Write a commentThe Linwoods backed Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards are asking Sports fans locally to nominate their top amateur and professional sporting stars for 2014 before the closing date on Monday 1st December 2014.
The Sports Awards celebrate the excellent achievements of local sports people from grass roots to elite sport and the public can nominate in each of the 12 categories by visiting www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sportsawards2014 and completing the online nomination form. Nominations will be judged and shortlisted in December and shortlisted finalists will be invited to come along to the January 26 awards evening hosted by TV personalities Jackie Fullerton and Claire McCollum.
As well as the coveted Sports Star of the Year title, category awards include Manager/Coach of the Year (sponsored by Volvo), Young Team and Young Player of the Year as well as the Belleek backed Hall of Fame trophy, Local Heroes and Sportsperson with a Disability. Other categories are the Malcolm Brodie Player of the Year, Special Recognition Award, George Best Breakthrough, Team of the Year and the WJ ‘Paddy’ Patterson Award for services to sport presented by the NI Sports Forum.
Armagh based health foods company, Linwoods are once again backing the Sports Awards and Linwoods Marketing Manager, Joanne Hayden said, “I look forward to another fantastic Gala Evening with the opportunity to meet in person many of the Northern Ireland athletes who have played such an important role in promoting the Province on the international sporting stage over the last two decades. They have been a source of pride and inspiration to us all.”
Chairman of the judging panel and Belfast Telegraph sports editor, Steven Beacom said, “I would really encourage everyone to put forward nominees for consideration from grass roots and elite sports sectors. Northern Ireland continues to punch well above its weight and year on year the judges face a huge challenge ultimately deciding on the top winners.”
Last year’s winners included jump jockey AP McCoy, Cliftonville Football Club, motorbike star Michael Dunlop, GAA coaching legend Micky Harte, Paralympic skier Kelly Gallagher, top cyclist Martyn Irvine and champion boxer Carl Frampton Also honoured were archery champion Patrick Huston, Lurgan College 1st XI Girls Hockey Team and long-serving boxing coach Billy McKee. Also chalking up awards were Cliftonville FC manager Tommy Breslin, the Ulster players from the Ireland Women’s Rugby Team and NI Commonwealth Games Team Manager Jack Monaghan.
Also supporting the awards programme is Sport Northern Ireland who will take on the role of ‘sporting partner.’ Chief Executive Antoinette McKeown said: “Sport Northern Ireland is delighted to once again support the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards which recognises local sporting achievement from grass roots right through to high performance. 2014 has been a truly inspirational year for sport with our local athletes excelling on an international stage.”
Other companies and organisations supporting the 2014 Sports Awards are Belleek, who will supply specially created trophies and will back the Hall of Fame category, Volvo, sponsors of the Coach/Manager of the Year Award and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum who award the WJ Paddy Patterson Award for Services to Sport.
For details on each category and to submit a nomination visit www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sportsawards2014. Nominations can be submitted online or by email to sarah.weir@jprni.com or by hard copy to Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards, C/O JPR, Sylvan House, 232-240 Belmont Road, Belfast BT4 2AW. The closing date/time is Monday 1st December 2014 at 5pm.
To purchase tickets for the Gala Awards evening on 26th January 2015, contact Sarah Weir at JPR Tel 028 9076 0066 or email sarah.weir@jprni.com .
