Congratulations to Aly MacPhail of Orkney Athletic and Running Club, who was named as sportscotland‘s Official of the Year at their 2024 Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards.
Aly was awarded for her contribution to preparations for the Orkney 2025 Island Games athletics competition, by coordinating officials, recruiting volunteers and enhancing her own skills.
She has undertaken significant travel to regional, national and international events to ensure she has the experience required to help deliver the Games.
Aly began her officiating journey around 20 years ago, when her children were training with the club.
Speaking about her journey, Aly said:
‘Living on an island, you realise how expensive it is to travel,
‘As the club was developing, our athletes were getting better and we really wanted to do some home competitions on the island, so that’s really where I started my officiating journey,
‘To be named Official of the Year, I was really touched. I’m delighted, but really the success of getting an award like this depends on everyone around you, and I’ve got a really wonderful team,
‘I’ve made loads of really good friends in Scottish Athletics. As we head towards the Island Games I’m looking forward to welcoming them all up to Orkney’
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Club member, Taylah Paterson, said:
‘Aly is a huge part of Orkney Athletic Club. The club would not be a success the way it is without all the hard work that she’s done throughout the years.’
‘For me personally, she coached me from when I first joined the club, right through to when I left for university, and she made me want to take the sport further,
‘I’ll never forget the impact that she had in my early days.’
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Officials are encouraged to join us for the National Officials Conference in Dunfermline on Sunday 17 November.
Sign-ups for the day close at 5pm on Thursday (9 November), so please register now online.
It promises to be an enjoyable and informative day at Carnegie Conference Centre, with sessions including a keynote address on the ‘I’m Here’ project from our partners at SAMH .
A series of workshops will also offer attendees the chance to share and learn in smaller groups through the day.
See the full schedule and register.
Tags:
Aly MacPhail, Coaching Officiating & Volunteering Awards, Orkney Athletic and Running Club, sportscotland
