Posted on 05 July 2010.
The basketballscotland National Volunteer Recognition Awards took place on Sunday 4th July at the basketballscotland head office, with numerous volunteers recognised for their contribution to the sport over the past season.
As with any awards, there has to be a winner and the Panel of Judges (themselves volunteers), selected the following worthy recipients.
School Aged Volunteer of the Year
Sara Plummer – Clark Eriksson Fury
Sara is a level 2 table official, a qualified coach and is a regular statistican for Clark Eriksson Fury. She has been a key member of the coaching squad at Larbert High School and also coaches with the Fury under 14 development teams both boys and girls. Sara also table officiated at the National Cup Finals, the British University Games and the Senior Men’s international fixtures against Norway.
Young Volunteer of the Year
David Legge – Perth Phoenix
David is a hugely committed member of Perth Phoenix BC and has made a significant contribution to the club in the past season. He is head coach of the cadet men and several of his squad are involved in the U15 and U16 National squads. David is also assistant coach for the U18 men as well as a statistician for the club. David also coaches Perth and Kinross development squads and the Tayside and Fife Talent Development Programme.
Ronnie Mather Contribution to Coaching
John Bunyan – Clark Eriksson Fury
John has had one of most successful years in coaching this past season as head coach of Falkirk High School and Clark Eriksson Fury, winning the Open Girls and Open Boys teams School Cup Competitions, the Junior Men league and cup double and the Senior Men Scottish Cup. This award however is not about winning but the continuing hard work and number of hours that John puts into the basketball in Falkirk and the surrounding area. This past season he has accumulated over 30 hours of coaching per week at all age groups from primary level to national squad athletes in his national league squads. John has recently completed his UKCC level 3 coaching award and is also involved as a coach tutor.
Douglas Bader Contribution to Officiating Award
Bruce Hendry – Basketball Tayside & Fife
Bruce has taken on the role of Tayside and Fife Officials Co ordinator for the past few years and this year has successfully allocated referees to the Senior Men’s Division 1 and 2 leagues and the Senior Women’s league all season. Bruce has also appointed officials to University games for Abertay, Dundee and St Andrews Universities. Bruce has appointed referees to over 150 games with only 6 games being postponed due to lack of officials. Bruce has over 40 years experience in officiating in both Canada and his native Scotland he still referees games in the Tayside and Fife local leagues and has also covered a few National league games this season supporting younger referees.
Volunteer of the Year Award
Amanda Wilson – Dundee Sharks and Basketball Tayside & Fife
Amanda has volunteered her time with Basketball Tayside & Fife for the past 6 years and is also a member of Dundee Sharks. She continues to organise and promote Women’s Basketball in the region and has had a positive effect with both the number of team and the number of players increasing. Amanda’s organisation and communication skills have led to the league being completed with no defaults or forfeits this season. She is a committee member for Basketball Tayside & Fife and is also a level 2 table official. Outside of her organisational work, she is frequently seen on the table at games at both National and local leagues fixtures.
Chairman’s Award
Maureen McNeill – Glasgow Storm
Maureen has been involved in basketball for over 25 years and she still contributes over 20 hours per week even though she has “cut back” her involvement with Glasgow Storm. She is a stalwart of Glasgow Storm and her role is that of mentor, social worker, development officer, and general mother hen. She is a regular at local league games and tournaments. She has a level 3 tutor award and has coached the Special Needs National British basketball team at the Beijing Special Olympics in 2007/08. Maureen also recently won the Glasgow City Council Volunteer of the Year award for services to basketball.
Special Recognition Award
John Grant – Arbroath Musketeers
Having recently retired from basketball after a 34 year involvement, the Panel wished to recognise John’s contribution to basketball over a hugely successful career.
John’s main role was as founding member and head coach of Arbroath Musketeers, the club he ran and coached for 17 years, winning numerous national titles and developing a number of top Scottish players and coaches.
Out with the club activity, John coached the highly successful Arbroath High School programme, led several International programmes, was basketballscotland’s Coaching Director, lead a number of developments in coach and teacher development for the governing body. He was also involved with numerous committees at regional and national level as well as volunteering to host several international basketball events in Arbroath.
John has been the driving force behind Arbroath Basketball for almost 20 years and his contribution will be missed both locally and nationally.
Service Awards
Service Awards are presented for service to basketball over an extended period of time. This year 13 service awards were presented taking the total to 149. Those recognised this year were:
25 Year Service Award
Maureen McNeill
20 Year Service Awards
Chris Dodds
Trish McMahon
10 Year Service Awards
Paul Boath
Kim Bunyan
Marie Caie
Jennifer Gallacher
Russel Kesson
5 Year Service Awards
Alan Buchan
Stewart Gillies
Davy Forfar
Paul McBrierty
Gordon Munnoch
basketballscotland took the opportunity to thank all volunteers throughout the country for their contribution to the sport.
