The Athletics Northern Ireland Awards took place on Wednesday night at the Mary Peters Track with special guest UK Athletics Chairman Ed Warner.
He gave a very informative talk on the recent success of GB & NI athletes and the planning and hopes for the London 2012 Olympics and the athletics legacy.
Ten awards were presented by Ed Warner and Athletics NI President John Glover under the categories of club, official, volunteer and coaches. There were also plaques presented to those athletes that broke a Northern Ireland record over the last year, of which there were three.
Kerry Harty broke the 5000m record in May last year at a BMC Meet in Manchester with new figures of 16.04.86. Ciara Mageean when winning her silver medal at the World Juniors in Canada recorded 4.09.51 in the 1500m while Eglinton sprinter Jason Smyth (100m) smashed the 100m record at the NI & Ulster Senior Championships in Antrim with a time of 10.32.
Citations below on the award winners.
CLUBS
Junior: City of Derry Spartans AC
The City of Derry Spartan’s continued to achieve after winning the Northern Ireland Young Athletes League (YAL) for the fourth year in succession. At the UK Auxiliary Finals in Birmingham the team achieved 17 medals although four key members were on UK Schools Games team. On the back of a tremendous Indoor season (8 Gold, 12 Silver, 13 bronze (33 medals) at NI & Ulster Level) and 2 Gold, 6 Silver, 4 bronze (12medals) at All Ireland indoors and four additional medals at Scottish Indoors, the Spartan youngsters continued into the Outdoor season with Claire Dougherty (U15) breaking the NI YAL record (HJ) and she completed the double at Ulster & Irish Schools C’ships in HJ & TJ. The club picked up38 medals (20 Gold, 8 Silver, 10 Bronze in NI & Ulster C’ships. 17 medals were collected at the All Irelands ( 3 Gold, 9 Silver, 5 Bronze). On the back of the season’s achievement, selection has been gained by the young Spartans onto Celtic teams, UK Schools Teams, Irish Teams & NI Teams. From a performance points of view City of Derry have the largest number of young athletes currently making the standard for the Athletics Northern Ireland Youth Academy with five athletes making the grade. The Youth Academy is aimed at athletes with future medal winning potential at major Youth Championships.
Club of the Year: City of Derry AC
The 2009/10 season has seen the club progress again with increased membership and further progress at local, provincial and national level at both Senior and Masters grade competition, as well as the Junior club dominating their own scene. Club achievements included Team Gold in National Intermediate Cross Country C’ships, Intercounty Team Silver within same competition. Team Silver in both NI/Ulster Senior and Junior Cross Country C’Ships. Team Gold in National Novice Cross Country C’Ships and Inter County Team Gold in the same competition. Team Gold in NI 5k road C’Ship and also NI Half Marathon C’Ship. Team Gold in National Half Marathon (Masters) and team Bronze in NI/Ulster Masters Cross Country C’Ship. Team Bronze in the National League (premier division). Team races were won in the Comber Cup and Dessies Run. The women’s team took gold at the NI half marathon C’Ships and NI 5k C’Ships and also made the final of the National League Div 1. They have also provided 14 of NI/Ireland selections for 2009 British/Irish Masters Cross Country International. The club has a great history of organising top class events in the Athletics circuit and this year has been no exception. The club have organized the Waterside Half Marathon, Northern Ireland 5k Road Championships, Northern Ireland Senior Cross-country Championships, Furey 5k Road Race Series (6 Races) and the North West Cross-country Championships and when they are not organizing events the travel extensively and support events all across the country. These results show the clubs versatility and ability to cater for all levels of athletics.
Club catering for disabled athletes: North Down Special Olympics Club
The club, which endorses the Special Olympics ethos of letting go of limiting views, prejudices and misconceptions about people with learning difficulties, was formed in March 2004, now with a membership of over 50+ athletes the club has grown steadily since its formation. This year we had 2 teams of athletes participating in the Belfast Marathon, supported on a one to one ratio by volunteers. 5 athletes competed in the Special Olympic Ireland Games in Limerick in June 2010 winning 7 Gold and 5 Silver Medals. One athlete competed at the European Special Olympic Summer Games in Warsaw in September and won Gold at 100m, Long jump and a Silver medal in the 4 x 100m relay. Two athletes have been selected for the World Games in Athens 2011.
The club continues to be involved with interclub events and in addition to their weekly training sessions they organise 2 social events at Christmas and the end of Season. The club also provides community service opportunities to young people to volunteer as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award. Talk to any volunteer or athlete and see the enjoyment and fulfilment they get out of being involved with the Special Olympics club.
VOLUNTEER
Young Volunteer of the Year (Under 25): Ryan Henry- Willowfield Harriers
Ryan is always keen to volunteer at club nights and athletic events throughout the year. He is a member of the Athletics NI Volunteer Squad and brings enthusiasm to all tasks which he delivers. Whether Ryan is programme selling, assisting with athlete registration or being part of any duty he is very helpful no matter how busy it becomes or if the weather is atrocious. Ryan has helped at the Seeley Cup with registrations, the Odyssey Indoors where he sold merchanidise and programmes and at the Antrim Cross Country as a runner, Marshall and programme seller. On top of all this volunteering Ryan finds time to volunteer in his own club.
Services to Volunteering (25 plus): Chris Power- City of Derry AC
Chris is the Secretary of the Young Athletes league and has been for many years. He is very committed to the role and carries out his duties with dedication and efficiency. He works well with the participating clubs and the young athlete’s league committee. The league paperwork is always sent out to clubs with plenty of time for completion and clear instructions regarding each clubs responsibility at meetings and changes of rules etc.. After each event Chris spends hours checking athlete’s dates of birth, ensuring eligibility to compete, producing timely results and updating records. He also liaises with ANI and Power of Ten statisticians to ensure that performances are recorded correctly. At each round of the league Chris does everything in his power to ensure that events are run like clockwork to the timetable. The NI Young Athletes league is very fortunate to have such a hard working secretary.
OFFICIALS
Official of the year: Ian Atkinson
Ian is a member of N Down Athletic Club and came into officiating through his association with the club. He attended a Level 2 course in November 2007 and completed the award in October 2008. Since then he has focussed on achieving Level 3 and as well as working at local meetings, he has made himself available at every opportunity to gain experience and gather reports. He has officiated at many meetings in England to do this and has been accepted as a knowledgeable and keen official whose friendly and outgoing personality makes him a popular member of any team. He has been a credit to us in Northern Ireland. Ian has been voted Official of the Year by the NI Technical Officials Association this year.
He is on his final lap and will be refereeing an indoor meeting in Sheffield this weekend, and will then, if all goes well, be awarded Level 3 and be eligible to officiate at the top UK meetings.
Services to Officiating: Pamela Brown
Pam is the driving force behind officiating in NI and is one of the most highly respected officials across the UK. She has been a member of the NI officials committee for many years, holding various roles, including the post of Secretary. She is currently responsible for Education and Training and has encouraged and guided many new officials through this process. In 2009 Pam was nominated by her peers across the UK to became one of the track official representatives on the UKA Peer group, a huge honour in itself. She is a level 5 track official and has officiated at the highest level across the UK and further afield but always has time to encourage others .She is a truly worthy winner of this award.
COACHES
Development Coach (coaches working mainly in the club and community environment): Mark Kirk
Mark is an extremely dedicated coach working with a large group of athletes on a weekly basis. The age range of his athletes vary from 14-30 and although the majority are Lagan Valley athletes may come from different clubs across the greater Belfast area. Although Marks coaching ensures all athletes are enjoying their training he also gets results. Although his main coaching knowledge would be based around middle distance and endurance training, his group has developed and includes sprinters, tri-athletes and mountain runners. Marks’s coaching achievements in 2010 have been wide and varied. At the Ulster Schools Track and Field Championships won eight medals and 7 athletes achieved selection to the Irish Schools championships. Robby Rankin achieved a silver medal in the England Athletics U17 1500m steeplechase and finished 4th in the UK School Games. His daughter Katie who swept the board this year by winning every age group title in Ireland and UK.. This included the Ulster and Irish School C’Ships, English AAA’S U17 indoors and outdoors and the UK School Games. Katie also won the NI Senior C’Ships and represented NI at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Katie has also represented Great Britain at the Loughborough International at 4x400m.Mark is extremely dedicated to his development as a coach and all his athletes benefit greatly from his dedication.
Performance Coach (coaches working mainly with athletes and coaches to a national or international standard): Eamonn Christie
Eamonn is a dedicated coach with a thriving group of young talented athletes. These athletes have steadily improved their performances since joining Eamonn’s training group and in particular his highest achieving athlete to date Ciara Mageean has had an incredible season gaining a Silver Medal at the World Junior Championships and Irish junior 1500m and NI Senior record. Ciara is now the 1500m & 800m record holder. Ciara has finished 9th in the 2009 European Cross Country C’Ships and 10th in the recent Commonwelath Games. Eamonn is alo coach to other athletes including; Emma Mitchell who is currently ranked 4th in the UK U17 for 1500m and who finished 3rd in UK School Games. Emma is also Irish school Cross Country Champion and also competed with Ciara in the European Cross Country C’Ships. With this record of performances behind his group Eamonn is a more than deserving recipient of Performance Coach of the year.
Services to Coaching Sean Kyle
Sean has been actively coaching in Ballymena & Antrim AC for many years. His dedication to all the athletes within the club has been flawless. Sean has helped guide the careers of several top international athletes including James McIlroy. Sean is still attending B&A AC for club training sessions and although he is not hands on within the coaching role he is still there to give guidance and support to all the coaches and athletes. Sean is deserved of this award for his remarkable coaching skills and commitment given to athletes throughout all the years.