BLITZ AWARDS 2008

Blitz Awards Look back

On the first of November 2008 the Inverness Blitz held its 5th annual awards ceremony. Once again the awards were held at the Culloden Academy theatre and there was a big turnout to see who the winners were.

This year the awards pre show featured Captain Jack Sparrow and his band of pirates kicking things off in there own special way. Jack spent some time introducing the show and explaining the format it would follow before scouring the audience for the coveted Player of the Season trophy. After holding the audience captive the day was then saved by Rocky, the team mascot who arrived in the theatre on a Harley Davidson.

The first award of the show was for the Best Defensive Back which was split into an over 16 and an under 16 award. The under 16 award went to junior Wildcat player Lewis Warburton who also won the Strength and Conditioning award. In the over 16 category it was Matt Johnston that took the title. Best Quarterback went to Kyle Robertson for the under 16 and in the over 16 Neil Porter was the winner. A comical Blues Brothers sketch led the show into the Best Linebacker, won by Mats Kraft for his punishing season with the Wildcats youth squad. Best Frontliner was won for the under 18s by Ruaraidh MacLennan and for the over 18s it was Petr Blashco who claimed the award. Best Leader award went to Martin Goodenough from the senior Wildcats. Head coach of the Highland Wildcats senior squad Brian MacRae was given the Volunteer of the Year award. Best Wide Receiver award, for the under 16s was given to Shaun Mathison and in the over 16s Youth player Darren Macdonald was the winner. Then the host of the show Robbie Paulin burst into play with a sketch that saw him playing the whole cast of Family Guy. Following this was the Most Improved Player award for all ages was won by Junior player Duncan Straiton. Rookie of the season award went to Laurie Cuthbertson. Then came the Best Running Back award and for the under 18s Kenny MacKay received the award and in the over 18s Ian Macdonald took the title. Last but not least was the Player of the Season award that had no nominations just one overall winner and that was Lewis Warburton, his third award of the night.

Presenting the awards were special guests such as Tich MaCooy of Moray Firth Radio, George Byng from Weightlifting Scotland and David Green from the Big Lottery Fund as well as many more. Many speeches were made by presenters, all of which were singing the praises of the Inverness Blitz.