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Belfast Sports Awards 2012

As a council, we're proud of the contribution dedicated sports people make to Belfast, whether they're athletes, coaches, teachers, mentors, parents or volunteers.

Belfast Sports Awards recognise their achievements and pay tribute to all those who make Belfast a healthy place to live, work and play.

The awards ceremony took place on 8 March 2012 in Belfast City Hall. It coincided with International Women's Day and presented a timely opportunity to celebrate the growing number of females excelling in sport on a local and international level.

• View photos from the event on our Flickr gallery

Award categories and winners

Education

Winner - Michael McKnight, principal of Loughview Integrated Primary and Nursery School.

This award recognised the contribution an individual has made to sport in Belfast within an educational setting.

Coach in a sports club

Winners include:

• Junior Coach in a Sports Club - Ciaran McGurk, Cathal Bruga Swimming and Water Polo Club
• Senior Coach in a Sports Club: Eugene McGeehan, Santos Football Club
• Female Coach in a Sports Club: Sue Iveston, Belfast Masters Swim Team.

This award recognised the contribution of a club coach to sporting achievement and increasing participation in Belfast with senior, junior, female and disabled athletes. Winners held a recognised governing body qualification.

Coach in a community organisation

Winners include:

• North Belfast - Sean McAuley, Ligoniel Amateur Boxing Club
• South Belfast - William Conville, Greater Village Regeneration Trust (GVRT)
• East Belfast - Lynda Groves, Jigsaw NI
• West Belfast - Brian Kerr, Team Extreme Ireland TaeKwonDo.

This award recognised the contribution of a community coach to sporting achievement and increasing participation within North, South, East or West Belfast. Winners held a recognised governing body qualification.

Active lifestyle

Winner - Sinead Barnes, Shaftesbury Community and Recreation Centre.

This award recognised the contribution of an individual or group promoting physical activity, health and affecting a change in attitude towards healthy living. This could include an individual or group working within a healthy school, active living groups, community or voluntary organisation.

Volunteer of the year

Winners include:

• Senior Male - Eddie Briggs, Grosvenor RFC
• Senior Female -Adrienne Magil – Older and Active Resource and Development Centre

This award recognised volunteers within sports clubs or community organisations involved in sport. Nominees should not be part of the coaching team. This could include a parent who drives the team to and from matches every week or someone who is always fundraising for the club.

Sports personality of the year

Junior sports personality of the year

Winners include:

• Junior Male - Dominic Burns, Northern Ireland Youth Climbing Team
• Junior Female - Sophie McCoo, British Gymnastics Northern Ireland and Gymnastics Ireland Ltd.
• Junior Female - Sycerika McMahon, Leander Amateur Swimming Club

Senior male personality of the year

• Mark McPeak - Belmont Bowling Club

Female Winners include:

• Fiona Shannon, World Handball Champion, St Paul’s GAA Club
• Hannah Irvine, International Netball and senior club hockey player
• Jane Adams, captained her club Rossa to the first ever all Ireland senior camogie title
• Lisa Royle, Northern Ireland Visually Impaired Bowler

This recognised the achievements of local junior and senior sporting heroes in the international sporting arena. Athletes should have gained significant honours and success within the last 12 months.

Sporting Hall of Fame

Winners include:

• Dr Malcolm Brodie MBE
• Joe Swail
• Thelma Hopkins
• John McNally and Akkie Kelly (posthumous)

This award recognised the achievement of Belfast sports people on the international sporting arena. This could include anyone who is retired or still competing but has achieved significant success in their field. The winners join Dame Mary Peters and Gerry Storey MBE in the Sporting Hall of Fame.

More information

If you would like to find out more about the Belfast Sports Awards 2012, contact:

Claire Moraghan
Adelaide Exchange
24-26 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8DG

Tel: 028 9027 0344
Email: leisure@belfastcity.gov.uk