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AWARDS PRESENTED TO ACADEMY SPORTS ACHIEVERS
SPORTS achievers at Forfar Academy were recognised at a special awards ceremony held last week in the school assembly hall.
National basketball player Gareth Murray, who plays for Scotland's only professional basketball team the Scottish Rocks, was guest of honour.
The pupils were introduced by Mr Andy Marshall of the Academy's PE department who stated some pupils had notched up "some fantastic sporting achievements" either for their school or their individual clubs at regional and national level.
He intimated the awards structure would change next year to recognise the achievements of other school pupils, not just in the sports field.
He said: "This is a pretty special day in the school life for some of these pupils. As well as pupils who will receive sports achievement ties, there are others who were presented with these ties last year but who have maintained their interest in their sport and will receive a certificate."
In an inspiring address to the pupils Gareth, the 6'7" Rocks' forward and the top Scot in the British Basketball League, spoke of his rise from a rural primary school at Colliston to playing basketball around the world.
He revealed his first love was football but when he was introduced to basketball at the age of 14 by John Grant at Arbroath High School, he found the sport extremely entertaining.
He said: "As soon as I saw it played I was really grasped. I really enjoyed the whole entertainment package of basketball and thought 'I could make a future out of this.'"
Gareth spoke of his strict training regime before and after classes at high school.
He was chosen to play for Scotland at under 16 and under 18 levels and took part in a school exchange to America when he was 17 as an exchange student.
He then gained a basketball scholarship for two years at college in Michigan before returning to Arbroath and to play for the Scottish Rocks.
He encouraged the pupils to stick at their sport, whatever it was.
"If you work hard you can achieve whatever you want. If you have a dream then follow that dream."
He went on to present the sports achievements awards to the following:-
Regional:
S1 - Tami Guilcher, basketball; Beth Milne, swimming, cross-country, athletics 1500m; Rachel Kidd, cross-country; Keris Douglas, cross-country, athletics, discus; Laura Wilson, cross-country; Symone Sutton, athletics; Chloe Robinson, kick boxing; Jordan Lovegrove, kickboxing.
S2 - Eilidh Collins, basketball; Murron White, football, athletics, javelin; Kayleigh Noble, football, athletics, 1500m; Emily Fyfe, athletics, 100m, cycling; Chloe Dunn, athletics, long jump; Shaunalea Whyte, athletics; Victoria Geddes, athletics;Danny Low , football; Daniel Dow, kick boxing; Emma-Jane Stewart, Highland dancing (certificate); Lydia Forrest, Highland dancing; Daniel Baty, swimming (certificate); Gavin Thomson, basketball (certificate).
S3 - Fergus Mitchell, rugby; Struan Robertson, rugby; Andrew Couper, rugby; Callum Duncan, rugby; Jamie Brown, rugby; Kirsten Duncan, basketball (certificate); Clari Hayman, basketball; Scott Fullerton, football; Lewis Coupar, football; Adam Hoggan, football; Daniel Simpson, football; Shaun Harper, football; Rhys Milne, football.
S4 - Heather Buchanan, Highland dancing; Aaron Towns, kick boxing (certificate).
S5 - Stephanie Carnegie, athletics; Louise Calder, athletics (80m hurdles and shot putt) (certificate); Dale Reid, football; Dean Fletcher, football.
S6 - Cameron Howie, football (certificate); Fraser Couston, football and Daniel Hedge, football.
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Weather for Kirriemuir
Thursday 09 February 2012
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Light rain
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