Edinburgh's Penny Rother admitted she had to pinch herself in amazement after picking up a top prize at the star-studded 2015 UK Coaching Awards.

Rother won the Community Coach of the Year award on Tuesday evening, rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of British coaching at the iconic Midland Hotel in Manchester.

The 57-year-old triathlon coach was singled out for praise by the judging panel for helping working mums get back into sport after childbirth, making it her goal to help an under-supported group achieve their goals.

A Level 3 triathlon coach, Rother is also an outstanding athlete in her own right claiming silver at the 2014 ITU World Triathlon in Edmonton, Canada. A medical advisor to Triathlon Scotland, she was also named British Triathlon Coach of the Year in November.

And after her hard work and dedication was rewarded as she beat two other nominees to the award, Rother was struggling to take it all in.

“It feels absolutely amazing to win, I didn't realise I had been nominated for these awards and to come down here and win is amazing, I am really pleased,” she said.

“Everyone is here rubbing shoulders with big names, when I saw some of the names I thought it must be a mistake because there are people here you see on the TV!"

“I got involved in coaching to try and give something back to sport having competed in sport for many decades so I wanted to help people reach their potential. "


 “I started coaching about six years ago and I coach at a club level and with an amazing group of women as well."

“I love watching elite sport but the journey for an athlete to be a world champion is a long one and behind every athlete there has probably been half a dozen coaches.”

The UK Coaching Awards honour sports coaches and coaching organisations who have demonstrated outstanding success over the previous 12 months.

Previous winners at the UK Coaching Awards include Jessica Ennis-Hill’s mentor Toni Minichiello and Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.

Rother was not the only representative to be honoured with Edinburgh’s Colin McIver handed the Lifetime Achievement Award after his efforts towards judo.

Currently the technical director of British Judo, McIver has worked and volunteered across every level of the sport during his 47 years of involvement in coaching.

“It feels marvellous to be recognised for this, I have been on a marvellous journey throughout my life working in sport and this is one of the best things I have ever experienced, I am really proud,” said the 69-year-old.

“I come to the UK Coaching awards every year, it's one of the highlights of the year for me. I never expected to win something like this though."

“I started when I was 17 as a player and competed internationally at World and European level and then when I retired in 1972 I became a coach."

“I've been lucky to work at the highest level, I have been an Olympic coach but I also work with kids so it's never been work for me, it's always been a pleasure."

“I never live in the past, I keep moving forward and I keep trying to learn all the time and learn new stuff all the time.”

The UK Coaching Awards 2015, hosted by sports coach UK is a chance to recognise excellent coaching and coaching organisations that have achieved outstanding success over the past 12 months. For more information visit:www.sportscoachuk.org