We celebrate our sporting stars who will be chasing the prizes at the Larne Borough Sports Awards

The Veteran’s Award

(Sponsor: Inver Garden

Centre)

Representing club, county, province and country, local athlete and duathlete David Clarke has enjoyed a fantastic year. Highlights include a fourth-place finish in the Vets 50 Category representing Ireland in the World Duathlon Championships, a personal best representing Northern Ireland at the British and Irish Cross Country Championships, and gold in the Vet 50 category at the Irish Duathlon Championships.

Anne Snoddy – Hockey

It was a busy year for Larne Ladies player Anne, who gained selection for the Ulster Over-45 hockey team who won the inter-pros in April.

From this squad, she was selected for the Irish Ladies’ Over-50s team which competed at the World Cup in Rotterdam. As a valued member of the squad, Anne collected a bronze medal when the team finished third in the tournament.

Adele Neill – Duathlon/Triathlon

Competing in both duathlon and triathlon, Adele has had a successful 2014 at local and international level. Her season highlights include a fourth-place finish in the Vet 35 category at the ITU World Duathlon Championships. She also had an eighth-place finish in her category at the European Duathlon Championships. Adele had plenty of local duathlon and triathlon success with a host of overall placed finishes.

Allyson O’Toole

– Athletics

A number of well-placed finishes throughout 2014 in club and provincial races saw Allyson gain selection for the Northern Ireland Masters XC Team.

Comfortable both on the track and on the roads, her standout performances saw her claim several first-place finishes on the local club race circuit, as well as third-place finishes in the 800m and 1500m NI and Ulster Track and Field Championships.

Challenger Award 2014

(Sponsor:

Chaine FM)

Julianne Greer

– Athletics

Overcoming Guillain-Barré syndrome, which severly attacked her immune and nervous systems, many would have been apprehensive about taking part in sport and physical activity, but not Julianne! Grateful for overcoming such long-lasting and severe side-effects, she found a new passion through athletics.

Starting through the ‘Couch to 5k’ programme, she joined East Coast Athletic Club and this year has completed gruelling events such as the Causeway Coast 10k and Tollymore 10k. She’s an inspiration to her team-mates every week!

Juliane Keane – Athletics

Having Multiple Sclerosis since 2004, there was no slowing Julieane this year! And all this despite having to cope with long relapse periods with severe side effects.

However, in 2014 she has shaken all this off to have a rapid year in local athletics. Trying to regularly train while managing her condition, she competed in a number of 10k events, achieving a number of personal best performances. Of particular note was her PB at the Runher 10k Race, while she fundraised for the local Oxygen Therapy Centre.

Claire Taggart – Boccia

Despite having to contend with being diagnosed with Functional Dystonia, a muscular condition, Claire has managed to continue to develop her Boccia career.

Representing the local Ballygally Boccia Club in the Ulster League, she was selected to represent Northern Ireland in the summer. Her year was capped off when her talent was further noticed as she was selected for the Team GB Paralympic Boccia squad late in 2014. She now prepares for a trip to the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio next summer.

School Team  of the Year

(Sponsor: Brennan Hygiene)

Corran Integrated PS

football team

In 2014 Corran Integrated were rewarded for several years’ hard work and commitment when they won all but one of the tournaments they entered.

This included the Larne Primary Schools’ League Championship, which they won for the first time in their history. The team is built on pride, enjoyment and hard work as well as being encouraged to play football the ‘right way’.

St Killian’s College senior golf team

In 2014, St Killian’s College’s senior golf team won the Ulster Senior Schools’ Scratch Cup for the first time by an emphatic eight-stroke margin. The team progressed to the All-Ireland Series as the Ulster representatives, only to lose in a play-off hole to the eventual winners. The team’s success was further enhanced by the fact they were one of the youngest teams ever to achieve Ulster Senior Cup success.

Junior Team  of the Year

(Sponsor: CS Sports)

Cairndhu Rowing Club

under-14 boys’ crew

This young crew only formed last year and their dedication to training and great team chemistry laid the foundations for a successful 2014. Having trained throughout the year, often in adverse weather conditions, their hard work paid off when they won the Antrim Coast, Ulster and All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships titles. They were also awarded the ‘Crew of the Championships’ accolade at the AICRC to top off a great year.

St Killian’s College

– senior golf team

In 2014, St Killian’s College senior golf team won the Ulster Senior Schools’ Scratch Cup for the first time and progressed to the All-Ireland Series as the Ulster representatives, losing in a play-off hole to the eventual winners. The team was one of the youngest ever to achieve Ulster Senior Cup success.

Junior Sports  Performer of the Year

(Sponsor: Catterpillar)

Jenna McCarlie - Sailing

Jenna has had a great 2014 on the water. Only 12 years old, Jenna has been very competitive, winning her age category and finishing second overall at the ITCA World’s in Wales.

She also secured the ITCA National and Provincial Series in the Under-12 category. Her success saw her gain selection for the RYA Junior Development Squad in preparation for the 2015 season.

Marc

McKinstry – Golf

2014 was a busy year for Marc as he represented both the Ulster and Ireland Under-18 teams. Individually, he has also achieved some big results, winning the Leinster under-18 youths, Leinster Boys’ under-16 and Munster Boys’ under-16 tournaments. His year was complete as he secured the overall Ulster Under-18 Order of Merit title, which led to him being selected for the Ulster and Ireland under-18 development panels.

Cameron Turley – Motocross

In what was his first year competing in the Ulster Championships, Islandmagee teenager Cameron won six out of seven Ulster Motocross Championship rounds, and were it not for mechanical trouble on his bike, he could well have won them all! Such was the talent he showed in 2014, he was signed by the Husqvarna Team for 2015.

Alistair Burke –

Rugby / Athletics

Alistair has split his time between both rugby and athletics this year and he has proved his talent in both.

In rugby, he was selected for Ulster under-17 squad, and has since progressed to the under-18s. In athletics, Alistair also represented his school at Ulster and Ireland level, as part of Larne Grammar School’s relay team which won the Ulster title and qualified for the All-Ireland finals. He also finds time to row for Cairndhu Rowing Club and even has time to compete in powerlifting.

Coach of the Year

(Sponsor: Toals Bookmakers)

Richard and Colin Adair – Rugby

Brothers Richard and Colin Adair have re-built Larne RFC Mini section and 2014 saw record numbers of over 100 regular participants.

Open to all kids aged five years and up, Richard and Colin co-ordinate a Saturday programme based at Larne RFC. As well as the coaching, they also share the administrative responsibilities that such programmes create.

Their enthusiasm, love of the sport and overall commitment is infectious throughout the club, and all while managing full-time jobs and families.

Mark McManus – Athletics

A previous winner of this award, Mark coaches with East Coast Athletic Club (ECAC). While working, keeping a family, and managing to still compete himself, he has designed and delivered the club coaching programme as well as coached several elite runners. His proudest achievement in 2014, however, was the formation of East Coast Cheetahs. This popular and successful junior section of ECAC introduces kids as young as four to athletics and already boasts over 40 members.

Gary Haveron – Football

In 2014 Gary Haveron really made his mark in senior football as coach of Carrick Rangers FC.

His impact since taking the role in late 2013 has continued with the squad progressing on the pitch. Narrowly missing out on promotion in May, Gary has built on this and after constructing a new team in the summer, he has already guided them to notable success, winning the Steel and Sons Cup final - a trophy the club last won in 1960s. Carrick currently remain in contention for promotion to the Danske Bank Premiership.

Team of the Year

(Sponsor: Danske Bank)

Cairndhu Golf Club – Ladies’

Intermediate Cup team

The first time these ladies have ever reached the final of the Intermediate Cup, the Cairndhu Ladies’ team were Ulster runners-up in 2014. Beaten by the eventual national champions, the team battled through a competition with over 60 teams, using eight players in total.

Built on team spirit and strong friendship, they managed to overcome the challenge that playing with low handicapped players brings, having to concede many shots to opposing teams in each round of the competition.

Larne Rugby Club – First XV

A memorable 2014 for Larne Rugby Club’s 1st XV squad began with the team winning the Randalstown Tournament in pre-season. In a competitive league, they finished runners-up, losing just two matches throughout the whole league programme.

The highlight of the season was a memorable victory in the final of the Gordon West Cup at Ravenhill, capping off a successful campaign for the Glynn-based club.

Sports Performer of the Year

(Sponsor: Larne Times)

Darren Witherspoon – Bowls

Darren marked a successful year by achieving international representative honours for the Ireland under-25 Indoor Bowls team and was a gold medal winner at the British Isles Championships.

He also won the National Pairs competition and is currently ranked 40th in the world the indoor shortmat bowls category. In outdoor bowls, he has also been competitive locally, winning several club trophies  over course of the  season.

Martin McHugh – Bowls

Martin capped a memorable year by representing Northern Ireland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. It was his fifth appearance at the Commonwealths where he reached the quarter-finals in both Singles and Pairs competitions.

Locally, he reached the British Isles Pairs and Singles’ finals and was back-to-back winner of the Nothern Ireland Bowling Association and Irish Bowling Association Pairs competitions.

Christopher Snoddy – Bowls

It was another busy year for Gleno bowler Christopher, as his performances locally saw him gain selection for the Irish under-25 team for the third year in a row.

He played a key role as the team travelled to compete in the British Isles International  Series. He was also selected for the Private Greens Inter-Association under-25 team, which went on to win the series in Dublin.

n The award for Services to Sport, sponsored by Larne Tarders’ Forum, will be announced on the evening. The inductee into the Hall of Fame, sponsored by Larne Borough Council,  will also be revealed at the  ceremony.