Paralympic athletes Scott Quin, Maria Lyle and Stephen Clegg have been recognised for their considerable efforts and achievements over the last 12 months, with all three athletes receiving accolades from their respective awards ceremonies over the previous couple of weeks. This recognition was supplemented by youngster Jenny Gray of Lothian Disability Badminton Club who shared the Sports Person with a Disability with swimmer Clegg.
Warrender Baths swimmer and product of local swim club Lothian Racers, Scott Quin was deservedly awarded with the Midlothian Senior Sports Person of the Year after a memorable 12 months which saw him win gold at the European Championships in Funchal and narrowly miss out on Paralympic Gold in Rio, collecting silver behind winner and GB team mate Arran Moores in the SB14 100m Breaststroke. Quin highlighted: “it has been an unforgettable year for me and to win the award after Rio is a special feeling.”
Watch the ‘Flying Scotsman’ claim gold at the European Championships earlier this year by following the link below –
East Lothian also recognised their athletes at the Celebrating Sport Awards on Friday 14th October at the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh, with the region’s para athletes firmly at the forefront of this recognition. Dunbar sprinter Maria Lyle was awarded for her memorable summer in Rio as she claimed two individual bronze medals and team silver in the 4 x 100m T35 – T38 relay. The 16 year old athlete, who has cerebral palsy, claimed silver in the 100m and 200m T35 races after being defeated by Australia’s Isis Holt and China’s Xia Zhou and was deservedly named East Lothian’s Sports Person of the Year. Watch Maria Lyle run in the second leg of the relay silver medal during the Paralympic Games in Brazil earlier this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M73WYKmSZAg
East Lothian Swim Team’s Stephen Clegg was recognised for his fantastic 5th place finish and personal best time in the S13 400m Backstroke in Brazil and topped off a significant 12 months for the Edinburgh based swimmer, who continues to develop into a world class swimmer under the guidance of head coach Bruce Halloran. The former Royal Blind School student was awarded the Sports Person with a Disability award alongside North Berwick Badminton player Jenny Gray. Gray, a member of Lothian Disability Badminton Club, has also experienced significant success over the last year, dominating the 4 Nations Para-Badminton events in Ladies singles, Ladies doubles and Mixed doubles while also being selected for the Special Olympic National Games in Sheffield next year.
This success demonstrates the significant talent in the region from grassroots participation right through the pathway to Paralympic success and will undoubtedly act as genuine inspiration for all upcoming athletes across the East of Scotland.
If you or anyone you know is interested in taking part in disability sport in the Lothian Region, contact Neal Herbert on admin@lothiandisabilitysport.co.uk or 07709 393514.