ATHLETICS IRELAND PRESS RELEASE. The fourth annual National Athletics Awards take place on Saturday November 13th 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry. In association with Woodie’s DIY & Tipperary Crystal, the evening will recognise and celebrate Ireland’s most successful and inspirational athletes, coaches and officials of the 2009/10 season.
The twelve prestigious award winners in a wide range of categories have been carefully selected by a panel of well-respected athletics experts with a wide knowledge and understanding of all disciplines of the sport.
For all the nominees in each category however, it is a worthy achievement to be nominated and to be recognised by the selection committee.
2010 has been a very exciting year for Irish athletics and the black tie evening promises to be a highly enjoyable and entertaining one with a gala dinner and live band to conclude the presentation of the awards.
The full list of categories, awards and nominees for the 4th Annual National Athletics Awards are:
Track Athlete of the Year:
Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC), David Gillick (Dundrum South Dublin AC), Paul Hession (Athenry AC), Ailis McSweeney (Leevale AC).
Field Athlete of the Year:
Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC), Deirdre Ryan (Dundrum South Dublin AC), Tori Pena (Finn Valley AC)
Race Walker of the Year:
Robert Heffernan (Togher AC), Olive Loughnane (Loughrea AC), Jamie Costin (West Waterford AC), Colin Griffin (Ballinamore AC)
Road / Cross Country Athlete of the Year:
Andrew Ledwith (Fr Murphy’s AC), Mary Cullen (North Sligo AC), Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers AC), Linda Byrne (Dundrum South Dublin AC)
Emerging Athlete of the Year:
Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn AC), Paul Robinson (St Coca’s AC), Kate Veale (West Waterford AC), Mark English (Letterkenny AC)
Club of the Year:
Ulster – Ballymena and Antrim AC
Connaught – Athenry AC
Leinster – St Abbans AC
Munster – Ferrybank AC
Dublin – Clonliffe Harriers AC
Inspirational Performance of the Year
Women’s 4×100m Relay Team for their run in Barcelona,
Ailis McSweeney (Leevale AC) for her Irish 100m record,
Jason Smyth (City of Derry AC) for his win in the European Cup,
Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank AC) for her 200m win the European Cup,
Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers AC) for his run in the 2009 Euro Cross-Country
Coach of the Year
Noelle Morrissey, Eamonn Christie, John Sheehan, John Coghlan.
Master Athlete of the Year:
Mags Grennan (Clonliffe Harriers AC), Pat O’Shea (Iveragh AC), Pat Timmons (Raheny Shamrock AC).
Other Awards which will be decided on the night are:
Athlete of the Year, Official of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award
The National Athletics Awards, in association with Woodie’s DIY and Tipperary Crystal, will take place on Saturday November 13th 2010 in The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin.