Sporting talent celebrated at gala awards evening
Mon, November 07, 2016
Over 300 guests attended the second annual Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Sports Awards on Friday evening.
The gala event at the Lodge Hotel brought together sports stars from gymnastics to GAA, and cycling to clay target shooting.
The awards give formal recognition to the depth of talent and commitment in sporting circles across the Borough.
The evening concluded with Olympic rower Alan Campbell established as the first inductee into the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Hall of Fame. The Committee Chairmen were unanimous in selecting the four-time Olympian as the recipient of the honour and felt that it was especially fitting that he was recognised within an Olympic Year.
Alan’s talent was nurtured from an early age at Coleraine Inst and Bann Rowing Club. He first stepped on to the Olympic stage in Athens in 2004 as part of Great Britain's quadruple sculls, but it is in the unforgiving discipline of the single sculls for which he will be best remembered.
Without doubt, his greatest moment came at London 2012 when he showed great courage to win a bronze medal amid emotional scenes on the River Thames.
His award was collected by his delighted mother Jennifer.
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Director of Leisure and Development, Richard Baker, spoke at the event in the absence of the Mayor, Alderman Maura Hickey.
He said: “Sport and wellbeing play such an important role within the borough, and we aim to use this event to showcase and recognise the depth of talent within the area. Quite often the commitment of our sports people and volunteers can go unnoticed. These awards provide an opportunity to applaud their efforts and celebrate their achievements.”
14 awards were presented on the night and the overall winners of each category were selected by an independent assessment panel.
There was much deliberation in a number of categories and the panel were faced with a hugely difficult task, given the high calibre of nominees received from the Ballymoney, Coleraine, Limavady and Moyle regional heats.
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council would like to thank everyone who helped to make the awards such a successful event.
This includes compere on the night Sarah Travers, MC Tom Skelton, the Northern Regional College, Light & Sound FX and independent assessment panel members including Anne Paul and Damian Mullan.
A special word of thanks is extended to the award sponsors - Kennedy Orthodontics, Diamond Recruitment, Arbutus Catering Group, Small Cost Carpets and Johnston Printing.
The winners:
Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Molly Curry (swimming)
Junior Sportsman of the Year: Breandan Flannagan (cycling)
Junior Sports Team of the Year: Dalriada U16 Girls Volleyball team
Sportsperson with a disability: John Nicholl (archery)
Sports Administrator of the Year: Alison Rankin (athletics)
Services to Sport: Sammy McNeill (refereeing)
Coach of the Year: June Traill (swimming)
Merit Award 2016: Ballycastle Tennis Club Under 14 boys
Senior Team of the Year: Rodney & Barry Kane (bowls)
Sportswoman of the Year: Katie Mullan (hockey)
Sportsman of the Year: Michael Dunlop (motorcycling)
International Sportsperson of the Year: Chris MacFadyen (archery)
Chairmen’s Award: Stephen McCartney (hockey)
Hall of Fame: Alan Campbell (rowing)
The recipient of the Junior Sportswoman award, Coleraine swimmer Molly Curry, receives her award from Ashleigh Lyle, representing sponsor Diamond Recruitment, compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.
Junior Sportsman of the Year 2016 Breandan Flannagan from Ballymoney Cycling Club, receives his award from Lynsey Jordan, representing sponsor Kennedy Orthodontics, compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.
Representatives from the Dalriada Under 16 Volleyball team receive their Junior Team of the Year award from Alex Turner, representing sponsor Small Cost Carpets, compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.
The Sports Person of the Year with a Disability, Causeway Archer John Nicholl, receives his award from Kerry Dallat and Barry Dallat representing sponsor Arbutus Catering, compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough. Also included in the picture is John’s interpreter Donna McGlinchey.
The winner of the Sports Administrator of the Year Award, Alison Rankin, receives her award from Ashleigh Lyle and Karyn Beverland representing sponsor Diamond Recruitment, compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.
The winner of the Services to Sport Award, Sammy McNeill, receives his award for his services to Soccer Refereeing from Lynsey Jordan, representing sponsor Kennedy Orthodontics, Maurice Bradley MLA, compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.
Winner of the Coach of the Year Award June Traill receives her award from Alex Turner representing sponsor Small Cost Carpets, compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.
Representatives of Ballycastle Tennis Club Under 14 boys who won the Merit Award 2016 pictured with Kerry Dallat and Barry Dallat from sponsor Arbutus Catering, compere for the evening Sarah Travers, and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.
Bowlers Rodney and Barry Kane receive their Senior Team of the Year Award from Ashleigh Lyle and Karyn Beverland representing sponsor Diamond Recruitment, compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.
Coleraine Hockey player Katie Mullan receives her Sportswoman of the Year award from Lynsey Jordan, representing sponsor Kennedy Orthodontics, compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.
Motorcycling’s Michael Dunlop receives his Sportsman of the Year award from Alex Turner, representing sponsor Small Cost Carpets, compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.
International Sports Person of the Year Chris MacFadyen receives his award from Kerry Dallat and Barry Dallat from sponsor Arbutus Catering, compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.
Stephen McCartney, winner of the Chairmen’s Award, pictured with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Director of Leisure and Development Richard Baker, compere for the evening Sarah Travers, PR Manager Aine McAuley, Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough and Sport & Wellbeing Development Manager Damien McAfee.
William and Jennifer Campbell accept the Hall of Fame award on behalf of their son Alan Campbell from compere for the evening Sarah Travers and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Head of Sport and Wellbeing Wendy McCullough.