Lochcarron Sailing Club was named Highland Sports Development Association (HSDA) Club of the Year 2005 at an awards ceremony at Victoria Park Stadium in Dingwall last night (15th Sept 05).

The award, sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), recognises Highland-based sports clubs which have shown exceptional effort in their development during the past year.

Runner-up awards were presented to Inverness Taekwon-do Club and Lochcarron Camanachd shinty club.

Lochcarron Sailing Club was founded in 1989 and now has 77 members of which 36 are juniors. In 2004, the club became a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Establishment.

Through support from Ross and Cromarty Sports Council and Lochcarron Sports Association, the club has constantly looked to develop its facilities, and to develop and recruit new instructors and members, particularly younger members.

The club runs an active dinghy racing programme from March until October, catering for all abilities, and holds an open regatta in June. Many of the club's members attend other events around Scotland as well as further south. Members also attend national coaching events through the year. With a very active committee, the club provides a valuable facility for the community in a relatively remote location in the West Highlands.

HSDA vice chairman Hugh MacKay said: "We had great difficulty in reaching a decision due to the high overall standard displayed by each of the clubs the judging panel visited. Enthusiasm, dedication, initiative, hard work, pleasure and pride were apparent at all the clubs. It was excellent to see such high standards in sports clubs in the Highlands, which gives grounds for great confidence for the future of sport in the area."

Lochcarron Sailing Club Commodore, Mhoira Murray said: "We are absolutely delighted to have won this award, which is testament to the hard work of all our members, especially those who don't sail on a regular basis, and the instructors who work really hard all year round. We keep doing this because the adults and children enjoy it so much, but it isn't until something like this happens that you realise how well you're doing, so we are very grateful to the HSDA for this award."

Alasdair MacLeod from HIE's strengthening communities group added: "Sports clubs have a particularly important role to play in enhancing community life in the Highlands and Islands, especially in more rural areas. As a Network, we are committed to building the role of sport in our communities, especially as a means of engaging our young people."