More than 600 people attended Sports Ball 2019, in a night which showcased the best of the university’s sporting achievements over the last year.
The main success story of the night was the golf club, who won club of the year among some stiff competition. This was hardly surprising considering most of the competitive teams won their leagues this year, and individuals have picked up trophies across the board in national competitions.
The club’s president, Sean Davidson, was awarded Sports Personality of the Year, edging out cheerleading president, Melissa Borland, and Dale Corrin of men’s football.
Taking to social media after winning the award, Davidson said: “I am absolutely thrilled for every member of Stirling Uni Golf Club for achieving club of the year. Thank you for buying into what we all set out at the start of the year and working tirelessly to raise standards. It’s been an honour to represent you.”
In other awards, men’s rugby won the president’s award for outstanding contributions off the pitch, largely due to their successful Movember campaign. In a single month, they raised more than £12,000 for the men’s health charity.
And women’s fencing were awarded best one-off achievement, after winning the national BUCS trophy in Nottingham.
Sports President Caitlin Ormiston worked hard this year to secure the Edinburgh Corn Exchange as the venue for the sold-out event. More student athletes attended than ever before, in the biggest and best Sports Ball to date.
Credit: Kayleigh Bissett Photography
In her moving speech, she reflected on the year she has had as Sports President, and wished Gill Thayne all the best as her successor.
Speaking to the room, Ormiston said: “You are the reason I can say that being Sports President has been the best year of my life, and you all continue to inspire me.”
She concluded: “Gill, I wish you all the best and I know you will do brilliantly. All that’s left for me to say is have a great night, and that I will always Bleed Green.”
After a three-course meal and an exciting awards ceremony, everyone was in high spirits, ready to dance the night away, with some ceilidh dancing and a DJ.
There was also a collection for the Zambia Project, which raised £250. The project will send Stirling students to Zambia next summer to work in sporting educational and developmental projects.
Sports Ball 2019 was a spectacle of everything that is great about sport at the university of sporting excellence.
With the University of Stirling currently sitting 10th place in the BUCS rankings, what a better way to celebrate than everyone coming together before the academic year comes to an end.
The full list of award winners were as follows:
- Club of the Year – Golf
- Outstanding Contribution off the pitch – Men’s Rugby
- Sports Personality of the Year – Sean Davidson (golf)
- Best one-off achievement – Women’s 1st Team Fencing
- Biggest Cock-Up of the Year – Louis Ware
- Sportsperson of the Year – Rebekah Cranney (judo)
- Scholar of the Year – Duncan Scott (swimming)
- Best Non-BUCS Achievement – Women’s 1st Team Tennis
- Professional Coach of the Year – Charlie Boldison (swimming)
- Volunteer Coach of the year – Panagiotis Galosias (judo)
Fourth-year BA (Hons) Journalism Studies student.
News Editor, Sports Editor and Head of Proofreading for Brig Newspaper.
