THE Dunfermline athlete who claimed Paralympic silver was crowned as the queen of West Fife’s sporting royalty last night (Wednesday).

Alison Patrick, who produced a thrilling performance to reach the podium at the Rio Games in para-triathlon in September, was named as Dunfermline and West Fife’s Sports Personality of the Year at Dunfermline and West Fife Sports Council’s annual awards ceremony.

The event, held at the Glen Pavilion, saw the 29-year-old end the two-year run of success enjoyed by Hillend swimmer Tain Bruce to take the top prize ahead of Pitreavie AAC’s Commonwealth Games hopeful Jack Lawrie and Charlestown’s Scottish champion cyclist Joe Nally.

Patrick, who is a qualified physiotherapist, is visually impaired – she has less than 10 per cent vision – and was recruited to triathlon from an athletics background in 2013.

She won a first ITU para-triathlon world title a year later and then a test event in Rio before enjoying huge success in 2016.

Patrick, along with guide Hazel Smith, retained their world and European titles with victory in Rotterdam and Lisbon respectively before jetting out for her first Paralympic games.

Competing in the PT5 category, she raced to a memorable silver medal and narrowly missed out on gold to Australia’s Katie Kelly, an achievement that saw her become the fifth Scots medallist at a Games where Team GB won 147 gongs in total.

Just missing out on the top prize for a second year was Cowdenbeath 400 metres hurdler Lawrie, who is aiming to qualify for next year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

The 20-year-old won the British under-23 title, despite being one of the youngest in the field, participated in the British Championships that doubled as trials for the Rio Olympics and won gold at the Scottish Athletics National Senior and Under-17 Championships throughout the year.

Woodmill High pupil Nally, who won the Young Sports Person accolade last year, was also just edged out for the main prize after another 12 months of outstanding success, which included selection for British Cycling’s Junior Academy programme for a second successive year, Scottish titles in the scratch, points, 3K individual pursuit and madison events, a second place in the Six Day Amsterdam event and competing for Great Britain in European races.

Prizes in 10 more categories were also handed out throughout the evening and the Young Sports Person of the Year was presented to Highland dancer Louise Barton, who finished third in a world championship, ahead of water polo player Matthew Crighton, swimmers Cara Smyth and Ellie Turner, waterskiier Georgina Hutchison, Pitreavie AAC pole vaulter and hurdler Alana Dunsmore and Jade Hutchison, and karate competitor Lindsay Atherton.

The Benny Hutton Team of the Year prize was given to Dunfermline Water Polo Club’s women’s team, who won the Scottish league and cup after an undefeated season, ahead of PH Racing Club and Pitreavie AAC, while the Junior Team of the Year for under-16s was Bayside Girls 13s, who were unbeaten on their way to a treble trophy haul that included the Scottish Cup.

The East Kilbride Sports Council award for athletes with a disability was given to Kieran Steer after the Crossgates boccia player, who came close to a medal in the team event at his first Paralympics, edged out athlete Owen Miller, swimmer Ollie Carter, bowlers Billy Allan and Barbara McMillan, and pool player Alan Reynolds.

There were three winners of the Active School Ambassador of the Year prize – Daniel McGuiness (St Columba’s), Sophie Nethery (Queen Anne) and Kirsty Pearson (Woodmill) – while Rachel Robson was named School Sports Coach of the Year for her work in promoting hockey.

Queen Anne High pupil Lucy Hallam and Pitreavie AAC’s Lisa McAlpine were recognised for their coaching in swimming and athletics by jointly winning Youth Coach of the Year, while Carnegie Swimming Club’s Morag Mitchell was this year’s recipient of the Club Coach of the Year award.

A good night for swimming and Carnegie continued as James Laird picked up the Services to Sport award ahead of bowls’ Sarah Jane Ewing, while the Centenary Masters prize for the outstanding male or female athlete aged 35 or over went to Carnegie Masters Swimming Team member Judith Hattle.

Full reaction and coverage from the awards will be inside next week’s Press.