It was a very special Saturday evening at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow as guests of Scottish Athletics and jogscotland assembled for the FPSG Awards Dinner.
Dame Kelly Holmes was the Guest of Honour for an evening that celebrated and acknowledged the huge contributions to athletics of many individuals from throughout the nation as athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and committee members.
Derek Rae from Kirkcaldy and Fife AC received the prestigious Para Athlete of the Year award following an outstanding year in his specialist event of marathon but also in half marathon, 10 miles, 10 K, 5K etc. Derek is now firmly established as a force to be reckoned with in international sport. All his training and preparations are geared towards gaining selection and then performing to the best of his ability at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.
Supporting Derek on this most memorable of evenings were his wife Susan and coach Ron Morrison from Fife AC. As well as being an outstanding athlete Derek is a peer mentor volunteer with Disability Sport Fife. Each week as part of the GOGA in Fife programme he is actively involved with enthusiastic young athletes from Fife with additional support needs.
Congratulations from all of us in DSF and well done also to the other para athletes who were short listed.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife