Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards winners
Olympic cyclist Wendy Houvenaghel clinched the top trophy at this year’s Magners backed Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards for 2008 and was named Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year. The Beijing silver medallist who hails from Upperlands is the first ever female to win the Telegraph award and joins other sporting icons including the late great Joey Dunlop, Darren Clarke, Tony McCoy and David Healy.
Pictured above: David Ames receiving his award for the Sport Northern Ireland Local Heroes Award from Dominic Walsh, Chair of Sport Northern Ireland
The gala awards ceremony held at Belfast’s Ramada Hotel on 19th January honoured 12 top sporting heroes from both the amateur and professional fields and attracted over 400 guests including high profile stars from the world of local sport.
Also honoured were Northern Ireland and Manchester United legend Harry Gregg who was inducted into the Hall of Fame, ‘golden girl’ Dame Mary Peters, awarded the WJ ‘Paddy’ Patterson prize for services to sport and double gold medallist at the 2008 Paralympics, athlete Jason Smyth who picked up the Sports Person with a Disability accolade.
Other awards winners ranged from talented young stars, racing driver Wayne Boyd and Irish hockey ace David Ames, who collected respectively the Young Player of the Year and Local Heroes awards to David Jeffrey who won this year’s Manager/Coach of the Year.
The George Best Breakthrough award was presented to outstanding boxer Martin Rogan and this year’s Player of the Year was Tyrone GAA star Sean Cavanagh with Olympic bronze medallist Paddy Barnes.
The Northern Ireland Commonwealth Youth Games squad, who gained their best ever trawl of medals at the October Games in India, took home the Young Team of the Year trophy and the mighty Tyrone who clinched their third All Ireland in 2008 won Team of the Year.
The gala awards ceremony held at Belfast’s Ramada Hotel on 19th January honoured 12 top sporting heroes from both the amateur and professional fields and attracted over 400 guests including high profile stars from the world of local sport.
Guests at the sporting extravaganza included former Northern Ireland footballers Pat Jennings and Gerry Armstrong, rugby stars BJ Botha, Ian Humphreys and Andrew Trimble and rower Richard Archibald. Others star names were cricketer Kyle McCallan, boxer Paul McCloskey and mountaineer Hannah Shields.
Paying tribute to all winners Belfast Telegraph editor Martin Lindsay said: “We’re delighted so many well-known names joined us for our 2008 awards ceremony and well done to all of our winners. It’s certainly been a fantastic year for local sport!”
This is the seventh year that Magners Irish Cider has partnered the Awards as title sponsor and Gavan Morris, Marketing Manager said: “Magners continues to play an important role within the Northern Ireland sporting arena and we’re delighted to help recognise and reward some of our top sporting heroes. Congratulations to all of tonight’s award winners.”
Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards
1. Linwoods Young Player of the Year, – Wayne Boyd (motor racing)
2. Peugeot Motor Company Young Team of the Year – NI Commonwealth Youth Games
3. Pepsi Player of the Year – Sean Cavanagh
4. Sport Northern Ireland Local Heroes Award – David Ames (Hockey)
5. Disability Needs Sportsperson with a Disability Award – Jason Smyth
6. NI Sports Forum WJ ‘Paddy’ Patterson Award – Dame Mary Peters
7. Energise Sport Team of the Year – Tyrone GAA
8. Press Eye Special Award – Paddy Barnes
9. Ladbrokes Manager/Coach of the Year – David Jeffrey
10. One1918 George Best Breakthrough Award – Martin Rogan
11. Belfast Telegraph Hall of Fame Award – Harry Gregg MBE
12. Magners Sports Star of the Year – Wendy Houvenaghel |
