Stirling County RFC celebrated another successful season for all levels across the rugby club at their annual end of season awards evening on Friday 10 May.

Hosting the event in the Bridgehaugh 'Marquee', Club President Kevin Robertson, highlighted the many achievements of the teams and players during a season which saw County sides compete throughout Scotland, play in England and Wales and travel as far afield as France and Madrid.

County again proved that they are undoubtedly the best rugby development club in the country, under-lined by six County players playing for Scotland Under-20s in this season's Six Nations Championship and all selected for the forthcoming IRB Junior World Championship in France - Adam Ashe, Jamie Bhatti, Reyner Kennedy, Rory Hughes, Mark Bennett and Ruairidh Leishman, who received the Most Improved Player of the Season award.

County's elite development players Sean Kennedy and Rob McAlpine graduated to the professional ranks appearing for Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby in the Pro-12 and Heineken Cup, with Garry Mountford also making an appearance for the Warriors.

Former County star Grant Gilchrist earned his first international cap in the Six Nations as he lined up against France in Scotland's successful campaign that saw them finish 3rd in the group.

County's Under-18s are the most successful youth team in Scotland, again winning the Caledonia League and under Millan Brown's guidance retaining the National Youth League Cup for the third successive season and for the fifth time in six years, with a convincing 29 - 5 win in the final against Gala Wanderers at Murrayfield.

Three Under-18 players were recognised in the Scotland age-grade squads, with Archie Russell playing his part in the European Under-18 championships in France under the guidance of County stalwart Eddie Pollock. Mathew Smith and Lewis Wynne were called up to the Scotland Under-17 and Under-16 squads respectively.

County's Under-16s - won the Caledonia League and reached National Youth League Cup quarter-finals, while the Under-15s reached the semi-final of the Caledonia Cup and finished 12th in Orthez International Festival.

The S1s/S2s enjoyed a successful tour to north-east of England. To finish off a successful season County's midis won an unprecedented clean sweep at the prestigious Gala Red Triangle Sevens tournament, winning all age-groups from S1 to U16s.

County's Women's team won Premier Two with a 100% winning record, and will be playing in the top flight next season. The women also finished runners-up in the National Plate final at Murrayfield, and hosted their first successful Sevens Tournament, where they finished runners-up; this event will quickly establish itself as the principle Women's sevens tournament in the country.

Vicki Gray and Megan Thomson were selected for the Scotland Under-20 training squad and Megan Kennedy for the Scotland Under-18s. Women's Team captain and Players' Player of the Season Diane Christie received the Premier Two winners' trophy from the SRU's Kath Vass. Lauren Maginnis and Jade Cunningham were jointly voted Most Improved Players, and Anna Page received the Women's Player of the Year award.

In senior men's rugby, County's 3rd XV / Bridgehaugh team under the management of Stuart Cameron, competed in the Caledonia Midland League Four. The 3rd XV player of the season was veteran Colin Campbell. County's 2nd XV coached by Alan Blair, finished in the top half of National Reserve League One. 2nd XV player of the season went to Chris Faill, with Shaun McDonald named as Young player of the Year.

The 1st XV had another successful season finishing third in the Premiership under the guidance of head coach Graeme Young, assisted Henry Edwards, in another dramatic and unforgettable finale at Dundee.

This was County's best league finish for 17 years, and with it comes another foray in next season's British & Irish Cup.

County's debut in this season's cross-border competition saw the Bridgehaugh side finish a credible second in Pool 2, behind English Championship play-off side Bedford Blues and ahead of Neath and Bedwas, with memorable victories over the Welsh Premiership leaders in the valleys and the Welsh All-Blacks at home.

County's 1st XV Player of the Season 2012/13, sponsored by John Graham Metals, was shared by Danny Gilmour and Robbie Boswell.

County also won their own Ondeo Stirling County Sevens Tournament for the first time in many years, and were awarded the most hospitable rugby club by the Caledonia Referees Society.

Club President Kevin Robertson said: "This has been another very successful season for Stirling County at all ages and levels, with over 400 players playing regular rugby at Bridgehaugh. In recognising all their achievements, I would like to thank all our players, coaches, officials, volunteers and supporters who give so much of their time, skills and efforts to keep County at the top of Scottish club rugby, and to all our sponsors whose generous assistance is crucial in ensuring our club continues to play a prime role in rugby development in Scotland. We can all look forward with optimism to further success at County next season, as we look to build on the achievements of the past 12 months."