
Last chance to nominate your local sporting stars
NOMINATIONS for the annual Ards and North Down Sports Awards will close tomorrow (Friday).
The aim of the Sports Awards is to recognise, promote and reward local sporting achievements of teams and individuals across the Ards and North Down borough during 2024.
Whether it is someone you admire for their passion in sport, someone who has inspired you, instilled great confidence in you or your child, or perhaps given up a lot of their free time to help in a sports club – there are many reasons why you can nominate that sporting star who has made an impact on you.
Nominations, which are being sought from schools, sports clubs, individuals and members of the public, close at 12pm on Friday, January 10. Nomination forms are available for download from www.leisureardsandnorthdown.com/sports-development/awards or by contacting the council’s Sports Development team on 0300 013 3333 (ext. 40341) / sportsawards@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk.
The winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony in the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel on Friday, March 21. Broadcaster Denise Watson will once again host the evening.
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alistair Cathcart, said: “The Sports Awards provide a fantastic way for us to recognise the wealth of sporting talent and achievement in Ards and North Down, from grassroots level through to the highest echelons of sport.
“Our borough has produced many world class athletes, top level coaches and award winning sports teams, not to mention countless volunteers, and the Sports Awards provide an opportunity for them to be recognised for their efforts and achievements.”
This year’s nomination categories are:
- Sports Person of the Year sponsored by Mervyn Stewart Skoda
- Sports Person of the Year U18 sponsored by Prestige Trophies
- Sports Person of the Year U15 sponsored by Exploris
- Sports Team of the Year sponsored by Progressive Building Society
- U18 Junior Sports Team of the Year sponsored by Newtownards Saturday Market Traders
- U15 Junior Sports Team of the Year sponsored by Ards Suicide Awareness Group
- Sports Coach of the Year sponsored by Echlinville Distillery
- Volunteer of the Year in memory of Alderman Menagh
- Lifetime Service Recognition sponsored by the Mayor of Ards and North Down
- Wall of Fame Inductee sponsored by Ards and North Down Sports Forum.