DOLLAR SPORT NEWSLETTER
May 2025
A NOTE FROM LYNSEY ALLAN
DIRECTOR OF SPORT
It’s been a fantastic month for sport at
Dollar, with pupils across the school
continuing to impress with their
commitment, enthusiasm and
achievements. We’re delighted to shar
some of their highlights with you in thi
edition.
Our sporting programme continues to
grow, with new opportunities this term
in triathlon, swimming and gymnastics
We’re excited to see how these areas
develop in the months ahead!
Looking ahead, we’re pleased to be
launching our first Parent Sport Focus
Group on 18 June, and we’re looking
forward to the conversations this will
open up.
Lynsey Allan, Director of Sport
INTERVIEW WITH STEVIE WILSON HEAD OF RUGBY
What is your role and what will you be focusing on?
My role as Head of Rugby is to make sure that Rugby is the best part of the
day for our players. We want to create a program which caters for every level of ambition for players and coaches.
Where did you work before joining us?
I started at Dollar in 2014 as an S&C coach working with our 1 XI & 1 XV in a small converted changing room for a gym, my role has grown a lot since then! st st
In 2017, I moved to Sydney for 12 months, then Auckland for 18 months and had a variety of jobs including; coaching, landscape gardening, and labouring for a building company on Auckland's north shore! We came back as Covid was kicking off then Lynsey & Don got in touch to ask if I wanted my old job back.
What part of your role are you most excited about?
I am really looking forward to coaching the Form 1s with Steve Newton and working with all of our coaches to build a strong rugby programme at Dollar.
Where are you from originally?
I went to Falkland primary and Bell Baxter High School in the Kingdom!
INTERVIEW WITH STEVIE WILSON HEAD OF RUGBY
What’s a fun fact about you that not many people know?
I used to play guitar in a rock and roll cover band... with my dad!
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I have a 3 month old daughter at home so I am enjoying being a new dad! I used to enjoy lots of other things!
Do you have any hobbies or interests you’re passionate about?
I love getting out on my road or mountain bike, lifting weights, playing guitar and trying to make a decent sourdough loaf!
Tea or coffee? Or something else entirely?
Coffee.
What’s your go-to karaoke song or favourite music artist?
Oasis.
One piece of advice for the pupils at Dollar?
Consistency is key - If you want to get better at something you need to stick at it!
PUPIL SUCCESS
NICKY (FORM I) - SWIMMING
Well done to Nicky, who enjoyed a successful weekend at the Manchester
Arena Open Meet, competing in eight events across two days.
He won two gold medals (Breaststroke and Backstroke) and a bronze medal
(Freestyle), alongside several personal bests and strong performances in his
other races. Nicky competed as part of the Stirling Swimming team, alongside fellow Dollar pupil Perrie, who also came away with a medal.
He now looks ahead to his final competitions of the season, including the
Scottish National Open Swimming Championships in June and the Scottish
Summer Meet in July.
Best of luck, Nicky!
PUPIL SUCCESS
HUGH (PREP 1) - RUNNING
Congratulations to Hugh, who has earned his ultra marathon wristband after
completing 50 junior Parkruns - each covering a distance of 2km. This is a
fantastic achievement, especially as Hugh showed great perseverance by
continuing through the winter months.
Well done, Hugh!
JOSH (PREP 5) - GOLF
Congratulations to Josh, who competed in his first event with the Stephen
Gallacher Foundation at Turnhouse Golf Club - and finished 1st in the U10
category!
With this win, Josh has now qualified for the Regional Finals of the Nick
Faldo Futures Series, which will take place later this year at Dalmahoy.
A brilliant start to competitive golf - well done, Josh!
PUPIL SUCCESS
- HOCKEY
Well done to Neko, Sophie, Annabelle, Lucy and Niamh, who have been selected for the Midland U15 Hockey Squad!
Best of luck girls!
MASON (JUNIOR 1)
GYMNASTICS
Congratulations to Mason, who competed in the
Mezzo Cup TeamGym qualifications and won gold
with his team. This result sees them through to the
finals in Crewe this November.
A great achievement and exciting progress — well done, Mason!
PUPIL SUCCESS
ALEXANDER (FORM I) - SAILING
Well done to Alexander, who, along with his helm Morven, represented
Team Scotland at the prestigious RYA Eric Twiname Junior Championships
at Rutland Sailing Club. The event brought together top junior sailors from
across the UK, with fleets including Teras, Optimists, Toppers, ILCAs, and RS Fevas.
Alexander and Morven, who only began sailing together at the end of last
season, earned their place on the team through a series of RYA Scotland
Academy training weekends. This was their first experience of racing in a
larger fleet - lining up with 35 RS Fevas on the start line - and they handled
the challenging, windy conditions with great determination.
They are now preparing to compete at the RS Feva Nationals at Dalgety Bay
later this month.
This is a fantastic milestone in Alexander’s sailing journey - well done!
PUPIL SUCCESS
AIDEN (FORM II) - BASKETBALL
Congratulations to Aiden, who was selected to represent the Basketball
Scotland U14 team at the Four Nations Tournament, which took place at
Playsport, East Kilbride from 13–15 June!
This reflects Aiden’s dedication and development since joining the
Basketball Scotland Regional Academy last September.
LIVVY (FORM III) - FOOTBALL
Congratulations to Livvy, who recently represented the Scottish Schools
Football Association U15 Girls’ team at the Bob Docherty Tournament in
Northern Ireland!
The team achieved an impressive second-place finish, with victories over
Northern Ireland and England. Livvy is also the first Dollar Academy pupil to represent an SSFA girls’ side - a fantastic achievement.
We look forward to seeing Livvy's football journey continue!
OUR SPORTS SURVEY
We recently conducted a survey of 764 pupils, which gave us insight into
current participation levels, as well as opportunities for developing our co-
curricular sport programme. Responses were well balanced by gender and represented all year groups.
The most significant takeaway from the survey was a clear desire for greater
variety and choice in the sports offered at Dollar. In response, we’ve taken
immediate steps to broaden opportunities and ensure our programme is more inclusive. This includes the introduction of boys’ hockey and girls’ football, as part of our commitment to providing equal access to all sports for both boys and girls.
We’ve also expanded our offering with the addition of dance and gymnastics classes, and launched an exciting new Triathlon Programme led by Sean
McFarlane, who also delivers swimming coaching during the school week.
OUR SPORT DEVELOPMENTS THIS TERM
NEW GIRLS’ FOOTBALL PROGRAMME
NEW DANCE CLASSES
SWIMMING CLASSES & COACHING
GIRLS CRICKET EXPANSION
NEW BOYS’ HOCKEY PROGRAMME
NEW GYMNASTICS CLASSES
NEW TRIATHLON PROGRAMME
CO ED TENNIS PRACTICES & FIXTURES
UPCOMING SPORT DEVELOPMENTS
INTRODUCE JUDO
DEVELOP AND EXPAND BOYS’ HOCKEY
INTRODUCE ACRO GYMNASTICS
ENSURE QUALITY COACHING
IMPROVE COMMUNICATION REGARDING SPORT AT DOLLAR
We would love to hear about your child’s success!
Please email our Director of Sport, Lynsey Allan at sportnews@dollaracademy.org.uk,
