gayle Brown, West Dunbartonshire Gymnastics Club/multi-sports, 109 Gayle, 22, is a sports development lead coach and has helped nurture young people’s passion for sports. She manages 15 + members of West Dunbartonshire Gymnastic Club on a weekly basis, sources funding applications, oversee budget management, and distributes marketing materials. In her five years as a previous member of the group she never missed a meeting as chairperson and had clocked up more than 2,500 hours of volunteering.

TALENT COACH OF THE YEAR Martin Claxton, Loch Lomond Rowing Club, 112 Martin, 57, has coached his juniors to many championship wins this year, including local regatta wins across Scotland for several junior categories and gold medal wins at an international level. Martin is vice-president of Scottish Rowing and he offers four training sessions to juniors across the week. He fully participates in training and competitions, including driving the boat trailer and taking athletes to and from events.

Stephen Leckey, Clydebank Rugby Club, 113 Stephen, 24, took on the club’s development officer position this year but in a very short time he has achieved fantastic results. The club seen a 100 per cent growth in playing numbers in some age groups and the quality of the coaching and levels of enjoyment for the children has improved immeasurably. This has been reflected in the success of summer camps, with numbers growing from around 12 kids to nearly 40.

Paul Mooney, Scottish Football Association, 114 Paul, 27, has had a very positive impact to the School of Football programme since taking up his coaching post with the SFA in April 2014. The pupils who are involved in the programme are very engaged in the sessions. As a result, the attendance of these pupils has increased. Paul has a great relationship with staff and pupils, and all that are coached by him speak highly about his coaching methods and professionalism.

SPORTS PERSONALITY Graeme Sloan – bowls, 115 Graeme, 27, has represented Scotland at bowls for a number of years. He also represents his Dumbarton club in various competitions and also at county level — where he has won numerous competitions. Graeme also plays for a premier league indoor club and this year went on to win the Scottish Premier League.

Tam McCourt – Thai boxing, 116 Tam, 24, has been involved in Muay Thai for seven years and is now ranked Scotland’s number one featherweight fighter, winning the WBC Nation featherweight belt in December last year. Despite his huge personal success, Tam has also been praised for his commitment to assisting other young members of Glasgow Thai Boxing Academy. He coaches two classes at the Clydebank-based club.

David Gow – Long distance running, 117 David, 34, has achieved magnificent results in long distance running – despite only taking part as a hobby. He has repeatedly been in the top 10 places when competing against professional runners. This year the full time engineer came 8th in the Hoka Highland Fling (53 miles) in a time of 7hrs and 50mins; 5th in the Devil o’ the Highlands Ultra Marathon; and 1st in the John Lucas 50 mile Relay.

Michelle Brand – Powerlifting, 118 Michelle, 42, turned to powerlifting in 2011 after a horse riding accident a few years earlier that left her with a broken back and in excruciating pain for the next few years. The athlete is now an international champion and boasts competition bests of 170kg squat, 110kg bench and a 162.5kg deadlift. Michelle won four gold medals at the 2015 EPF European Masters in Czech Republic. She also devotes a large chunk of her time to coaching.

JUNIOR SPORTS PERSONALITY Jamie Russell – athletics, 121 This Clydesdale Harriers member is tipped to go far in athletics. Jamie, 12, recently won the Scottish Championship u-13 shot putt competition with a throw of 10.28m — which sees him placed in the top 10 throwers in his age group in the UK. His javelin mark sees him ranked in the top five in Scotland. These outstanding results come despite his club’s training base having no throwing facilities.

Oban Duncan – powerboating, 119 Oban, aged nine, won the RYA Honda RIB Youth Championships in Scotland in June. She will now represent her country in the UK championships in Southampton this September, and will be the youngest person ever to take part. The youngster took up the watersport at the age of eight and her coach says that her commitment and determination in powerboating is an inspiration to all.

Connor Drake – horse riding, 120 Connor, 12, has been riding since he was three years old and he and his three ponies are out showing nearly every weekend. They have won numerous championships and supreme championships. Connor’s talent were spotted at a training lesson in March by one of Scotland’s top producers. The 12-year-old saw off competition from 1500 other people to be placed in the top 10 for his age group and travelled to Rugby for a national ride-off final. He came second, which was a massive achievement.

Ryan Morrison – rowing, 122 Ryan, 16, is highly dedicated to his sport and has won many regattas and head races (4k) over the 2014/15 season. He won three gold medals at the Scottish Championships — junior 16 single scull, double scull, and was a crew member of the winning junior 18 squad. Ryan competed at the British rowing championships and won bronze in junior 16 category. He was then selected to row for Scotland at the Home International Regatta.

DISABILITY SPORT Michael Hutton – coach co-ordinator, Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club (DDSC), 123 Michael, 29, has been part of DDSC since it was formed in 2010 and has made a big contribution to its success. Michael began as a sports coach but was recently promoted to coach co-ordinator due to his tireless efforts. Michael has been an integral part of the club’s new disability swimming session and organised the launch of the DDSC Swim pilot in April this year. Due to Michael’s work, DDSC Swim has now recruited 21 extra members, another volunteer coach and five new swimming teachers.

Allan Clark – chairman, Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club (DDSC), 124 Two of Allan’s sons have a rare medical condition called Bardet Biedl Syndrome, which can be very debilitating, but he has always encouraged them to stay physically active. This led to the 42-year-old becoming a founder member of Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club and he has been a committee member ever since. Allan, in partnership with the club secretary, has raised £17,110 for DDSC. These funds help the club to provide children and young people with a disability an opportunity to participate in regular weekly swimming and multi-sport sessions.

TECHNICAL OFFICIAL Robert McCulloch, secretary, Lomond Swimming and Triathlon Club, 125 British Triathlon also select a number of officials who are invited to attend British national events and Robert, 51, has been chosen the last two years to attend British championship events. When in the UK, Robert has been fortunate to have been selected to attend knowledge sharing – over the year members give up their time to train and provide support for new officials on the ladder to by training and giving them the opportunity to shadow at events.

Euan McQuarrie, Clydebank Rugby development officer, 126 Euan, 45, has been an ever present figure at Clydebank rugby club, having played, coached, and officiated. After stepping down from coaching at the club, Euan began refereeing.

He gave up his free time to referee at level 9 and 10 before being promoted to the SRU panel of referees. Unfortunately, Euan suffered a heart attack which put an end to any advancement through the referee ranks. Euan then turned his attention to coaching and developing other referees.

DEDICATION TO SPORT Campbell Smith – coach, Lomond Badminton Club, 127 Campbell created his first badminton club 34 years ago due to a lack of facilities in the area – and was the driving force behind the sport flourishing in West Dunbartonshire. Carman Badminton Club produced many international class players. The club won local leagues and cups for 19 years in a row. After running the original Carman Badminton Club for over 30 years, he is now back coaching at Lomond - aged over 70.

David Smart – secretary, Clydebank Rugby Club, 128 David is Mr Clydebank Rugby Club. He has dedicated more than 30 years to the club and has held nearly all important committee and playing positions. He gives hundreds of hours a year to the rugby club – and there is not one bit of the clubhouse that he has not repaired. David’s dedication through the club’s involvement in the Community Sport Hub has seen the group secure over £200,000 in funding.

Paul Maitz - Christie Park Primary, 129.

Paul is a teaching assistant at Christie Park Primary in Alexandria, and has voluntarily ran all the after school clubs within the school for several years. Paul carried the Queen’s Baton through Alexandria last summer due to his commitment to the local community. Paul is a massive role model to all pupils and has earned sports coaching badges to maximize the kids’ experience.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Angela Munn, Active Schools coordinator, 130 Angela, 38, started out her coaching career last year helping with a basketball club at Jamestown Primary before doing a basketball coaching course. She then agreed to take on the school netball club – with little experience of the sport. Without Angela putting herself forward, the club would have stopped. She then took the children to the Vale of Leven/Dumbarton Schools Championship, and on to the WD Schools finals in Clydebank.

Gerry Murray, West Dunbartonshire Amatuer Swimming Club, 131 Gerry, 44, has been the club’s membership secretary since April 2013 as well as a timekeeper and a Level 1 judge. Gerry’s hard work and enthusiasm has seen the club’s membership rise by nearly 25 per cent in two years. He’s the first point of contact, arranges trials for new swimmers, and ensures parents and carers understand the club and its benefits. Gerry also promotes the social aspect of the club.

Colina McQueen, clerical assistant within Knoxland Primary, 132 For more than 20 years Colina, 68, has been dedicated to ensuring youngsters have access to a range of extra-curricular sporting activities. This year she’ll deliver after-schools clubs in badminton, athletics, and netball. She will also assist at the morning Jogscotland club, that runs once a week. She also ensures the school is represented at festivals including sportshall athletics, cross-country, netball, and badminton festivals.

David Lyden, learning assistant within Knoxland Primary, 133 For the past 10 years David, 51, has been dedicated to ensuring all children are provided with a wide range of extra-curricular sporting activities. This year David will be delivering three after-schools clubs - football, athletics, and Bikeability. He also helps ensure Knoxland is represented at local and national festivals including Sportshall Athletics and Football festivals. David coaches Dumbarton United Football Club two nights a week.

Phil McNab, Linnvale Primary netball coach, 134 Phil, 54, has worked at Linnvale primary for more than 15 years and once a week she stays behind on her own time to teach the children netball. Phil organises netball matches and teams and does this all voluntarily, year on year, without pay. Netball is her passion and she enjoys it so much teaching the children at Linnvale.

YOUNG VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Andrew Campbell, West Dunbartonshire Leisure sports coach, 135 Andrew, 19, has made a huge impact on the children of St Patrick’s Primary School where he has been a volunteer for the past two years. He has delivered many extra-curricular activities – including an infant breakfast fitness club, lunchtime multi-sports clubs, and an after-school football club. He has worked with rugby and tennis clubs in the Dumbarton area, helping out with their programmes on a voluntary basis.

Ross Kenneth Clark, assistant sports development officer, 136 Ross, 19, has experience volunteering in coaching, committee roles, column writing, and refereeing. He has helped deliver the Sports Youth Group summer and Easter camps and volunteered for more than 2,000 hours. He also refereed for two years and he started by doing a 7-a-side under 11s match and has built up to a junior assistant.

Cheryl Clarke, sports development lead coach, 137 Within the last four years, Cheryl, 22, has been committed to the Sports Youth Group (SYG), Gymnastics Club. She has now begun training to become a mentor. As part of a team, Cheryl has organised sport specific sessions for more than 130 children through the SYG summer and Easter camps. She has voluntarily committed more than 30 hours to creating a recruitment drive video presentation which was shown to high schools across West Dunbartonshire.

Lewis Austin, sports development coach, 138 Lewis, 17, has invested hundreds of hours volunteering and as a SYG member he has held committee positions, and helping to organise summer camps. He has volunteered for Caledonian Junior Hockey club and volunteered at a school programme every Friday, where he assisted the tutors to teach outcome modules to S4-S6 years.

Annie Hobson, sports development coach and trainee for West Dunbartonshire Gymnastics Club, 139 During her three year membership of SYG, Annie, 17, has transformed into a confident coach able to plan and deliver sporting sessions. She has became the vice-chairperson of the group and has volunteered many hours to help young people participate in sports through both the SYG and the West Dunbartonshire Gymnastics Club. Annie volunteered during summer to help plan and deliver summer camps.

TEAM OF THE YEAR St Patrick’s Primary School - 141 The Dumbarton school is the first, and so far, the only school in West Dunbartonshire to achieve a sportscotland Gold School Sport Award. St Patrick’s was the top school in the region for the number of extra-curricular activity sessions and participant sessions in 2014-15. The school ran three very successful breakfast fitness clubs, getting children from Primary 2-7 active before the start of the school day.

West Dunbartonshire Gymnastics Club - 140 Since its establishment in 2011, WDGC the club has flourished. It now has over 80 members, nine qualified coaching roles, over 15 volunteers, and operates over eight training hours per week. WDGC was the first club in West Dunbartonshire to receive Direct Club Investment (DCI) of £20,730, and it has also added a development academy - which has doubled its number of members and has a boys’ only section.

Clydesdale Harriers - 142 Clydesdale Harriers, the original organised Athletic Club in Scotland, was founded in 1885 and is still going strong today. At the end of the summer track season, Clydesdale gained promotion to the top division of the Central and Southern Scottish League. The club’s U20 male and female teams also qualified for the final of the indoor league competition.

The Fortune Flyers - 143 The Flyers are a disabled football team for Fortune Works in Drumchapel. They started when a few guys approached Jason Methvan and asked him if they could start playing football with Fortune Works. Football training was put on the timetable and others were inspired to join. The team played their first match against another centre and then set up their own competition called the Fortune Flyers Champions League.

Loch Lomond Highland Games Commitee - 144 The LLHG Committee of volunteers include Hamilton Stewart, James McCrae, Ian Gurr, Alan Jones, Jack Hope, Ricky McGilchrist,A Thornton, D. Hume, L Ward, Bob Burness, and C. McLeod.

They give up their time to organise a locally treasured and important event. The committee members attend meetings year round and the Chieftain of the Games James McCrae is dedicated to ensuring the Games continue. The local people and many visitors/tourists have a tremendously good day at the event and it is an annual event that is very much looked forward to as a traditional Scottish sporting event.