SELKIRK canoeing coach Allan Dickie took advantage of his Services to Local Sport award to highlight the plight of his club if their pool was to close.

The leisure centre in Selkirk is one of several facilities across the region which faces the chop following a controversial report commissioned by Scottish Borders Council.

The 53-year-old granddad from the Ettrick Valley was rewarded on Friday for his 15 years of commitment to Selkirk Canoe Club.

As well as guiding his own children through their careers - Dickie’s daughter, Janine, is still ranked amongst the best in the UK - he has coached dozens of other young paddlers.

Ettrick and Lauderdale Sports Council committee member Karen Renton introduced the forestry boss. She said: “Allan described himself as a workaholic who had no time in his life for sport.

“However, after his son became Scottish schools champion in canoeing, he found he was drawn into the sport and has never looked back.

“Allan had never canoed himself before and eagerly found himself training three times a week. Allan has been the driving force within the Selkirk Canoe Club and in wider organisations such as the Scottish and British Associations.” Allan Dickie was made a life-member of Selkirk Canoe Club earlier this year. But after accepting his Services to Sport trophy from Sports Council vice chairman Ian Cooper on Friday, he admitted he had fears for the future of his club, which currently boasts over 60 members.

Allan told the Border Telegraph: “The club has never been stronger - we have over 30 junior members coming through the system and there is a lot of interest in the sport.

“I do fear what would happen to our club if they decide to go ahead and close the pool. We would have nowhere else to go - and it would be a struggle to keep it going. I hope they take us into consideration when deciding the future of Selkirk pool.” The Level 1 Slalom and Level 2 River coach, along with four other qualified coaches at the Selkirk club, take up to 30 members in each of the two weekly sessions at the swimming pool.

And they also hold floodlit winter sessions at Fairnilee - and travel all over the country for competitions most weekends.