Unsung heroes of Belfast are recognised The great and the good of sport joined Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers and former Ulster Rugby captain, Simon Best, to honour the usually unsung heroes of the city’s sporting world at a glitzy dinner in Belfast Castle on Monday 14 April. The first ever Lucozade Sport Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Award honoured 20 people for their work behind the scenes in sporting clubs, organisations and education, representing the different ways candidates contributed to and developed sport and physical activity across the city.
Athletics Northern Ireland won an award for the annual Irish Indoor Athletics Championships at the Odyssey Arena for a ‘Major Event with largest Sports Development Impact’. David Seaton MBE collected the Belfast Crystal Award on behalf of the governing body. This event has grown over the last number of years and attracts a huge number of entries from all over Ireland, ranging from primary school children to Senior athletes.
Athletics NI work in partnership with Athletics Ireland on this event and receive funding from the Belfast City Council, Sport NI and sponsors Woodie’s DIY.
Marketing & Communications Officer Clare McCoy commented:
“The Odyssey Arena was transformed into a showcase for top class athletics at the Irish Indoor Championships in 2008 with increasing numbers of athletes and spectators along with attracting Olympic champions such as Roman Sebrle. It is a great honour to receive this award especially as we work hard to provide a platform for younger athletes while also offering a competitive environment on home soil for the elite athletes. Preparations have already started to secure funding for the 2009 Irish Indoor Championships”.
Other awards included Junior Coach of the Year, which went to Willowfield Harriers stalwart Lawson Cochrane. Lawson dedicates a lot of his time to coaching and is also a hard-working member of the Athletics NI Cross Country and Road Running Committee. Abbey’s Simon Taylor was named the ‘Best Newcomer’ in the Developing Coaching and Volunteers division. Simon was recognized for his work as secretary, coach, and team manager of Abbey. Simon assumed duties as secretary, coach and team manager in early 2007, shortly after the death of THEIR founder, Bobby Rea.
Councillor Rodgers said:
”This is the first initiative from the Physical Activity and Sports Development Strategy for the city of Belfast to be fulfilled. It is to recognise the contribution of the citizens of Belfast in promoting physical activity and sport. The men and women we honour tonight have gone, in many cases, more than one step further for their sport and I am delighted that the Council is working in partnership with Sport Belfast to recognise the achievements of these unsung heroes.”
Ashley Arnold, representing the sponsors of the event, Lucozade Sport, said:
“It is fantastic to have the opportunity to support a ceremony that recognises the top sporting talent in Belfast. I hope that the success of this year’s awards will mean that the Lucozade Sport Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Awards will be an annual event. “
