The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and Highlands and Islands Students’ Association (HISA) are delighted to announce the winners of the 2024 Sporting Blues. These prestigious awards celebrate the outstanding sporting achievements of UHI students and recognise those who have attained an exceptionally high standard of performance in their respective sport.
This year saw a record number of nominations, three times higher than any previous year, highlighting the tremendous efforts made to enhance sporting opportunities at UHI. Amanda Fleet, Sports Development Coordinator at HISA, received two national awards this year for transforming sporting engagement levels at UHI, which led to exponential growth in both membership and the number of sport clubs.
Sports Person of the Year was awarded to Taylor Kerr, who has captained the UHI Golf Team this year. Taylor won a Full Blue award when the team won the Scottish University Championships in 2022 and this year, he has become the Scottish University Individual Golf Champion. He’ll be graduating this year in BA (Hons) Professional Golf at UHI North, West and Hebrides Dornoch campus.
Taylor said, “Winning Sports Person of the Year is an immense honour, reflecting not just my personal dedication but also my deep passion for UHI. It's a privilege to represent an institution that supports and nurtures athletes. This recognition motivates me to continue pursuing my passion and to inspire others within the UHI community to reach their full potential.”
Team of the Year Award was awarded to the men's shinty team who on their debut, won the Littlejohn Vase 2024. The team is made up of players from across the UHI partnership and is sponsored by Kishorn Port Ltd.
The following students received the Full Blue, awarded to athletes of outstanding ability judged by standards applicable to students’ different sports:
- Connor McLaren, a BSc (Hons) Sport and Fitness at UHI Perth, and Kairn Brand, an HND Fitness, Health and Exercise student at UHI Perth, have earned caps for the Scotland national futsal team.
- Struan Hastie, an HNC Soft Tissue Therapy student at UHI Perth, won the 3000m Steeplechase at the 2023 Scottish Athletics Championship.
- Kirsten Taylor, an HNC Soft Tissue Therapy student at UHI Perth, placed 3rd at the International Blind Sports Association European (IBSA) Championships in Rotterdam, for judo, and 5th at the IBSA Egypt Grand Prix. She was also awarded the Winning Students 100 scholarship.
- Archie Graham, who completed the SVS - New Skills 1 course at UHI Perth, won the gold medal in the 25m butterfly in the Scottish Down Syndrome Swimming Championships.
- Alex Medley, who has achieved the Foundation Apprenticeship Financial Services (Schools) award at UHI Perth, was awarded Perth and Kinross Disability Sportsperson of the Year at the Perth and Kinross Sports Awards 2023 and won the Scottish Boccia Championships. Alex was recently selected for the Scottish National Development Squad and in July 2023 made his debut on the international stage, representing Scotland at the Para Sport Festival Teams and Pairs Championships.
The following students received the Half Blue, awarded to athletes for playing well above the average standard for a university team or who represent the university as an individual in national level competition:
- Parneet Kaur, a BA (Hons) Professional Golf student at UHI North, West and Hebrides Dornoch campus came 3rd in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Premier North Division, was a quarterfinalist in BUCS Team Championships, and runner-up in the Scottish University Team Championships 2024.
- Orla Rooney, a BA (Hons) Professional Golf student at UHI North, West and Hebrides Dornoch campus secured 3 top 10 finishes in BUCS events, came in the top 5 at the Scottish University Strokeplay Championships and was a semi-finalist in the Scottish University Matchplay Championships.
- Fraser Russell, a BA (Hons) Professional Golf student at UHI North, West and Hebrides Dornoch campus tied 4th at the West of Scotland University Golf Championships and 8th at the individual Scottish University Golf Championships. His team was runner-up in the Scottish University Golf Championships.
- Zara Flett, a BA (Hons) Business and Management student at UHI Orkney, plays netball for the Netball Super League team, Strathclyde Sirens, and was also awarded the Winning Students 100 scholarship.
- Wiktoria Mucha, who has undertaken the Next Steps 2 Learning course at UHI Perth, competed at the British Open Wheelchair Fencing Championships.
- Matthew Doig, an HNC Social Sciences student at UHI Perth, won bronze (100m) and silver (5000m and 1500m) at the World Disability Frame Running Championships in Copenhagen.
Dr Iain Morrison, Dean of Student Experience said: “UHI is immensely proud to award Sporting Blues to our exceptional students, recognising their dedication, hard work, and outstanding achievements. These accolades in partnership with our hard-working students’ association celebrate the spirit, talent, and perseverance that our students bring to their sports and academic pursuits. We congratulate all recipients and look forward to their continued success and contribution to our university’s legacy of excellence.”
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A’ comharrachadh an fheadhainn as fheàrr ann an spòrs aig UHI: Buannaichean Sporting Blues 2024 air an ainmeachadh
Tha Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (UHI) agus Comann Oileanaich na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HISA) air leth toilichte an fheadhainn a choisinn duaisean Sporting Blues 2024 ainmeachadh. Tha na duaisean cliùiteach seo a’ comharrachadh sàr euchdan oileanaich UHI ann an spòrs agus ag aithneachadh an fheadhainn a tha air ìre air leth àrd a choileanadh nan spòrs fhèin.
Am-bliadhna chaidh an àireamh as àirde de dh’ainmean ainmeachadh, trì tursan nas àirde na bliadhna sam bith roimhe, a’ nochdadh nan oidhirpean mòra a chaidh a dhèanamh gus cur ri cothroman spòrs aig UHI. Fhuair Amanda Fleet, Co-òrdanaiche Leasachaidh Spòrs aig HISA, dà dhuais nàiseanta am-bliadhna airson atharrachadh a thoirt air ìrean com-pàirt ann an spòrs aig UHI, a lean gu fàs mòr ann am ballrachd agus anns an àireamh de chlubaichean spòrs.
Chaidh Pearsa Spòrs na Bliadhna a bhuileachadh air Taylor Kerr a tha air a bhith na sgiobair air Sgioba Goilf UHI am-bliadhna. Choisinn Mac an Tàilleir duais Làn Gorm nuair a bhuannaich an sgioba Farpaisean Oilthighean na h-Alba ann an 2022, agus am-bliadhna tha e air a bhith na Bhuannaiche Goilf fa leth aig Oilthighean na h-Alba. Bidh e a’ ceumnachadh am-bliadhna ann am BA (le Urram) Goilf Proifeiseanta aig àrainn OGE a Tuath, an Iar agus àrainn Dhòrnaich Innse Gall.
Thuirt Mac an Tàilleir, “’S e urram mòr a th’ ann a bhith a’ buannachadh Pearsa Spòrs na Bliadhna, a’ nochdadh chan e a-mhàin mo dhealas pearsanta ach cuideachd mo dhealas domhainn airson UHI. Tha e na urram a bhith a’ riochdachadh institiud a bheir taic agus àrach do lùth-chleasaichean. Tha an aithne seo gam bhrosnachadh gus leantainn air adhart leis an ùidh a th’ agam agus daoine eile ann an coimhearsnachd UHI a bhrosnachadh gus an làn chomais a choileanadh.”
Chaidh Duais Sgioba na Bliadhna a bhuileachadh air sgioba iomain nam fear a bhuannaich an Littlejohn Vase 2024 sa chiad ghèam aca. Tha an sgioba air a dèanamh suas de chluicheadairean bho air feadh com-pàirteachais UHI agus a’ faighinn taic-airgid bho Port Chiseòirn Earr.
Fhuair na h-oileanaich a leanas an Làn Gorm, air a bhuileachadh air lùth-chleasaichean le comas air leth air am breithneachadh a rèir ìrean iomchaidh airson diofar spòrsan oileanaich:
- Tha Connor Mac Labhrainn, BS (le Urram) Spòrs is Fallaineachd aig UHI Peairt, agus Kairn Brand, oileanach HND Fallaineachd, Slàinte is Eacarsaich aig UHI Peairt, air bonaidean a chosnadh airson sgioba futsal nàiseanta na h-Alba.
- Bhuannaich Struan Hastie, oileanach HNC Soft Tissue Therapy aig UHI Peairt, an Steeplechase 3000m aig Farpais Lùth-chleasachd na h-Alba 2023.
- Chuireadh Kirsten Nic an Tàilleir , oileanach HNC Soft Tissue Therapy aig UHI Peairt. san 3mh àite aig Farpaisean Eòrpach Comann Spòrs nan Dall Eadar-nàiseanta (IBSA) ann an Rotterdam, airson judo, agus an 5mh àite aig Grand Prix IBSA na h-Èipheit. Fhuair i cuideachd sgoilearachd Winning Students 100.
- Choisinn Eàirdsidh Greumach, a chrìochnaich an cùrsa SVS - Sgilean Ùra 1 aig UHI Peairt, am bonn òir anns an dealan-dè 25m ann am Farpais Snàimh Down Syndrome na h-Alba.
- Fhuair Ailig Medley, a tha dìreach air duais Preantasachd Bun-ìre Sheirbheisean Ionmhasail (Sgoiltean) aig UHI Peairt a bhuannachadh, Neach-spòrs Ciorraim na Bliadhna ann am Peairt is Cheann Rois aig Duaisean Spòrs Pheairt is Cheann Rois 2023 agus choisinn e Farpaisean Boccia na h-Alba. Chaidh Ailig a thaghadh o chionn ghoirid airson Sgioba Leasachaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba agus san Iuchar 2023 rinn e a’ chiad turas aige air an àrd-ùrlar eadar-nàiseanta, a’ riochdachadh na h-Alba aig Farpaisean Sgiobaidhean is Paidhrichean Fèis Para Sport.
Fhuair na h-oileanaich a leanas an Half Blue, a chaidh a bhuileachadh air lùth-chleasaichean airson a bhith a’ cluich fada os cionn na h-ìre cuibheasaich airson sgioba oilthighe no a tha a’ riochdachadh an oilthigh mar neach fa leth ann am farpais ìre nàiseanta:
- Thàinig Parneet Kaur, oileanach BA (le Urram) Goilf Proifeasanta aig àrainn Dhòrnaich a Tuath, UHI a Tuath, an Iar agus Innse Gall san 3mh àite ann am Prìomh Roinn Spòrs Oilthighean is Colaistean Bhreatainn (BUCS) a Tuath, bha e sa chairteal cuairt dheireannaich ann am Farpais Sgioba BUCS, agus san dàrna àite ann am Farpais Sgioba Oilthighean na h-Alba 2024.
- Fhuair Orla Rooney, oileanach BA (le Urram) Goilf Proifeasanta aig àrainn OGE a Tuath, an Iar agus Innse Gall Dòrnach, 3 prìomh chrìochnaidhean ann an tachartasan BUCS, thàinig i anns na 5 as àirde aig Farpaisean Cluiche-Stròc Oilthighean na h-Alba agus bha i san iar-chuairt dheireannaich ann an Co-fharpaisean Geama Oilthighean na h-Alba.
- Friseal Russell, oileanach BA (le Urram) Goilf Proifeiseanta aig àrainn Dòrnach UHI a Tuath, an Iar agus Innse Gall ceangailte sa 4mh àite aig Farpaisean Goilf Oilthigh Taobh Siar na h-Alba agus 8mh àite aig Farpaisean Goilf Oilthighean na h-Alba fa leth. Bha an sgioba aige san dàrna àite ann am Farpaisean Goilf Oilthighean na h-Alba.
- Bidh Zara Flett, oileanach BA (le Urram) Gnothachas is Riaghladh aig UHI Arcaibh a’ cluich ball-lìn airson sgioba Netball Super League, Strathclyde Sirens, agus fhuair i cuideachd sgoilearachd Winning Students 100.
- Bha Wiktoria Mucha, a rinn an Cùrsa Ionnsachaidh Next Steps 2 ann an UHI Peairt, a’ farpais aig Farpaisean Fosgailte Feansaidh Chathraichean-cuibhle Bhreatainn.
- Bhuannaich Mata Doig, oileanach HNC Saidheansan Sòisealta aig UHI Peairt,
- umha (100m) agus airgead (5000m agus 1500m) aig Co-fharpaisean Ruith Frèam Ciorraim na Cruinne ann an Copenhagen.
Thuirt an t-Oll Iain Moireasdan, Deadhan Eòlais nan Oileanach: “Tha UHI air leth pròiseil a bhith a’ buileachadh Sporting Blues air na h-oileanaich air leth againn, ag aithneachadh an dìchill, an obair chruaidh agus an coileanadh air leth. Tha na duaisean seo ann an com-pàirteachas le comann nan oileanach dìcheallach againn a’ comharrachadh an spioraid, an tàlaint agus na buan-sheasmhachd a bheir na h-oileanaich againn gu na cur-seachadan spòrs is acadaimigeach aca. Tha sinn a’ cur meal-a-naidheachd air a h-uile neach a gheibh iad agus tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith a’ soirbheachadh agus a’ cur ri dìleab sàr-mhathais an oilthighe againn.”