Climbing Council awards launched

The body which represents hill-walkers, climbers and mountaineers in Scotland is looking for two heroes who represent what's best about their activity.
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland awards for the Climber and Volunteer categories.The Mountaineering Council of Scotland awards for the Climber and Volunteer categories.
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland awards for the Climber and Volunteer categories.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland has launched two new awards: the ClimbScotland Young Climber of the Year, and the MCofS Volunteer of the Year.

The Young Climber award is to celebrate a young person whose talent, enthusiasm and commitment to climbing inspires other young people to start or to progress in climbing.

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And the Volunteer of the Year looks to recognise someone who has made a significant contribution to Scottish mountaineering through MCofS or other relevant activities.

MCofS President Mike Watson said: “We now have almost 13,000 members in the MCofS, and want to do something to recognise and celebrate those members who have made a real difference to Scottish mountaineering and climbing.

“The volunteer award will be a well-deserved ‘thank-you’ to someone who offers their time, experience and skills for the benefit of their fellow hill walkers, climbers or mountaineers, or for the mountain landscapes we all cherish.

“And, with climbing being such a fast-growing sport, we’re looking for the most inspirational of the up-and-coming generation of climbers. They’re not necessarily the best climbers, and they might receive the award for competition climbing, coaching, or other mountaineering or club activities, but the key thing we are looking for is that spark that makes other young people want to get out there and participate.”

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The trophies for both awards have been specially commissioned from acclaimed Edinburgh glass artist Emma Butler Cole Aitken. Her colourful creations, showing a young climber on a climbing wall, and a mountaineer reaching out to assist his companions, were chosen from over 20 submissions by talented artists and craftspeople.

Nominations for either award should be made online at http://www.mcofs.org.uk/awards-2016.asp before July 31, and the winners will be announced at the MCofS AGM in Perth on September 24.