Council celebrate best of local sporting talent

The second annual Causeway Coast and Glens Sporting Awards took place on Friday

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.

^{John Nicholl Receives his Best Sportsperson With a Disability award}

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.”

^{Michael Dunlop was named Best Sportsman 2016}

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. 

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)