Matthew lights up Youth Awards

UNDER 13 European Badminton Champion, Matthew Lightbody took the top prize at the Sport Lisburn organised Draynes Farm Lisburn Junior Sports Personality of the Year awards.

With over 200 people packed into the Island Civic Centre, Lisburn's young sports stars took the spotlight in recognition of their past years' achievements. Special guests Dame Mary Peters and Dr Janet Gray, guest speaker mountaineer Banjo Bannon and MC Pete Snodden, ensured for a lively,entertaining evening. To kick off the event there was a cheerleading demonstration from the young dance group 'Logic Legends' from the Logic Cafe in Moira.

In second place for the main awards was Katie Reid from Lisburn Swimming Club, now a member of the Irish 2012 squad. There was a tie for third place between Paula Grant, who has represented the Irish Girls Golf Team and Under 12 Irish Judo Champion, Zeile Gallagher from the Hazama Judo Club.

The School Team Awards were dominated by Friends School and presented by Mayor Councillor Allan Ewart. Winners were the Senior Boys Badminton Team of Tony Murphy, Ruariaidh Sim, Stuart Lightbody and Matthew Rea.

Second, the Junior Girls badminton team of Ruth Riddis Caroline Black, Kirsty Walker and Rachel Orr. And third the Girls Senior Tennis team of Katherine Mills, Emma Campbell, Claire Pearson and Jenna McQueen.

There was a great turnout for the Junior Club Awards, with all the top three teams well supported. Michael Drayne from Draynes Farms, sponsors of the event, presented these awards. Winners were Hazama Junior Judo Club, second Lisburn Rugby Club Under 11s and third Lisnagarvey Hockey Club Boys Under 13s.

There was also a special award presented by the Chairman of Lisburn's Leisure Services Committee, Councillor David Archer, in recognition of the soccer team from Lower Ballinderry (the 'A' team) who won the Midnight Soccer Tournament which took place in Dundalk last December.

Gerry O' Neill, Chairman of Sport Lisburn, thanked everyone for their support over the past year and congratulated the winners on their sporting success.

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