2013’s Under-18 Sport Person of the Year, Bethany Firth from Ards Swimming Club, has been recognised at the 2014 Sports Person of the Year at the Ards Sports Awards sponsored by Charles Hurst.
She was among the many individuals and teams recognised at the annual Ards Borough Sports Awards on Friday 20 March 2015.
Ards Ladies Hockey Club’s senior squad, again took the Sports Team of the Year title, with Ards Rugby Club U-18 squad named under 18 Junior Team and St Patricks Ballygalet Camogie Team receiving the Under-15’s Junior Team of the Year.
More individual success came for archer Sophie Benton, from the Lough Cuan Bowmen Club, who won Under-18 Young Sports Person of the Year, and martial artist, Lucy Ouldfield took the same title in the under-15 category.
Sean Young of St Patrick’s GAC was named Sports Coach of the Year, while the commitment and service of Norman Mawhinney of Comber Rec FC was acknowledged with a win in the Sports Volunteer category.
Lifetime Awards went to Jams Ogg of Donaghadee Sailing Club, Neville Philips of Ards Rangers FC and Vincent Mason from St Patrick’s GAC.
Recognition was also given to the compere for the evening Denis Nash, participants in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and previous Sports Awards Winners Justin Reid and Andrew White who both spoke to the audience on the evening on highlights of their careers so far.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mayor of Ards, Councillor Philip Smith, said: “Tonight’s awards are especially poignant, as in less than two weeks we here in Ards shall merge with our neighbours in North Down to form a new Borough Council, and next year’s Sports Awards will reflect this partnership.
“To use a well-known quip, it is however, ‘the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end’ as the new joint Council and Sports Development Committee will build on what has gone before. Our legacy of sporting achievement shall hopefully continue as the new Council seeks to support sport and physical activity to enhance wellbeing as part of its corporate vision and strategy.”
Sports Person of the Year – Sponsored Charles Hurst Renault Winner: Bethany Firth
Sports Team of the Year – Sponsor Ulster Bank Winner: Ards Ladies Hockey Club – Senior Squad
Young Sports Person of the Year Under 15s – Sponsor Danske Bank Winner: Lucy Ouldfield
Young Sports Person of the Year Under 18s – Sponsor Trophies by Design Winner: Sophie Benton
Under 15s Junior Team of the Year – Sponsor Lambert Smith Hampton Winner: St PatricksBallygalet Camogie Team
Under 18s Junior Team of the Year – Sponsor Hughes Insurance Winner: Ards Rugby Club U18 Squad
Volunteer of the Year – Sponsor Belvoir Lettings Winner: Norman Mawhinney
Sports Coach of the Year – Sponsor Progressive Building Society Winner: Sean Young, St Patricks GAC
Lifetime Awards – Sponsor Mayor of Ards Borough * James Ogg, Donaghadee Sailing Club * Neville Philips, Ards Ranger FC * Vincent Mason, St Patricks GAC
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