Stars shine brightly at Sports Awards

The occasion was the 14th annual Ballymena Sports Awards, where the rich array of sporting talent that resides and competes within the borough was showcased to the full.

The superb surroundings of the Braid Town Hall complex once again played host to what has become the jewel in the crown of the area’s sporting social calendar and which was once again brilliantly compered by BBC presenter Jackie Fullerton.

Mayor of Ballymena, Alderman Hubert Nicholl, said: “This evening we celebrate the talented athletes of the borough of Ballymena but also recognise the important contributions of our coaches, administrators and volunteers, who carry out vital roles within the structure and development of sport.”

Paying tribute to the various sponsors of the awards, Alderman Nicholl said: “This support helps us to deliver this event in a manner which befits the standard of the nominees.

The Mayor also pointed to the successes of major sporting events held in Ballymena over the past year - including the Milk Cup finals, the PGA EuroPro Tour golf event at Galgorm Castle and the All Saints GAA Feis na nGleann, as well as the multitude of sports which takes place at grassroots level week in, week out.

“Sports and Ballymena go hand in hand and we are going into the Olympic year of 2012 with renewed vigour and determination,” added the Mayor, who also reiterated the Council’s support for sport in the borough through provision of facilities and also funding programmes such as the Sports Grants Scheme and Sporting Excellence Schemes.

Special presentations were made to All Saints Boxing Club and Portglenone Bowling Club, who celebrated their 50th and 30th anniversaries respectively in 2011.

Special guest for the evening was Ballykelly-based athlete Sally Brown, who won a bronze medal at the Paralympic World Championships in New Zealand along with a gold and silver medal at the World Junior Championships.

She outlined her training schedule, talked of how she has adapted her running style to her disability and spoke of her hopes for both this year and the future.

Thanks were also extended to Harry Cook for providing video footage to accompany the awards and to Council’s Community Sports Development Officer Gary Boyd, who co-ordinated the awards event.

* Don’t miss this week’s Ballymena Times for a two-page special feature from the event.