Group of Award Winners & Record Breakers These awards celebrate the true heroes of athletics- the volunteers and coaches who everyday put in a remarkable effort to create the basis of our sport.
The NI Record breakers in 2012 were rewarded for their achievements- Kerry Harty recorded 9.56.73s in Los Angeles in the 3000m Steeplechase in April; Fionnuala Ross in the same meet recorded 35.18.06 on the track for 10,000m and Zoe Brown vaulted 4.30m in Tullamore in August in the Pole Vault. Dempsey McGuigan broke the U20 record with 70.02m in the Hammer.
The various officials who particpated in the Olympic and Paralympic Games also were recognised with a glass trophy as recognition of their achievements. These are Robin Mack, Joy Alexander, Pam Brown, Philip West, Ian Atkinson and Andrew Minnis.
President of Athletics NI Gerry Lynch was on hand to present the awards.
Junior Club City of Lisburn AC
City of Lisburn have had an excellent 2012. Three more club coaches completed the new’ UKA Athletics Coach Award’ to supplement great work already being delivered. Athletes have an excellent grounding of fundamental stage and coaches promote a multi discipline approach. This approach was a factor is seeing the club win 11 medals at the NI Multi event championship and almost 90 athletes helped contribute to the success of the NIYAL squad.
Over 50 medals won in Juvenile indoor champs in Odyssey/Magherafelt. Over 60 medals won at age group champs and over 12 at all Ireland level. Winners for the first time of the NIYAL, 5th place at UKYAL Auxilary finals.
Volunteer of the Year Jimmy Nolan (North Belfast Harriers)
Jimmy has been with NBH for over 20 years. He is their welfare officer and junior coach. He is involved in an outreach programme with schools which feed into club sessions. He volunteers 12 hours a week at the club and also assists at the waterworks run each week, he volunteers two evenings a week at a disability club and with recreational runners external to NBH once a week. Jimmy has assisted with the club achieving Athletics NI Clubmark accreditation and BCC Gold standard award and helped with NBH being recognized by Sported for work with children in a deprived area and also assisted with NBH achieving charitable status.
Official of the Year Andrew Minnis (Lagan Valley)
Andrew Minnis is one of NI’s up and coming officials, he was awarded Young official of the year last year by Athletics NI and this year awarded UKA Young official of the year 2012.
Andrew is currently well on his way to gaining his level 3 starter/assistant starter grade. He was selected to go to London 2012 Paralympics where he was seconded into one of the start teams receiving many accolades for his acceptance from a number of very senior UKA officials. A massive achievement for someone so young.
Services to Officiating Pamela Brown
Pam has been involved with Athletics NI for quite a while as both an athlete and an official. She has been a member of numerous committees within ANI and UKA primarily for the benefit of the officials. Having been to commonwealth games as both athlete and official and to various European and world Indoor Championships as an official Pam was this year selected to officiate as track team leader at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. Pam was awarded UKA Official’s Official of the Year 2012. Many of our up and coming officials have Pam to thank for their success and enjoyment of Athletics officiating.
Coach of the Year Francis O’Hagan (Newry AC)
Francis O’Hagan has worked in Newry AC for the past few years. He has shown a thirst for developing his knowledge and has attended numerous workshops to develop his knowledge as well as his work and research. In the past few seasons Francis has helped Aislinn Crossley develop from 2.24 to sub 2.10 for 800m. This time also ranks Aislinn in the top 10 in the UK for her age group. Francis has recently become involved in the Athletics NI mentoring programme and he has athletes involved in the Youth Academy.
Club of the Year Orangegrove AC (Belfast)
Orangegrove started in Oct 09 with no membership and has grown to over 100 which include minis, juniors, seniors and masters. The club has registered and in the process of completing Athletics NI Clubmark accreditation. Three achievements of the club include hosting the successful NI relay championships in Victoria Park, the second was walk a mile,run a mile event as part of the join in local sport weekend to encourage local communities to participate and thirdly promoting park run events every sat morning in Victoria Park which now has over 2000 registrations and involves the local community.
At the end of the night Robin Mack gave a presentation about his Olympic & Paralympic expereince and would like to encourage people to get into officiating and volunteering. There are many opportunities coming up including the World Police & Fire Games, Commonwealth Games and the World Championships in 2017- who knows, you could be part of a major event just like our local officlas proudly were.