Banbridge athletes receive top awards

Local Banbridge Athletic Club members Elizabeth Little and Hannah Vogan have been named as the ‘firmus energy Athletes of the 2014 Super Five Series’ in the U13 and U15 categories respectively.
Dame Mary Peters congratulates and presents Banbridge AC member Elizabeth Little with her award for Athlete of the firmus energy Super Five series 2014 in the U13 category with Des Brown from firmus energy looking on.Dame Mary Peters congratulates and presents Banbridge AC member Elizabeth Little with her award for Athlete of the firmus energy Super Five series 2014 in the U13 category with Des Brown from firmus energy looking on.
Dame Mary Peters congratulates and presents Banbridge AC member Elizabeth Little with her award for Athlete of the firmus energy Super Five series 2014 in the U13 category with Des Brown from firmus energy looking on.

Organised by Lagan Valley Athletics Club and taking place at the Mary Peters track, the firmus energy Super Five is the largest youth athletics series in Northern Ireland.

It is designed to encourage beginners to come out and ‘have a go’ at track and field events as well as helping to develop serious global competitors and future local Olympians.

U13 contender Elizabeth Little won her age category and was presented with U13 girls ‘Athlete of the Series’ award for her regular success in the 100m sprint and the long-jump.

Banbridge athlete Hannah Vogan, centre, receives her award for Athlete of the firmus energy Super Five Series 2014 in the U15 category from Dame Mary Peters and Des Brown from firmus energy.Banbridge athlete Hannah Vogan, centre, receives her award for Athlete of the firmus energy Super Five Series 2014 in the U15 category from Dame Mary Peters and Des Brown from firmus energy.
Banbridge athlete Hannah Vogan, centre, receives her award for Athlete of the firmus energy Super Five Series 2014 in the U15 category from Dame Mary Peters and Des Brown from firmus energy.

Ulster Champion sprinter, Hannah Vogan, was recognised as the star performer in the U15 girls’ category, winning a number of gold and silver medals for the 100m and 200m races across the Series.

Bryan McCorkell from organisers Lagan Valley Athletics Club, commented: “Congratulations to Elizabeth and Hannah – being selected for this accolade was no mean feat. The 2014 series was the most successful of all the 24 years the initiative has run, with a record number of 260 participants attending each of the five evening events on average. It is great to see the popularity of athletics go from strength to strength – we are so impressed with the enthusiasm and level of talent shown during the series – in fact, it was difficult to choose just one overall winner from each age category.”

Des Brown from firmus energy added: “At firmus energy we are delighted to be able to do what we can to help power local talent and Banbridge athletes Elizabeth and Hannah epitomise that – congrats to them both. However, the beauty of the super five is that it really does cater for all abilities – those who truly are future professional contenders and those just starting out at the sport and wanting to give it a try. We look forward to kicking off the 2015 series and hope that it is as well received by the young people across Northern Ireland.”