BLIND GOLFER Jim Gales (pictured), of Springfield, near Cupar, has just been honoured by East Fife Sports Council for the second year in a row.

Jim has just named as disabled sportsperson for 2004 after being given the body’s award for services to sport last year.

He has played a major role in playing and administering blind golf, and has done much to bring a previously little known aspect of golf to the attention of the wider public.

Jim has been involved with blind golf for 13 years, starting as district secretary, then captain, and he was nominated Scottish team captain and chairman in 1996.

He led the Scots team to two victories over England in 1998 and 1999 in the Auld Enemies Cup competition and steered the SBGS from charitable to company status in 2000.

He also organised and sourced funding for the Millennium World Blind Golf Championship at Dalmahoy, the first time Scotland hosted the event.

In 2003, he secured funding and organised the first World Invitational Championships at Westerwood, Cumbernauld, which was a big success.

Last year he was instrumental in bringing the British Open Champion-ship back to Scotland after a seven-year break. The event was at Balbirnie Park, near Glenrothes.

Last night Jim said that he was delighted to be recognised once more by the sports council.

Jim was yesterday taking part in a qualifying competition for the Scottish Blind Golf Team order of merit—the Fife Classic Trophy at Thornton Golf Club (see picture below).