CAAC secured another fantastic accolade after winning the Impact Club of the Year title at Scottish Athletics’ 4J Annual Awards.
The club was honoured by the sport’s national governing body for its community work, boosting membership by 45 per cent and increasing its number of coaches.
CAAC also became the first club in Edinburgh to offer frame running sessions for physically disabled and impaired competitors.
The tailored training – a form of adaptive running using special three-wheeled equipment to support athletes’ bodies – has expanded from an initial two participants to six following its launch in January.
The award came after vice-president Graeme Reid and secretary Chris Peggie delivered a presentation at Scottish Athletics’ 2023 National Club Conference, highlighting CAAC’s work post-lockdown including developing club structures, improving communication, and establishing links with Active Schools Edinburgh.
Speaking following the awards dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow, Graeme said: “We have really pushed the community outreach in the last 12 months, so everyone was delighted to receive this recognition. We were up against some top clubs, so that made the win even sweeter.
“It’s fantastic to have the club recognised on the national stage and really incentivises us to look at what more we can do in the next 12 months.”
Scottish Athletics hailed CAAC for its achievements throughout 2023, including donating supplies to the Community One Stop Shop foodbank in Broomhouse.
It said: “In the past year, the club has introduced frame running, welcoming new athletes and coaches into its membership, and raised over £15,000 towards the costs of frames. Overall, the club’s membership increased by 45 per cent this year, and 11 new coaches gained qualifications. CAAC hosts a number of local events, and the entry fee into this year’s club championships was a donation to a local foodbank.”
Graeme Reid was also shortlisted for the Volunteer of the Year prize for his leading role in the club’s community outreach efforts, fundraising and coaching.
CAAC president David Arnott previously won the Club Coach of the Year gong at the awards in 2019.
Photo Credit: Bobby Gavin