SPORTING talent and commitment to sport in the community was celebrated at an awards evening in Tranent last Friday.

Tranent and District Community Sports Club held its inaugural awards event, with 11 categories set to honour deserving recipients who volunteer their time to sport in the area.

The sports club includes Tranent Community Football Club, Tranent Amateur Swimming Club, Tranent Cricket Club, and Ross High Rugby Club among others, and about 120 people gathered in the rugby club to celebrate the achievements of clubs and individuals.

“It was a great night,” said Scott Glynn, vice-chairman of TDCSC. “Every club was there. It was well done for our first one.

“It’s going to be a yearly event.

“Everybody was saying that just getting nominated was good in itself – people recognising what they do.

“It is awareness for all the clubs in the area and hopefully other clubs see that as we are still looking for them to join.

“I said in my speech at the start, you don’t do it to get recognition, you do it because you want to and you love sport. We just want to get everyone playing sport.” He added: “A big thanks to Lee Blair for taking the photos on the night.” Scott was one of those who collected an award for Community Project of the Year with his Walk with Scott charity event, which raised more than £34,000 for 21 charities.

“I am happy for the walkers. Everybody worked so hard last year, from the walkers, to the drivers, to the support team,” he said. “Everybody was so pleased to get it as a team.” The success of TDCSC has not gone unnoticed, with sportscotland having been in touch to organise an interview to discuss its progress, using the club as a possible barometer for similar projects.

“They want to use us a template,” explained Scott. “They want to interview us to see what we have done, what we have achieved and what we’re looking to do.

“East Lothian Council and Active East Lothian promote us. We started before the council started the sports hub. The council used us as a template for others.

“It is a wee notch for TDCSC, it gives the whole sports club that wee lift.” TDCSC is now in the midst of starting a badminton club in Tranent, with future plans, including a tennis club, surrounding developments to Polson Park.

The winners of each award were – Coach of the Year: Colin Dryburgh (Tranent Colts); Junior Volunteer of the Year: Adam Welsh (Ross High Rugby Club); Senior Volunteer of the Tear: Angie Thomson (Tranent Colts); Disability Sportsperson of the Year: Blair Glynn (Tranent Colts); Young Sportsperson of the Year: Claire Logan (Karate Club); Sportsperson of the Year: Thomas Docherty (Ross High Rugby Club); Community Sports Club of the Year: Tranent Colts Football Club; Team of the Year: Tranent Cricket 1st XI; Sport in School Award: Ross High School; Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert McNeill (Tranent Juniors); Community Project of the Year: Walk with Scott.