Bennett honoured

Olympic silver medallist and Scotland rugby internationalist Mark Bennett has made it onto the Olympian hall of fame at the Ayrshire Athletics Arena in Kilmarnock. At a special ceremony, Mark’s portrait from the 2016 Rio Olympics was unveiled and will feature beside runner Cameron Sharp, weightlifter Peter Kirkbride and Special Olympian Alan Jardine.Mark, 24, who has scored 20 tries in 65 appearances for Glasgow and six tries in his 19 caps to date for Scotland, is a former East Ayrshire Council talented athlete.BreakthroughHe followed the rugby pathway from school to Cumnock and Ayr rugby clubs before making the move to playing professional rugby at Glasgow Warriors, via time spent with the Clermont Auvergne club in France. He sparkled in the 2015 Rugby World and was one of just three players to be nominated for the World Breakthrough Player of the Year award.  Fast forward a year and Mark was the only capped XV’s international to be included in the Team GB men’s sevens squad in Rio, as rugby returned to the Olympics, earning a silver medal in the process.  East Ayrshire Council Provost Jim Todd, who presented Mark with a framed print of the portrait, said: “I was delighted to invite Mark and his family for this special event at the Ayrshire Athletics Arena. We are incredibly proud of all of our Olympians and the success they have achieved.  “For all his success Mark is so down to earth and is still involved at the grassroots at Cumnock Rugby Club, helping with the mini teams when he can. He also attends our annual Talented Athlete Sports Awards and visits local schools advising young people about healthy eating and importance of exercise. “I have absolutely no doubt that having inspirational world-class athletes like Mark encouraging our young people, future stars of the game will hail from East Ayrshire.”OutstandingScottish Rugby’s Schools and Youth Manager Glen Tippett said: “We are delighted that East Ayrshire Council have chosen to recognise one of their own, Mark Bennett, in this way.”Mark is an outstanding ambassador for our sport, and also for his community. He is an inspiration for the young people of East Ayrshire (and beyond) and thanks to the partnership between Scottish Rugby, the rugby clubs in the area and East Ayrshire Council, the opportunity is there for young people, boys and girls, to be the best that they can be, with our sport playing a key role in that.”Our picture shows Mark with the Provost, Jim Todd, Council Leader Douglas Reid, children from School of Rugby, Loudon Academy, and members of the Ayrshire Clan, unified rugby team.