West Linton athlete Chris O’Hare came off best against stiff competition for the Tontine Hotel Sports Personality of the Year in Tweeddale Sports Council’s annual awards ceremony at the Eastgate Theatre.

And teenager Rae Anderson received recognition for climbing up the ranks of judo as she secured the award of Peebles Community Centre Junior Sports Personality of the Year.

Guest of honour Sir David Younger, the Lord-Lieutenant of Tweeddale, said: “For the size of its population Tweeddale holds a remarkable representative sporting record.

“But winning is not what it’s all about, it’s also about participating, exercising, skill, leadership and character-building.” Jim Noble, soon-to-retire after 24 years as chairman of the Sports Council, said: “It has once again been another impressive year of sporting achivement.” Chris 0’Hare offers Scotland one of its best chances of landing a track medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in June.

His father Terry accepted the award as Chris has made America his home after studying for a sports science degree in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The 23-year-old has reached the pinnacle in middle-distance running since lifting the same award in 2007 and the junior equivalent one year before that.

“Chris’s promise all came to fruition in 2013,” said Sports Council executive member Alan Duncan. “He is the first Scot to top the British rankings at one mile and 1,500m and one of our best hopes at the Commonwealth Games.” For 15-year-old Rae Anderson her award put the seal on a fabulous year but she insisted this was only the start and revealed her burning desire to scale even greater heights.

Just five years have passed since the youngster from Walkerburn joined Peebles Judo Club and already she has become so accomplished at the Japanese martial art that she is dreaming of competing against some of the top judokas in the world.

“I’ve never won anything like this before and I’m delighted to get it,” Rae told the Border Telegraph. “Many thanks to all the people who’ve backed to me.

“I want to do as well as I can at my sport and my ambitions now are to eventually go to the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games. I’ve worked hard at it and want to keep going and do the best I can.” Announcing her award, Tweeddale councillor Keith Cockburn praised Rae for her “great courage, perseverance, endurance and skill, being mentally as well as physically very tough.” Rae is the current Band C Scottish Champion, winning the title in November last year. Considered in the top 1% in Scotland for her age, grade and weight, she is the first and only Peebles Judo Club member to win a national title.

Her successes have continued into 2014 as she has become the Judo Scotland Grand Prix winner for Band C with one Grand Prix event remaining. She also took silver last month in the Highland Budokan in Inverness.

“This very bright student has been working very, very hard, at making the transition from Peebles Judo Club to competing regularly at a regional and national level,” said councillor Cockburn.

“Out of the 100 judo players in Peebles our winner is the only one that regularly attends competitions. Entering every competition she can enter, winning many medals and gaining great fighting experience.” Rae has a date in the Sportif International on April 19 and will be going with Judo Scotland to Venray, Holland, in June for a competition and camp.

The success of the Peebles senior netball side was recognised as it was voted the Bank of Scotland Team of the Year while its manager Lynn Hudson took the award for SALSC/sportsscotland Service to Local Sport.

Last year the team achieved a first in netball circles by winning the Scottish Schools championship title and the Scottish Youth Cup title - making it the best school and club team in the country.

Mrs Hudson, a volunteer at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, regards her work for the netball team as a labour of love. “Some weeks I put in as much as 30 hours for the team between driving, organising, going to the training and watching the games,” she said.

“My two daughters are in the club and you could say it’s almost taken over my life. We have 50 girls in the club and we go all over, playing at private schools and universities. It’s all worth it when you see teenage girls playing sport and having so much fun.” The Peebles netball senior team, watched by a busload of supporters and the Peebles High School headteacher, emerged victorious from a 150-strong entry as it defeated Shetland’s Anderson High School in the final of the Scottish Schools championship. In the Scottish Youth Cup, the girls defeated Perth in a thrilling final.

Most of the team members are aged between 16 and 18 and seven of them are still at Peebles High School. The captain Jo Pettitt, now a student at Strathclyde University, said: “It’s been a fantastic year for us and it’s all down to teamwork. The girls work hard and we get great backing from Lynn and our coach Linda Nicholson.” Gregor Nicholson, the winner of the Gytes Leisure Centre Coach of the Year award, was recognised as being a “constant source of helpfulness and support” to athletes.

“The fact that so many kids are happy to be standing out in all weathers at his behest are testament to the respect they have for him and his friendly and approachable nature encouraging them to perform to their best,” said Brian Hood, an executive committee member of the Sports Council.

Mr Nicholson with his wife formed the junior section of the Moorfoot Runners eight years ago and the junior section is now recognised as a huge contributer to the local community for children.

He is self-employed and runs a company specialising in management and compliance services in sport but stills finds the time to coach.

“It takes up at least nine to 10 hours a week for me but it’s just great seeing kids become senior athletes,” he said. “Scout Adkin was here when I started and she is a great example of what can be achieved.” The Gytes Leisure Centre Junior Coach of the Year award was clinched by Lorna Caddick with the 17-year-old being praised as “a fantastic role model for young coaches”.

Lorna has coached at Peebles Gymnastic Club for six years and been a helper at Priorsford and Kingsland Primary Schools in Peebles.

Karen Ritchie, executive committee member, said: “Lorna is enthusiastic, 100% reliable and committed and has a really nice manner with the children and young people that she coaches.

“She works with around 200 children a week aged between 5 and 12 and managed to make her sessions fun and enjoyable, keeping everyone involved.” Lorna, who will be a baton carrier in the Queen’s baton relay, will soon have to give up her coaching duties as she is going to Glasgow University to study physiology and sports science. “I’ve just loved my time as a coach and I will miss it all,” she said.

Other award winners were: Tweeddale Tennis Tournament - Nicola Berthelsen (ladies’ singles), Sean Berthelsen (men’s singles), Anne McKinnon/Carol Gray (ladies’ doubles), John Lord/Matthew Lord (men’s doubles), Jo Cassidy/Stuart Brown (mixed doubles).

National Sporting Honours Awards - Jacob Adkin (mountain running), Scout Adkin (mountain running), Scott Brash (show jumping), Graeme Beveridge (035 British Lions), Grant Ferguson (mountain biking), Gary Forrest (mountain biking) Jenny Hudson (netball), Isobel Knox (ultra running), Sarah McCormack (mountain running/cross country), Calum McGowan (mountain biking), Faye Nicholson (long jump), Chris O’Hare (athletics), Jo Pettitt (netball), Susan Ridley (masters cross country), Isla Short (mountain biking) Naomi Symonds (volleyball), Lauren Tait (netball), Katy Winton (mountain biking).