Sports Personality of the Year among several awards handed out at Fife College

Murray was only 17 when she was picked as the only Scottish player in GB’s squad for last year’s Deaflympics in Tokyo, playing against teams from Australia, Japan and the USA before beating Australia in the bronze medal match.

Murray – who also received the Fife Shopmobility Para Athlete Award in the ceremony at Fife College in midweek, said: “I’m over the moon to have won the two awards tonight. It’s great.

"I always feel nervous before the games so it was great to win the Deaflympics bronze medal last time.

"Hopefully I can help Great Britain get gold medals at the tournament in Greece in 2029.”

Among other individual prizes presented on an evening where interviews were conducted by Paul Noble and photographs were taken by Mike Dooley, had earlier started with dancer Sophie Sinclair – a member of the Glenrothes-based Sarah Hendry School of Dance – getting the Police Scotland, Fife Division, Junior Award after a wonderful 2025 in which she was third in the Juvenile World Championship Sword Dance.

The MacGregor Solicitors Youth Award went to fellow Sarah Hendry School of Dance star Paulina Smith, who last year was fifth overall in the Junior World Championships.

Active Schools Youth Volunteer Award winner Ruby McDonald volunteers with Glenrothes Strollers Para Football and for the ‘Extra Time Programme’ after school provision for children from low-income families.

The Garry Innes Memorial Shield went to para athlete Ben Sandilands, who in 2025 set a world record time of 3 minutes 44.90 seconds for the T20 1500m.

Colette Wadha of Hanuman Thai Boxing Club got the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust Senior Award after a fine 2025 in which she won the WBC UK light flyweight championship.

Evolution Ltd Coach of the Year winner Daryl Venters led Kirkcaldy Ice Hockey Club under-16s to the league and Scottish Cup.

The Active Schools Services to School Sports Award went to Tessa Wilson and Mike Rose from Rimbleton Primary School, whose coaching instils resilience, teamwork and confidence.

And devoted volunteer Heather Bonnar of Kirkcaldy Rugby Club got the Scottish ClubSport Award for Service to Sport.

The first of three team awards went to Kirkcaldy Ice Hockey Club’s Fife Flames, who scooped the Steven MacDonald Lighting Junior Team Award.

Last year saw this unstoppable team not just have success but have the perfect season – winning every game!

Awards host Dawn Blair said: “This team hasn’t always had the same output but as a result of their team discipline, committing to the details and trusting the structure, they dominated last season.

"As a result, they won the under-16s league title and the Scottish Cup.

"Their success wasn’t confined to Scotland – they travelled to Belfast and won and then went to a tournament in Sheffield and won – beating all of the top English teams – proving they are one of the very best teams in the UK.

"Their team ethos and grit saw them win games when they weren’t playing their best.

"A huge part of the success comes from the coaching and management team and the relationship that they have fostered with this team over the years.”

The Dean Park Hotel Senior Team Award went to East Fife Girls and Women’s football team, who last season battled to promotion.

A fantastic run saw a number of games won by one-goal and they clinched the Barclays Championship title and promotion to the Scottish Women’s Premier League.

The team finished on 69 points from 27 games and a goal difference of 90.

Their closest rivals finished some 17 points behind and had a goal difference of just 41.

The team were crowned best defence in the league, with the two top goalscorers in the league and player and coach of the year for the league.

One of the biggest successes as a club was the number of young players (as young as 15) transitioning from the youth to the first team.

They received their prize from Laura MacDonald and Shirley Sangster of Dean Park Hotel.

And Kirkcaldy Rugby Club landed the Alistair Robertson Memorial Award Club of the Year.

In 2025, they raised over £11,500 in support of past players and local causes including an annual ‘Loony Dook’ as well as hosting the ‘Race for Doddie’ on its final stop before Murrayfield.

The club’s membership has increased by over 40% and social media engagement has grown by 45%, showing renewed buzz and connection with the local community.

The expansion of its sponsorship and commercial programme has allowed the club to carry out major improvements to their clubhouse and grounds including launching their community café for public use and enhancing existing social and much needed toilet facilities for its members.

Their youth programme is flourishing, the women’s XV highly competitive and their senior 1st XV in National 2.

Their prize was presented by Alastair McCabe, Vice Chair of Central Fife ClubSport.

Don’t miss next week’s Fife Free Press, on sale from Thursday, March 12, for a three-page sports awards report and picture special!