Aberdeen's Sports Awards 2023 gallery: 60 of the best pictures

Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2023 took place at P&J Live on Thursday – and our photographers were there to capture the yearly sporting celebration from start to finish.

More than 15 prizes were given out on the night, and were well-deserved recognition for the Granite City’s sports community – from athletes representing us on the national and international stage, to the people, clubs and projects making a difference on the ground at grassroots level.

More than 350 people were in attendance at the ceremony.

Take a look through our gallery to see the best pictures from the night – and see if you can spot yourself (or your friends, family or colleagues).

Drinks reception

Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2023 kicked off with a drinks reception, with guests arriving at P&J Live from 6.30pm.

This was the first opportunity for our photographers to capture the great and the good of Aberdeen sport letting their hair down:

From left, Brian and Patricia Pahlmann, Becky Cheyne and Eoghan McNamara. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Lily Russo, Tommy Russco, Lauren Boylan. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Agnes MacDonald, Elaine Cull, Alistair Cull. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Scott Watson and Noel Carville. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Kim Vass, Wendy Atkinson and Louise Stewart. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Cal Masia, Victoria Blair, Lisa Taylor and Colin Dalgarno. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Hazel Yendall, Max Singer and Natalie Gallan. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Stan and Linda Fachie, and Frank Gauld. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Helen Bruce, Milly Evans and Mark Evans. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Jodie McEwan, Millie Murdoch, Baillie Murdoch and Ami Murdoch. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Euan Ritchie and Louise Christie. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Before the event

While the drinks reception was going on in the P&J Live atrium, our snappers took a couple of “calm before the storm” shots of the room, kitted out by our expert DC Thomson Events team…

The setup for the Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2023 ceremony at P&J Live. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

The host

Thursday night’s ceremony was hosted by Original 106 FM Big Breakfast Show presenter Claire Stevenson, who kicked off proceedings around once everyone was seated.

Claire Stevenson strides on to stage. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

Claire getting the awards bash under way. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Then it was the turn of Evening Express editor Craig Walker to welcome everyone in attendance to the awards.<br />Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

The early awards

The pre-meal section of the 2023 ceremony saw six prizes handed out.

Here are the winners:

School Innovation Award winner – Westpark School.<br />Picture of (L-R) category sponsor Active Schools’ Kim McRobbie, Westpark School and host Claire Stevenson.<br />Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Team Performance of the Year winner – Silver City Blues Masters Swim Team.<br />Picture of (L-R) sponsor CALA’s Fraser McCallum, Silver City Blues Masters Swim Team and host Claire Stevenson.<br />Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Young Sports Achiever of the Year winner – Kirsty Muir.<br />Picture of (L-R) Evening Express editor Craig Walker and Kirsty Muir’s father Jim.<br />Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Winter Sports superstar Kirsty Muir couldn’t be at Thursday’s Aberdeen’s Sports Awards ceremony due to competing overseas. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Community/Participation Coach of the Year winner – Richard Freeland.<br />Picture of (L-R) Craig Walker, Richard Freeland and host Claire Stevenson.<br />Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Young Volunteer of the Year winner – Rebekah Singer.<br />Picture of (L-R) sponsor Costco’s Janet Grieve and Rebekah Singer.<br />Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Inspiration Award winner – Francesca Butler.<br />Picture of (L-R) sponsor Idverde’s Frank King, Francesca Butler and host Claire Stevenson.<br />Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Following the first batch of awards, dinner was served. Pictured is the starter. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

The main course for the evening. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Our speaker

Following the main course of the evening’s meal, it was time for the audience to hear from the Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2023 speaker.

Jamie Andrew OBE is a Scottish mountaineer who, in 1999, along with his best friend, was stranded for five days and five nights in freezing, brutal conditions atop a mountain in the French Alps.

The ordeal claimed his friend’s life, and resulted in Jamie losing his hands and feet due to frostbite.

He amazed the audience with the story of how he – step-by-step – took back his life after the accident, including inspirational achievements across a host of different sporting pursuits.

Jamie Andrew. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

The crowd react to guest speaker Jamie Andrew OBE. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

Jamie Andrew’s story was met with a standing ovation by the Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2023 audience. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Following the guest speaker, dessert was served. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Guest tables

Before we move on to the rest of the Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2023 winners, let’s see if you can spot yourself (or your friends, family or colleagues)!

Our snappers got around as many tables as they could over the course of the evening – between awards and the delicious three-course dinner – and got the guests at each to pose for photos.

Is your table featured below?

There were a couple of famous Scottish football faces at the Evening Express table… Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Aberdeen Sports Village. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Aberdeen Sports Village table two. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Some of the other assembled guests. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

And some more… Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

The CALA Homes table. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

Sport Aberdeen. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

Burness Paul. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

Atholl Scott. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

Aberdeen Football Club’s most-iconic player, Willie Miller. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

Some more guests. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

The rest of winners

There were still plenty of awards to be handed out during the latter part of the Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2023 ceremony, and before the curtain came down of the bash for another year at around midnight.

Here are the deserving winners of the rest of the prizes – including some of our most-prestigious gongs: