DAVID MURDOCH MBE RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS MUSSABINI MEDAL AT UK COACHING AWARDS
British Curling National Coach David Murdoch MBE was honoured with the Mussabini Medal at the 25th UK Coaching Awards. The most impactful coaches across the UK were recognised and celebrated at the event held in Leeds on Tuesday 6 December 2022.
Having led the GB curling teams to gold and silver at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, national coach David Murdoch MBE was awarded the Mussabini Medal by UK Coaching. The medal celebrates the contribution of coaches of UK performers who have achieved outstanding success on the world stage and is a fitting tribute after a remarkable year for British and Scottish Curling.
Besides the Olympic medals, David’s athletes had successes in several World Curling events: Eve Muirhead and Bobby Lammie became mixed doubles world champions, Team Craik took gold at the world juniors, and, most recently, the Scottish teams returned from the European championships with gold and bronze.
The UK Coaching awards – seen as the most prestigious within the coaching community – were created to recognise the remarkable contributions coaches make in providing high-quality coaching experiences, supporting people holistically on their journey through sport and physical activity, and promoting the physical and mental health of the nation.
From transforming lives and communities in the world of sport and physical activity, to blazing a trail for inclusion in all coaching environments, to celebrating the great coaching moments of the year in high performance sport, the coaching family was given a fitting celebration for their outstanding work. Among others, the event recognised top coaches across the UK including the Lionesses’ Sarina Wiegman, British Cycling’s Simon Watt, and legendary UK Athletics coach Aston Moore for their invaluable contributions to the people and teams they coach.
UK Coaching CEO Mark Gannon said: ‘What an honour it was to see so many inspirational coaches being recognised for their outstanding contributions to coaching. These coaches, and all our UK Coaching Awards finalists, don’t just support more people into physical activity and sport, they also change lives, tackle inequalities and help build communities. They also have an insatiable appetite to be the best versions of themselves in order to help their participants.
‘I would like to extend a huge congratulations to all our winners. For our 25th UK Coaching Awards, the bar was raised once again, and it is so important that we acknowledge and thank all coaches, at all levels and in all settings, as they work tirelessly to support more people mentally and physically through physical activity and sport.’
From the initial list of finalists in each category, worthy winners have been chosen for each of the following awards:
Change a Life Award, supported by Sport England: Tony Kerr (paddlesports)
Community Coach of the Year – Adults, supported by Sport England: Jordan Bedford (multi-sport)
Community Coach of the Year – Children and Young People, supported by the Children’s Coaching Collaborative: Bob Mowlem (football)
High Performance Coach of the Year, supported by UK Sport: Simon Watts (cycling)
Online Coach of the Year: Beth Davidson (fencing)
Talent Development Coach of the Year: Peter Maliphant (orienteering)
Young Coach of the Year, supported by Reading Room: Lexie Williams (touch rugby / rugby union)
Coach Developer of the Year: Brogan Jones (multi-sport)
Coaching Podcast of the Year: Walking on Air (nordic walking)
Inclusive Coaching Award, supported by sportscotland: Worcester RFC Mixed Ability (rugby union)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Aston Moore (athletics), Jim Hunter (athletics)
Great Coaching Moment, supported by Spond: Sarina Wiegman – England end 56 years of hurt with victory at Euro 2022
Mussabini Medallists: David Murdoch MBE (curling), Scott MacBain (para alpine skiing)
Coaching Chain: Peter Westbrook, Jane Sixsmith MBE, Tim Barlow, Jerome Goudie, Danny Kerry MBE, Karen Brown MBE, Craig Parnham, David Ralph
