DARREN HITS THE BULLSEYE
Darren Brown accepts the Selkirk Sports Person of the Year award from Fiona Scott of The Selkirk Weekend News.
SELKIRK sharpshooter Darren Brown has been awarded the inaugural Wee Paper Sports Personality of the Year title for his outstanding contribution to rifle shooting throughout 2011.
Over the last three weeks the people of Selkirk have been getting behind their favourite local sports stars and letting us at The Wee Paper know why they think the people they have nominated deserve to win the award. There has been an overwhelming response to our campaign to find the 2011 winner with Darren being run close by several worthy sportsmen and women from the Royal Burgh.
In the end, however, there could only be one victor and the 13-year-old shooting sensation came out tops due to some fantastic testimonies from people who have been reading about and been involved in his progress throughout the past year.
Some of the many endorsements going Darren’s way were: “He has accepted the necessary discipline that the handling of firearms involves and over a short period of time has become a proficient shooter.”
“Winning this award would be a recognition of all the hard work and training he has put into the sport.”
“As a member of the junior section of the rifle club, Darren now passes on his experiences to other juniors and assists in their coaching sessions.”
Since breaking his right leg at the age of eight, Darren set his sights on the sport of shooting as he was unable to compete in ball sports.
He has worked hard over the past four years to excel in the art of small bore target shooting and gained his first Scotland cap at the age of 12.
This year, Darren has won numerous competitions, including the Selkirk Junior Championship, Selkirk Handicap Cup, Colbury Centenary C Class (youngest competitor), Border Division Two title and Cumbria League, to name but a few. He also shot at Bisley, on the Lord Roberts Range, in the British Police Championships as a guest, and attained three second places in his class – he was the youngest competitor at this predominantly senior event.
David Gow, secretary of Lothian and Borders Police Rifle Club said: “Even forgetting Darren’s youth, which is hard to do, there is no doubt in my mind that he will reach many sporting achievements in the years to come and you will have an international class young sportsman nurtured in Selkirk on your hands.”
On receiving his trophy, gifted by Turnbull’s Shoe Repairs, and a voucher for a year’s subscription to The Wee Paper, a delighted Darren told us: “The last three years have been amazing and I have met a lot of great people along the way. I would like to thank everyone who helped me and everyone who sent in a nomination for this award.”
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Weather for Selkirk
Wednesday 22 February 2012
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Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 36 mph
Wind direction: South west
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