Sporting achievements recognised at annual awards

THE recent 2011 Draynes Farms Lisburn Sports Personality of the Year Awards took place at Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn, to celebrate the sporting achievements of many top athletes and sports teams across the City.

Organised by Sport Lisburn, this gala evening was hosted by sports presenter Graham Little, and Great Britain Hockey Olympic Gold Medallist and Irish International cricketer Jimmy Kirkwood was the guest speaker.

Bethany Carson from Lisburn City Swimming Club was crowned ‘Sports Personality of the Year’, having won three gold medals in the National Short Course Championships, gold in the Irish Long course Championships and taken part in the 2010 Commonwealth Games as well as the 2011 World Student Games in China.

Golfer, Laura Grant who represented Ireland at the Junior Masters gained second place and last year’s winner Timmy Cockram from Lisnagarvey Hockey Club was third.

The ‘Junior Sports Award’ went to golfer Paula Grant for the second year in a row. As well as representing Ireland, she was selected for the Irish Girls’ European tournament and was invited to the prestigious Spirit International event in the USA. Second was Natasha Pollock from Lisburn City Swimming Club and third Charlotte Slater from Lisburn Gladiators Fencing Club.

Lisburn 2gether Special Olympics Club was the worthy winner of the ‘Team of the Year Award’ for gaining gold and silver medals in the World Special Olympics Games in Athens. Second was Lisnagarvey 1st XI Hockey Club and third Lisburn City Swimming Clubs Senior Girl’s Relay Team.

The ‘Junior Club Team of the Year’ was won by City of Lisburn Athletics Club with Lisburn City Basketball Club - U16 Girls second and joint third were St Joseph’s GAC U16s and Crewe Utd FC U 15s.

‘Junior School Team of the Year’ went to Friends Prep U10 Boy’s Relay Swimming Team, with Wallace High School Girls Hockey Team second and Friends’ Intermediate Netball Team third.

Sandy Wilson from Glenavy FC was a very worthy winner of the ‘Merit Award’, which recognises the voluntary work done behind the scenes to keep clubs running. Sandy has spent 50 years helping the club in a number of roles and is still on the committee today as well as managing the second team.

‘Coach of the Year’ went to the Hazama Judo Club’s Mark Montgomery. He helped set up the club in 2003 and has led the Club to be Number One in Northern Ireland with a record number of All Ireland gold medallists.

‘Club of the Year’ went to Salto City of Lisburn National Gymnastics Centre. It has managed to secure the Chinese Gymnastics team holding a pre-games training camp in Lisburn, before the London 2012 Olympics. Second was Lisnagarvey Hockey Club and third Lisburn Gladiators Fencing Club.

A Special Award was presented by Councillor Thomas Beckett, Chairman of the Council’s Leisure Services Committee, to Tommy Wright from Lisburn Distillery FC for their achievement in winning the 2010/2011 Cooperative Insurance League Cup.

Over 240 people attended the very successful event, with the Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Brian Heading, Stella Drayne from Draynes Farms and Stanley Hall, Chairman of Sport Lisburn delighted with the attendance and the sporting achievements over the past year within the Lisburn area.