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Sports development
Nominations are closed for the Belfast Sports Awards 2023. There are 13 awards across seven categories. Our awards will recognise the sporting achievements of local athletes at all levels. We also want to recognise the dedication and commitment of coaches and volunteers whose work supports athletes and clubs.
The award categories are:
To recognise an individual who has created a sporting pathway from education to club participation. The individual will have played a key role in guiding children and young adults to long-term involvement in sport and physical activity.
To recognise the contribution of an individual or group going the extra mile in the promotion of a healthy city. They should have made a positive impact on raising the profile and increasing awareness of the physical and mental health benefits of an active lifestyle.
To recognise the contribution of a club coach towards sporting achievement and increasing sporting participation in Belfast. Nominees must hold a recognised sport’s Governing Body qualification.
Coach of the Year categories include:
To recognise a locally based sports team in a junior and senior category that has achieved significant success within the last 12 months in their sport. Junior team nominees should be competing up to and including U19 level. Above this level should be nominated in the senior category.
Team of the Year categories include:
To recognise the achievements of both junior and senior sporting heroes in the international arena. Athletes should have gained significant honours and success within the last 12 months. Junior nominees should be under the age of 18 and senior nominees should be 18 and over on 1 January 2020.
To recognise the contribution of the unsung heroes of sport. Nominees should be people volunteering within a sports club or community organisation beyond the coaching role. For example, this could include a parent who drives the team to and from matches every week, or someone who is always fundraising to support the club.
To recognise the achievement of Belfast sports people in the international sporting arena. This could include anyone who is a retired athlete or an athlete who is still competing and has achieved significant success in their sport.
To be eligible for an award nomination, a nominee can either live within the Belfast City Council area or belong to a Belfast-based sports club or sports organisation.
Nominations closed at 5pm on Friday 10 February 2023. Our awards ceremony took place in City Hall on Friday 10 March.
For more information, contact:
Sports Development Officer
Sports Development
Cecil Ward Building
8-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP
Telephone: 028 9027 0515
Check out our photo gallery from the 2023 Belfast Sports Awards ceremony in City Hall.
We announced sports award winners for 2020 on Friday 28 August.
| Category | Winner | Club | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volunteer of the Year | Lawson Cochrane | Willowfield Harriers | Clubforce |
| Healthy Lifestyle | Hanwood Centre | - | Active Belfast |
| Pathways to Clubs | Oliver Pollock Alison McMullan |
Cumann Spoirt an Phobail Abbey Gymnastics |
Active Belfast |
| Junior Coach of the Year | Olivia McKee | 22nd Old Boys and Ladies FC | GLL |
| Senior Coach of the Year | Michael Hawkins | Holy Trinity Boxing Club | GLL |
| Female Coach of the Year | Lynn Hanna Short | Cathal Brugha Water Polo Club | GLL |
| Disability Coach of the Year | Jane Mounsey | CIYMS Tennis Club | GLL |
| Junior Team of the Year | - | Glentoran FC Under 14s | Decathlon |
| Senior Team of the Year | - | Linfield Ladies FC | Decathlon |
| Junior Sports Personality of the Year male | Matthew Cheung Martin-Brady McCulloiugh |
Ulster Badminton Glenn ABC |
Sports Medicine NI |
| Junior Sports Personality of the Year female | Amelia Kane | Ards ASC | Sports Medicine NI |
| Senior Sports Personality of the Year male | Paul Pollock | Annadale Striders | Commonwealth Games NI |
| Senior Sports Personality of the Year female | Emma Magee | Westside Netball Club | Commonwealth Games NI |
| Disability Sports Personality of the Year | Brian Lenehan | Disability Sport NI | Commonwealth Games NI |
| Hall of Fame | Fionna Shannon David Calvert Gerry Armstrong |
We announced Belfast Sports Awards winners on Friday 22 March 2019.
| Category | Sponsored by | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pathways to Club | Active Belfast | Danielle McDowell | Crusaders Strikers Academy |
| Coach of the Year (Senior) | GLL | Simon Flannery | Flight Gymnastics Academy |
| Coach of the Year (Female) | GLL | Danielle Hegarty | St Louise's College |
| Coach of the Year (Disability) | GLL | Simon McFarland | Windsor Lawn Tennis Club |
| Coach of the Year (Junior) | GLL | Laura Vernon | St Malachy's Old Boys' FC |
| Special Recognition Award | Dean McComb | Active Communities Network | |
| Healthy Lifestyle | Active Belfast | WISPA NI | |
| Volunteer of the Year (two award winners) | Belfast City Council | Brian Kirker | 22nd Old Boys FC |
| Tim Craig | New Forge Taggers | ||
| Sport Personality (Junior Male) | Commonwealth Games | Jon McConnell | Holy Trinity Boxing Club |
| Sport Personality (Junior Female) | Commonwealth Games | Amelia Kane | Ards Swimming Club |
| Sport Personality (Senior Male) | Commonwealth Games | Brendan Irvine | St Paul's Boxing Club |
| Sport Personality (Senior Female | Commonwealth Games | Kirsty Hegarty | Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooting Association |
| Sport Personality (Disability Male) | Commonwealth Games | James McSorley | Belfast Nights/Sheffield Steelers |
| Sport Personality (Disability Female) | Commonwealth Games | Christine Erdis | All Stars Special Olympics |
| Team of the Year (Junior) | Decathlon | Ulster Canoe Polo U18s | |
| Team of the Year (Senior) | Decathlon | Pegasus Hockey Club | |
| Hall of Fame | Belfast City Council | Hugh Russell | Boxing |
| Sandra Bailie | Bowls | ||
| Sammy McIlroy | Football |
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Belfast City Council,
City Hall Belfast,
BT1 5GS
or email records@belfastcity.gov.uk.
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For more information and advice, get in touch.
Sports Development, Cecil Ward Building, 4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8BP
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