Winners of first Scottish Game Awards announced

Press Release
9 Jul 2024

The outstanding contribution of sporting estates, game dealers, gamekeepers and ghillies in Scotland has been marked at the inaugural Scottish Game Awards.

At the Scottish Game Fair at Scone, a host of award winners and commendations were announced across four highly competitive categories.

The newly crowned winners are:

Game Champion of the Year

(sponsored by The Gin Bothy)

WINNER: 

  • Country Food Trust

Highly commended:

  • Angus Glens Moorland Group & Strathmore Rugby Club Partnership
  • Winston Churchill Venison

 

Conservation and Sustainability in Sporting Award 

(sponsored by Calton Wealth Management)

 

WINNER:

  • Glenogil Estate & Game Conservancy Deutschland Partnership

Highly commended:

  • Seafield & Strathspey Estates 

 

Gamekeeping Team of the Year 

(sponsored by Officers’ Association Scotland)

 

WINNER:

  • Auchnafree Estate, Perthshire – Richard Malseed and Max John

Highly commended:

  • Dalnaspidal Grouse Moor, near Dalwhinnie – Joe McGowan, Robert Brannan and Fraser Walker

Judges’ commendation:

  • Conor Kelly

Fishing Beat of the Year

 

WINNER:

  • Bemersyde Fishing, River Tweed

Highly commended:

  • Kercock Fishings, River Tay

(More information on the award winners is available on the information sheet available to download below.)

Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The breadth and quality of nominations for the debut Scottish Game Awards was outstanding and it was a really difficult choice for the judging panel when it came to selecting the overall winners.

“My congratulations go to the County Food Trust, Glenogil Estate & Game Conservancy Deutschland, Auchnafree Estate and Bemersyde Fishing, as well as all the other highly commended finalists and those who made the shortlist.

“We wanted the Scottish Game Awards to provide a platform for celebrating the fantastic social, economic and environmental contribution of those involved in country sports and those who have entered and won awards can be proud of what they are achieving on a daily basis.”

Rory Kennedy, Director Scotland at GWCT Scotland, said: "Scotland’s estate owners, land managers, gamekeepers, and ghillies demonstrate a deep dedication to conservation and sustainability, fostering a thriving diversity of flora and fauna across hills, moorlands, and waterways. We are pleased the Scottish Game Awards is celebrating these endeavours and a huge well done goes to all who received richly deserved awards.”

Mark Ewart, National Engagement Manager at Scotland’s Regional Moorland Groups, said: “In many rural areas, gamekeepers and land managers, along with the estates they manage, are crucial to the community fabric— something well understood locally but perhaps not as much on a national scale. The work being undertaken by nominees and by the award winners is hugely important in supporting rural Scotland, its communities, economies and environment and we are delighted that the Scottish Game Awards has provided this recognition.” 

To learn more about the winners of the Scottish Game Awards, click here.