A 22-YEAR-OLD has received the Scottish Youth Award for excellence in Mountain Culture which UHI North, West, and Hebrides sponsors.
Hannah Smith, a climber, youth climbing coach, and student teacher from Glasgow, has been announced as the 11th award recipient.
Having grown up climbing in Glasgow she spent her early years as a Glasgow Climbing Centre Youth Squad member, where she climbed for enjoyment rather than solely to win competitions.
When she was just 19 and struggling with sport climbing during Covid, Hannah was invited to join GB Climbing as a coach for the junior team, the youngest ever to coach at an international level, something she will always be proud of.
She first showcased remarkable determination and resilience in her pursuit of selection for the Junior GB Climbing team in just one year and through the challenges that accompany being an international competitive climber.
A few years later, Hannah wanted to continue coaching while pursuing her passion for literature.
She moved back to Scotland to study and took up a coaching role with the ClimbScotland Talent Squad.
Hannah Smith said: “I’m deeply honoured to receive this award. This recognition is incredibly meaningful at this point in my life as it celebrates my journey as an athlete and coach.
“I’m especially proud to be a part of the Scottish competition climbing community, who often have unique challenges but are such a supportive and connected group of people.
“I hope my experiences show them that, with determination and perseverance, they can achieve their goals.
“It’s a privilege to contribute to a community that has given me so much over the years.”
The award was announced by The Fort William Mountain Festival, confirming that it will be celebrated at the organisation’s climbing night on Saturday, 15 February.
The event will also include inspiring content from three members of the GB Para Climbing Team: blind climber Jesse Dufton alongside James Rudge and Joanna Newton, who climb internationally despite having lost a limb.
Anna Danby, The Fort William Mountain Festival co-ordinator, said: “Congratulations to Hannah Smith on the Youth Award.
“It is obvious to see from Hannah’s relatively short career to date that she has always been fired up by her own goals, whether that be as a competitive climber, a highly motivating youth climbing coach or an English teacher, always working hard for the benefit of others to meet those goals and never allowing anything to knock her drive to succeed.
“It is obvious that Hannah has put considerable energy into sharing her passion and skills for climbing while contributing a huge amount to the climbing community at a very young age.”
Lydia Rohmer, principal and chief executive, UHI North, West and Hebrides, said: “UHI North, West and Hebrides continue to be privileged to sponsor The Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture.
“This year’s worthy recipient, Hannah, is clearly an exceptional young woman whose determination and resilience to pursue her passion have led her down new and exciting paths.
“We were most impressed by her commitment to coach and mentor other young athletes and to be an advocate seeking to influence the future of her sport.
“At the School of Adventure Studies here in Fort William, we aim to instil in our students exactly this sort of vision: to pursue their own unique career paths whilst maintaining the highest professional standards in their chosen specialism and, at the same time, a willingness to share their passion with others.
“We offer our heartiest congratulations to Hannah and wish her every success in the future.”
