New Year Honours List joy as Sandra and Sammi are recognised
There was no doubt about the most popular bulletin across our channels during the Festive holiday season.
Success for athletics in Scotland in the New Year Honours List often creates a ripple effect and this year was no different.
In fact, safe to say our post about MBE joy for Sandra Hardacre (and OBE for Sammi Kinghorn) went viral late on Monday 30 December.
Sandra has served our sport for around five decades and won the National XC title at U13 back in 1975.
And new Scottish 3000m Champion, Sarah Calvert, was quick to pay tribute to her first coach at Livingston AC when chatting to us at the Emirates Arena.
Copyright Bobby Gavin
Byline Must be UsedSandra Hardacre received our HLM status back in 2022 (photo by Bobby Gavin)
‘I was really delighted to hear about Sandra being in the Honours List,’ said Sarah, who has won GB and NI vests on the track.
‘I saw this on Facebook and my mum shared the post in our family chat. It is amazing for Sandra to be receiving the MBE for services to our sport. She deserves it so much.
‘I remember going along to Livingston AC when I was about nine years of age and Sandra was my first coach.
‘Sandra still cheers me on at races – usually she is officiating – and I love seeing here about the scene in Scotland.
‘I know that every other athlete who has ever been coached by Sandra will feel the same way and only have nice things to say about her. She is amazing and always working to keep people in the sport.’
As mentioned, news of Sandra’s Honours List recognition was met with warm congratulations across our community and in this regard she joins recent recipients such as Leslie Roy, Arnold Black, Ian Beattie, Alex Jackson, Janice Hendrie and Dave Cooney (sincere apologies if missed one or two here).
Sarah Calvert on top of the podium at the Scottish 3000m Champs with silver medallist Stefanie Tucker (on right) and Lynn McKenna (photo by Morven Bruce)
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