Ross Murdoch and Coach Ben Higson Among Honorees At Scottish Swimming Awards Ceremony

Photo Courtesy: Scottish Swimming

A bronze medal from Ross Murdoch in the 100 breast at the world championships and participation in the history-making 800 free relay gold over the United States by Dan Wallace and Robbie Renwick were just three of the highlights in the pool for Scottish swimmers in 2015. These swims and many more were celebrated in a ceremony in Edinburgh to honor the nation’s best in and out of the pool.

For Murdoch, the journey to a bronze medal in the 100 breast was a bit shaky, as he was only able to qualify for the world championship team for Great Britain in the 100 after a bout with glandular fever knocked him out of contention in the 200 breast his pet event.

Read Swimming World’s Q&A with Murdoch

The award for Scotland’s swimmer of the year is the “Nancy Riach Memorial Medal,” which Murdoch won last year after winning the 200 breast Commonwealth Games title.

For his work in getting Murdoch past the illness and onto the world championship podium, University of Stirling coach Ben Higson was named BSCA Coach of the Year. His assistant coach, Steve Tigg, shared the Junior Coach of the Year award with Elaine Johnston.

Also performing well on the world stage was Duncan Scott, who made a big jump from the junior ranks in one year to get a spot in the prelim squad for Great Britain’s 800 free relay at the world championships. He won the W.G. Todd Prize & Cup, mostly for his efforts at the first European Games, a meet attended by some of Europe’s best junior swimmers. Scott won the 100 and 200 free at that meet and was part of the 800 free relay. Erin Robertson, the Commonwealth Youth Games champion in the 50 breast, also won the W.G. Todd Prize & Cup.

The disabled athlete of the year was Andrew Mullen, who claimed four medals at the IPC world championships in Glasgow.

More winners below:

Service Provider of the Year: Aberdeen Sports Village
Senior Water Polo Player: Chantal Guillot
Junior Water Polo Player: Hannah Edwards
John & Margaret Bell Award: Gary Ross
Denis Sullivan Memorial Trophy: Mark Deans
Eian Prentice Memorial Trohpy: Marshall Illingworth
Synchronised Swimmer of the Year: Chloe Hunter
Masters Decathlon Award (Female): Judy Hattle
Masters Decathlon Award (Male): David Smith
John Gunning Volunteer Award – East: Andra Laird
John Gunning Volunteer Award – Midland: Iain Meldrum
John Gunning Volunteer Award – North: Durno Jessiman
John Gunning Volunteer Award – West: Carolyn Macdonald
Club of the Year: Aberdeen ASC
JY Coutts Award: Duncan McKinnell

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