Blues and Colours Awards Evening – Shortlists Announced!

Awarded to a student who has delivered outstanding sporting performances during their time at university. This year’s finalists exemplify world-class excellence, international representation and record-breaking success!

Adam Hamill (Karate)

Adam has had an outstanding 2025-26 season after excelling internationally for Scotland, winning U21 European Gold, the WKF Youth League title and rising to no.3 in the U21 world rankings, while representing the nation at U21, senior European and World Championships. Domestically, he combined elite competition with his role as kumite captain, securing multiple BUCS golds in individual and team kumite.

Brodie Gordon-Gibson (Swimming)

Brodie has had an exceptional season at the highest domestic level, delivering standout performances at the 2025 Aquatics GB Championships, finishing 5^th in the 50m Butterfly A final and producing 824 FINA points in the 50m Butterfly final, alongside 814 and 801-point swims in the 100m Butterfly. He also placed 4^th in the 2024 summer championship final and claimed BUCS 2026 Gold in the 50m Butterfly, underlining his consistency across elite and university competition.

Isobel Clements (Rowing)

After another outstanding year on the international stage, Izzy represented Ireland at both the 2025 European Rowing Championships and the 2025 World Rowing U23 Championships, underlining her status among the country’s top emerging rowers. Across the past three seasons, she has been a cornerstone of Edinburgh’s first women’s eight, helping secure consecutive victories at WEHORR and BUCS in 2025, alongside success at Henley Royal Regatta 2024. Her excellence was further recognised with the Eva Bailey Cup as Edinburgh University’s Female Athlete of the Year. 

The Student Coach of the Year shortlisted individuals have gone above and beyond to support their clubs, driving development and success both on and off the field.

Caelan Milne (Water Polo)

Caelan has delivered exceptional impact as Edinburgh’s voluntary player-coach, stepping in after the departure of the long-standing head coach and leading the Men’s First Team to 3^rd in the BUCS Championships, matching the club’s best finish in four seasons. His standout achievement was guiding the side to a landmark draw with reigning champions Durham, while also coaching over 60 university swimmers and driving performance improvements across both programmes.

Gordon Megson – Women's Football

Gordon has transformed Edinburgh Women’s First Team through four years of outstanding voluntary service, seeing promotion back to the Northern Premier League and securing the club’s place there for a second consecutive season, only the second time in its history. As a UEFA A Licence coach, he also guided the team to a historic National Trophy final, while raising standards, developing coaches, and creating an inclusive high-performance culture across the club.

Sophie Barrie – Badminton

Sophie has reshaped Edinburgh University Badminton’s student coaching programme through innovative, player-centred leadership, overseeing four competitive teams and driving clear progression pathways into competition. Her coaching this season helped deliver a Mixed Scottish Conference Cup quarter-final for the Mixed 3s and a top-half Tier 4 finish for the Mixed 4s, while her personalised coaching structure, inclusive practice and athlete support systems have raised standards and participation across the entire club.

From international experience to grassroots dedication, these Coach of the Year nominees have demonstrated remarkable commitment, expertise and impact on student sport.

Bruce Flockhart (Badminton)

Bruce has transformed Edinburgh University Badminton since joining in 2022, elevating the university’s First and Second teams through meticulous athlete development and elite-level performance support. This season, his coaching has helped deliver six BUCS individual main-draw appearances, multiple Scottish Student Championship runs, Mixed 1s top of Tier 1, and the Women’s 1s into the National Trophy finals, reflecting the high-performance culture and belief he has built within the club.

Henry Pyrgos (Men’s Rugby)

Henry has made an outstanding impact in his first season as Edinburgh University Men’s Rugby Head Coach, building on his previous work as assistant coach to deliver one of the club’s strongest recent campaigns. Under his leadership, the university side won 11 of 14 BUCS Prem North matches, finishing just one win from the BUCS Super Rugby Playoffs. This is a remarkable turnaround from five wins the previous year and clear evidence of the standards and belief he has instilled.

Mat Trodden (Swimming)

Mat has had a transformational impact on Edinburgh University Swimming during his time as Performance Head Coach, building a high-performance environment that consistently delivers at BUCS level. This season, his university swimmers produced 13 BUCS records across short and long course, 33 medals, multiple Scottish and European para records, and awards for Top Male Performer and Top Para Performer, underlining the excellence and depth he has developed within the university programme.

Xavière Hermant (Judo)

Xavière has been the driving force behind the Judo Club’s success, combining elite coaching with exceptional community-building across the university club. This season alone, her work with university judoka has delivered 15 gold, 3 silver and 12 bronze medals across nine competitions, plus a 2^nd place team finish at the SSS Championships. Her coaching has also supported record participation, major grading success and the growth of inclusive initiatives such as Judo Girls Rock. 

The Student Official of the Year award recognises individuals who have shown exceptional dedication, skill and leadership in officiating student sport.

Ben Burton (Men’s Hockey)

Ben has made an exceptional contribution to university hockey officiating, combining high-level performance with sustained voluntary service on campus. Alongside officiating BUCS Premier National fixtures, he plays a key role in official coordination, liaison and the development of fellow student officials, helping strengthen pathways and improve competition delivery across the sport. His reliability, leadership and commitment have made a lasting impact on the officiating culture and sustainability of hockey at Edinburgh.

Hamish Kinloch (Men's Hockey)

Hamish has made an outstanding contribution to university hockey officiating, umpiring weekly for the club while also serving as a National League representative to support communication, coordination and the smooth running of competitions. His consistency, professionalism and willingness to support appointments have strengthened officiating standards and competition delivery across the sport, making him a highly respected and reliable presence within Edinburgh’s student sport community.

Neil Sinclair (Rifle)

Neil has made an exceptional contribution to university target shooting, dedicating hundreds of hours to scoring, officiating and official development. His standout achievement was organising the first Class C Scoring Course for Scottish university clubs, training a new generation of student scorers and strengthening officiating capacity across the sector. Alongside this, his work as a range officer trainer and coach educator has had a lasting impact on competition delivery and club development at Edinburgh. 

Celebrating the students who have gone above and beyond to support, lead and uplift their clubs, the McTernan Colour of the Year recognises outstanding voluntary contribution to student sport.

Alistair Murison (Motorsport)

Alistair has transformed Motorsport’s fortunes by reintroducing navigational rallying post-pandemic and led the first student-led Motorsport UK permitted navigational rally in Scotland for over a decade. He also secured £5,000 in grant funding for race suits and equipment, unlocking a further £6,000 sponsorship partnership that strengthened the club’s finances. His leadership in accessibility, branding, governance and beginner participation has helped almost double membership and drive the club’s revival into one of the university’s most improved programmes.

Freddie Kelly-Greaves (Men’s Hockey)

Freddie has made an exceptional contribution to Men’s Hockey, driving major improvements across governance, culture and performance support as Secretary and President, including securing GPS trackers and video analysis software, recruiting external coaches, modernising club operations and strengthening links with Scottish Hockey and the Sports Union. Despite injury, he also went above and beyond as 4XI coach, travelling to away fixtures and delivering tactical support, earning the club’s Outstanding Contribution Award in 2025.

Georgie Hayley (Snowsports)

Georgie has championed inclusion, wellbeing and community within the Snowsports Club, securing fully funded ski trip places for widening participation students, embedding sober socials as a lasting club tradition, and creating the club’s first health, safety and wellbeing report to improve protection in extreme sport. She has also strengthened alumni and charity partnerships, driven mental health and accessibility campaigns, and helped deliver one of the club’s largest post-COVID trips, leaving a legacy that will shape the club for years to come.

Grace Williams (Gymnastics)

Grace has made an exceptional impact across media, wellbeing, coaching and inclusion, Grace has helped transform Edinburgh University gymnastics through innovative member support and community outreach. Her leadership has driven award-nominated media campaigns, introduced lasting wellbeing and safeguarding initiatives, expanded affordable recreational memberships, and strengthened links with trampoline and local community groups. As a coach and committee leader, she has been instrumental in supporting new and lower-level gymnasts, broadening participation and creating a more connected, inclusive club culture.

Madeleine Bell (Karate)

After years of exceptional service to Edinburgh Karate and the wider Sports Union, Madi has gone far beyond her roles as President and Vice President, steering the club through major logistical challenges including BUCS planning and long-running martial arts mat pool negotiations. She has also transformed club culture by reviving the martial arts ceilidh, launching a second annual sell-out social, strengthening inter-club relations and pioneering LGBT+ inclusion initiatives, leaving a legacy in accessibility.

Neil Sinclair (Rifle)

Neil has transformed Edinburgh University target shooting through branding, governance, coaching and competition systems. He professionalised the club’s visual identity, automated match administration with new score-tracking tools, authored the club’s first 10,000-word bylaws draft, and redesigned the novice coaching pathway with a step-by-step learning framework. Beyond the club, his officiating, scoring and coach education work across Scottish University Sport has strengthened development pathways and left a legacy for future members.