LEADING Scottish high jumper and Team GB athlete Nikki Manson handed out the prizes at Helensburgh Amateur Athletic Club’s junior section awards night.

Nikki, who lives in Glasgow and has a personal best which ranks her second in the all-time Scottish female high jump rankings, also held a Q&A session with the young athletes, describing her rise through the local and county athletics set-up to being named in the Scotland team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games earlier this year.

Prizes were presented based on the performances of around 60 juniors at the club championships, held at ON-X in Linwood in September and featuring a sprint, a middle distance run, one throw and one jump of their choice, combined with bonus points gained from competitions throughout the summer track and field season.

Helensburgh AAC Junior Section had their annual prize giving recently and were honoured to have Scottish Team GB, and the second highest Scottish High Jumper of all time, Nikki Manson presenting the prizes and holding a Q&A session. The Club Championship event was held at the Onyx Linwood at the end of September, with around 60 juniors taking part each completing a sprint, a middle-distance run, one throw and one jump event of their choice. The performances from these four events were combined with bonus points for participating in competitions throughout the summer track and field season.

The Turnbull Shield for under-11 girls was won by Holly Kenhard; the Jean Wragg Shield for U11 boys went to Peter Mitchell; and the Ardencaple Cups for U13 girls and U13 boys to Maddie Rooney and Matthew Gall respectively.

The U15 events were closely contested, with Lexy Kenhard and Robert Court both coming out on top, each receiving an Esso Shield.

Not to be outdone by her brother, Amy Court won the U17 girls’ prize along with Josh Bain winning the U17 boys’ category, both being awarded an Esso Shield; last up was Chloe Murphy, who won the U20 women’s category.

Further trophies and shields were presented to individual athletes, recognising the most outstanding performance over the season as selected by the coaches.

Alex Brown won the Stevenson Shield for the best performance in a jumps event for his outstanding performance in long jump throughout the season, but particularly for his gold medal at the West District Track and Field Championships earlier in the year.

Alistair McCartney won the Sloan Trophy, awarded for the best thrower for his performance in javelin – he finished sixth in the Scottish Schools and won a silver medal at the West Districts.

And the Eric Liddell Memorial Cup for the best female sprint was awarded to the U15 girls’ 4x200m relay team of Jenny Scott, Lexy Kenhard, Kyla Dorizon and Sarah Mitchell.

They qualified for the Scottish Club Connect relay finals back in March and ran as part of the curtain raiser to the British Athletics Grand Prix competition at the Emirates Stadium.

Completing his double was Alex Brown who was awarded the John Brown Cup for best male sprint performance for numerous good performances throughout the year and a bronze medal at the West District Championships.

Jenny Scott won the female Endurance Trophy for the best middle distance performances, while a season’s steady progress saw Cameron Williams win the Prentice Shield, and Iona Wilson received both the Cross Country Cup and the award for the most promising athlete.

Other presentations saw Matthew Cameron receive the Merit Shield and Maddie Rooney and William Wright the prizes for the most improved athletes.

Katie Flett was awarded the Alex Burns Trophy for her years as an ambassador for the club, while Chris Wilson received the President’s Award for his commitment to the club and his support throughout the year.

The final award is decided by the junior athletes themselves as they vote for the hotly-contested ‘athletes’ athlete of the year award’. Matthew Cameron won the vote and received the John E. Leece Trophy.

The awards evening also acknowledged commitment to training and attendance at competitions, with points being awarded and the athletes gaining top 10 places receiving recognition and a small prize.