AN AWARD-WINNING volunteer with a West Fife athletics club has been further recognised as part of celebrations marking the Coronation.
Sophie Allan, who offers her time to Pitreavie AAC, has been recognised for her commitment to the sport by being crowned as a 'Coronation Champion', an accolade for which individuals were nominated by the public.
Run in conjunction with Royal Voluntary Service, of which the Queen Consort is president, the Coronation Champions Awards were launched to recognise exceptional volunteers from across the country ahead of the crowning of the King and the Queen Consort on Saturday.
Almost 5,000 nominations were made for individuals aged between 14-103 and Sophie, 23, was one of 500 champions who dazzled the judging panel with the impact of their work, inspirational stories, and unwavering commitment to volunteering.
Sophie, who has previously worked as Dunfermline Track and Field Club's development officer, began volunteering at the age of 13.
A former pupil at Lornshill Academy in Alloa, she has worked with Active Schools in Clackmannanshire; served on the committee of the Scottish Schools Athletics Association; and officiated with both Scottish and UK Athletics.
Sophie, who is the highest-qualified female athletics starter in Scotland, is a dedicated official, coach and volunteer who also sits on Pitreavie's committee, and the Athletics Trust Scotland Young People Forum, helping to steer the overall vision and future of the organisations.
The scottishathletics competitions and business administrator has officiated more than 200 events over the last five years, and coaches youngsters from a deprived area to, only help them develop as athletes, but also with their life skills, as well as looking for ways to make sessions more accessible for athletes and those with differing abilities.
Sophie's work saw her honoured, in 2021, as the Kubenet Volunteer of the Year at the Scottish Women in Sport Awards, and with the 2022 Young Official of the Year prize at the sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering (COV) Awards.
She impressed the judges with her enthusiasm, dedication and for being a role model to young athletes, and her selection as a 'Coronation Champion' saw her invited to one of the official celebrations, and receive a specially designed, official Coronation Champions pin, and a certificate signed by His Majesty the King, and Her Majesty the Queen Consort.
Sophie said: "Becoming a Coronation Champion means a huge deal to me! I am very proud.
"No one volunteers to get credit. It's always about giving back, but to be recognised for my hard work and dedication over the past 10 years is amazing! I love athletics and started volunteering because I wanted to be involved in the sporting world's atmosphere but I wasn't mega sporty.
"Volunteering is so important within the athletics community, as it is volunteers who make up the majority of coaches and officials. Volunteering has given me a chance to give back, be part of the sport and help others find a lifelong love for it. I enjoy seeing people train and compete and getting to help them along the way.
"Volunteering has also really benefitted me. I'm always socialising, staying relatively fit, learning new things and being pushed out of my comfort zone."
scottishathletics commented: "All at scottishathletics would like to congratulate Sophie on this latest, well-deserved recognition for her commitment and dedication to our sport."
The awards saw volunteers nominated in eight prize categories, and Catherine Johnstone CBE, Royal Voluntary Service chief executive, added: "We were completely blown away by the response to the Community Champions Awards and the huge volume of amazing nominees put forward.
"Our judges had a tough job selecting just 500 Champions from an array of thousands of inspirational individuals, who all deserve to be recognised and commended."
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