The Xmas Disco & Awards Night for the youngest members of the club was held at GHA on Sunday evening 11th December. A great time was had by all.

We were privileged to have David Smith, our Internationalist High Jumper (& Club Administrator) to present the awards to the athletes with Dudley Walker at the helm in his usual brilliant job of compère. 

The Xmas Disco & Awards Night for the youngest members of the club was held at GHA on Sunday evening 11th December. A great time was had by all.

We were privileged to have David Smith, our Internationalist High Jumper (& Club Administrator) to present the awards to the athletes with Dudley Walker at the helm in his usual brilliant job of compère. 

Certificates for performances over Cross Country & Indoor & Outdoor Track were presented, medals for Club Championships overall and in individual performances in the 4 disciplines of 80m /600m/ Long Jump & Shot Putt & finally U11 Athletes of the Year 2022.  Eilidh Brown took the U11s Girl’s Award and Finlay Hamilton the Boys.  Congratulations to Eilidh & Finlay for this achievement and to all our young athletes for their performances and efforts.

Presentation was also made to all the volunteers who helped at our Summer Holiday Camps. Their input at the camps is much appreciated by the club and, by our Young Coaches who deliver the popular athletics camps. 

A few words about David Smith – our celebrity elite athlete. As Dudley pointed out David has scaled the heights literally and metaphorically in High Jump. He has represented Team Scotland at 3 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014, Gold Coast, Birmingham and has been in Team GB at countless championships. Check his Power of 10 profile.

David has now returned to Glasgow from a training base in Birmingham and has also returned to train with his first HJ Coach, Ken Allan. He has recently had foot surgery for an injury, even attending the club AGM in his surgical boot. He tells us his recovery is going well. We wish him all the very best as he continues his rehab and returns to competition. 

David took the time to say a few words. He recalls being at Awards Nights from when he joined the club at Age 9 and being impressed with those athletes doing the presentations. So, he added that he was very chuffed to be asked to do this. He advised the assembled youngsters, that one day it might be them. David also added that he remains in Athletics because he loves the sport and hopes they do too. He emphasised that above all, athletes need to enjoy themselves.

Then pizza was served and demolished and the Disco really began. There were some great moves on the floor and the DJ had a great repertoire of games and activities. Everyone joined in and the floor was never empty. A very competitive version of musical chairs concluded with exceptional 10 metres shuttle running. It was some spectacle. Well done all the athletes. It looked like great fun was had and certainly that’s the feedback so far.

Thanks again to David for doing the presentation and to the irreplaceable Dudley, to the Junior Committee members of Alison Watson, Caroline Hunter, Tracey Davie, Karen McKnight & Jenny Simpson for organising and our special thanks go to Allan Cameron for the great photos of the occasion.   Thanks also to GHA staff for their help on the night. Important to note that the response to our  Xmas Courier appeal for Ukraine was magnificent. Parents and supporters brought a fantastic amount of donations for Mykolaiv ! Thanks to everyone!