Taylor guru McCormack scoops Activcity award

Boxing trainer Terry McCormack (Lochend), who helped prepare Josh Taylor for a crack at Olympic glory this summer, has been named “performance coach of the year” at the annual Activcity Edinburgh Sports awards.

McCormack edged out Warrender swim mentor Laurel Bailey, whose prodigies included another Olympian, Craig Benson, and Basketball Scotland’s Luis Romero.

Veteran rugby coach Bill Smith, of Forrester, was named “volunteer of the year” while Vivian Gourlay of Kestrel Gymnastics, was ‘Young Person’s Coach of the Year”.

The full honours list reads:

Club of the year (over 50 members): 1st: North Merchiston; Runners-up: Warrender Baths and Lochend ABC.

Club of the year (under 50 members): 1st: South Edinburgh Handball; Runners-up: Murrayfield Memorial (table tennis) and Edinburgh Eagles (rugby league).

Young Persons coach of the year: 1st: Vivian Gourlay (Kestrel Gymnastics); Runners up: Alex Brown (Bronx boxing), Kirsty Beaton (Edinburgh Trampoline).

Disability coach of the year: Celia Peerless (Edinburgh Eagles athletic club).

Development coach of the year: 1st: Ian Brownlee (City of Edinburgh volleyball); Runners-up: Lilian McNab (CALA Hockey), Ian Pyrah (Edinburgh Southern Orienteering).

Sports Academy Athlete of the Year: 1st: Julie MacPherson (Badminton, Royal High); Runners-up: Sean Nealon-Lino (basketball, Leith Academy), Haris Aslam (cricket, Drummond Community High).

Young coach of the year: 1st: Dechlan Wilson (Edinburgh University Triathlon); Runner-up: Jodi McGinty (City of Edinburgh Athletics).

Community coach of the year: 1st: Lauren Millar (Edinburgh Trampoline); Runners-up: Neil Blacknell (Azam-Kai Aikado), Ash Carroll (Edinburgh Eagles rugby league).

Volunteer of the year: Bill Smith (Forrester React 2 Rugby); Runners-up: Clare Mackie (City of Edinburgh basketball) and Mairi Doonan (City of 
Edinburgh trampoline).

Eric Liddell Award: Lynsey Sharp 
(athletics).