Strength of women's sport shines through

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD:ONE GLANCE around the banquet room of the Shelbourne Hotel was enough to realise there would be no easy winner of the 2011 Sportswoman of the Year.

It was possibly the most impressive line up of monthly winners since the awards were introduced in 2004, probably the best attended and definitely the best representation of the range of success of Irish women in sport.

Winning form was obvious across the board from boxing, canoeing, badminton, rugby, swimming and golf to athletics, squash, football, camogie, triathlon and to the eventual outright winner – Nina Carberry from horse racing.

Fittingly many of the women will be in contention in their respective events at next summer's London Olympics, a point made by The Irish Timeseditor Kevin O'Sullivan in introducing the 14 monthly winners – including joint winners for July and September.

“Who would have thought a few years ago that some of our best hopes for medals at the London Olympics next year would rest with our top sportswomen rather than their male counterparts,” he said.

“I know our last track gold medallist, Ronnie Delany, who is with us today, would dearly love to see an Irish woman on the podium in London next August. We will settle too for one from the boxing ring, sailing, swimming, badminton and canoeing.”

Also representing The Irish Timeswas sports editor Malachy Logan and managing director Liam Kavanagh and various sporting correspondents.

Delany, who struck 1,500-metre gold in 1956, was joined by another of Ireland’s Olympic medallists John Treacy, who attended in his capacity as chief executive of the Irish Sports Council, joint sponsors of the awards. Also in attendance was Senator Eamonn Coghlan, who finished fourth in the Olympics – twice – before securing World Championship gold in 1983.

Kieran Mulvey, chairman of the Sports Council, highlighted the role of Government support in allowing winners reach their full potential. “Strongly supported by the Government and Department of Sport and working with the governing bodies, a recognisably Irish high performance system is emerging which is producing results – 58 of the 59 medals won in 2011 were won by Irish-based athletes, a very significant statistic.”

Aileen Morrison and Fionnuala Britton, both monthly award winners, are coached by Welshman Chris Jones, who made the trip to Dublin for the occasion. Also representing athletics was AAI president Liam Hennessy.

Among the other high achievers from 2011 present were Katie Taylor, following her fourth successive title at the European Union championships in Poland in June; high-jumper Deirdre Ryan, who secured her place in the 2012 Olympic Games by making the final of the World Championships in August; and the Maguire twins, Leona and Lisa, who won the January and March awards for winning the Portuguese and Spanish amateur championships respectively. Only three of the winners unable to attend: swimmer Sycerika McMahon and squash player Madeline Perry (joint winners for July), and Cork women’s Gaelic football captain Amy O’Shea (joint winner for September).

February winner Fiona Coghlan represented rugby and former Munster rugby standout and now Irish Times columnist Alan Quinlan also attended.

Former Republic of Ireland soccer manager Brian Kerr, former Tipperary manager Nickey English and former boxing world champion Bernard Dunne were also present.

Ireland’s most renowned and respected women’s golfer Mary McKenna won the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was introduced by Roddy Carr, director for Irish Ladies Golf Promotions.

Established in 2004 and sponsored by The Irish Timesand the Irish Sports Council, the aim of the Sportswoman of the Year awards is to recognise the abilities and achievements of Irish women in sports.

The overall Sportswoman of the Year is selected from the monthly award winners.

MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS

Dec '10: Fionnuala Britton (Ath)

Jan: Leona Maguire (Golf)

Feb: Fiona Coghlan (Rugby)

Mar: Lisa Maguire (Golf)

Apr: Nina Carberry (Racing)

May: Jenny Egan (Canoeing)

Jun: Katie Taylor (Boxing)

July: Sycerika McMahon (Swim)

Madeleine Perry (Squash)

Aug: Deirdre Ryan (Athletics)

Sept: Ursula Jacob (Camogie)

Amy O'Shea (Ladies football)

Oct: Aileen Morrison (Triathlon)

Nov: Chloe Magee (Badminton)