Good year for Scots women

Stephanie Cook crosses the line for gold in Sydney

Scotland's sportswomen feature prominently in the New Year Honours List.

Dale Reid, Shirley Robertson, Stephanie Cook, Caroline Innes and Sheila Begbie have all been recognised for their achievements.

Reid, who captained Britain's women golfers to their famous Solheim Cup victory over the United States, is rewarded with the OBE.

Successful Olympians Robertson and Cook both received the MBE.

Robertson, from Dundee, picked up the gold medal for her wonderful win in sailing's Europe class.

Cook's sterling performance in the fencing, shooting, riding, swimming and cross-country running of the modern pentathlon also won gold.

Wonderful Paralympics

Innes had a wonderful Paralympics, winning gold in the 200m and 400m as well as a silver medal for the 100m and also gets the MBE.

Begbie, gets an MBE for services to women's football.

The former Scotland captain, who won her first cap aged 15, is now the Scottish Football Association's assistant technical director for the women's game.

SFA spokesman Andy Mitchell said: "She has played football nearly all her life and was twice offered a professional contract by Italian clubs.

Coach of the year

"She turned them down because she wanted to stay in Scotland. When she retired she was coach of the year in 1996."

Trumphanyt skipper in October at Loch Lomond, Reid, has 21 titles to her name on the European Tour.

She will once again captain Europe's women in their Solheim Cup defence in Minnesota in 2002.

Golden girl Shirley Robertson

The award caps a magnificent year for Robertson, who was also named international female sailor of the year.

Robertson, who competed in Barcelona and Atlanta, hopes to defend her gold medal when the Olympics move to Greece in 2004.

Magnificent memory

Irvine-born Cook scooped Britain's final gold of the Sydney Games.

She has decided that her sports will remain a healthy hobby and a magnificent memory.

She will compete in the world championships in July before resuming her career in medicine.

"Four years is a long way away, and I've no intention of training solidly to compete in Athens," said the 28-year-old.

Step back

"I had to take a step back and sort out in my own head what I wanted.

My mind is made up. I want to do surgery."

Kenny Cairns won four medals in the Paralympic pool

Kenny Cairns, who won four swimming medals at the Paralympics, including gold in the 100m freestyle was given the MBE.

Andrew Lindsay, who picked up Olympic gold in rowing's coxed eights, receives the same award.

John Snowdon is rewarded for his services to amateur swimming, while Donald Rutherford's contribution to rugby union is also acknowledged.