East Kilbride Sports Awards winners revealed on big night for athletics club

Athlete Grant Baillie has been crowned East Kilbride Sports Personality of the Year after the town’s big prize night returned for the first time in four years.

The East Kilbride Athletic Club star was recognised for his outstanding season in masters events, which included him winning gold at the Scottish Indoor 3,000m in Glasgow, the Scottish Cross County in Aberdeen and Scottish 10k and 5k Championships.

He also represented the Scotland team at the British and Irish Cross Country Championships, helping them to sixth place.

Baillie was one of four EKAC members to take home prizes from the Village Theatre ceremony on April 25. Niall Walker won the coach of the year gong, Thomas Wilkinson claimed the junior male under-18 award and Anne Thomson was administrator of the year.

Meanwhile, wheelchair para athlete Nicola Russell, who also competes in martial arts, won the adult female prize after a fantastic season saw her take gold at the Scottish Wheelchair Cross Country Championships in the 1k and 10k categories.

She also won gold at the British Masters Judo Championships and became British Taekwondo National Wheelchair Poomsae champion for the third year running.

For the first time ever, the under-18 female prize was shared as cricketer Nayma Sheikh was announced as the joint-winner alongside athlete Meghan Porterfield, who saw her gran and fellow athlete Isobel Walker pick up the veteran award.

Caledonia Gladiators owner Steve Timoney also made a surprise appearance as he told guests about his plans to bring the basketball club to the town later this year.

Sports Council chair Jim Ballantyne said: “It was a very successful evening and it was fantastic to be back. This was our first awards since 2019 and we congratulate all