Bobby Platt has won the Northern Ireland Sports Forum’s Paddy Patterson Award at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards for a lifetime’s service to sport in Northern Ireland.
Bobby has been instrumental in developing world class rowing talent and has inspired a generation of rowers including Alan Campbell, Richard Chambers and Richard Archibald.
2012 gold medal hopeful Campbell said, “Bobby has been instrumental in my own rowing career and deserves tremendous credit for getting so many people involved in the sport at all levels.
Bobby has dedicated nearly 70 years to the sport of rowing and is a life long member of Bann Rowing Club filling every position in the club including a record 11 consecutive years as club captain.
The other award winners were:
SPORTS STAR OF THE YEAR: Graeme McDowell
HALL OF FAME: Tony McCoy
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Paddy Barnes
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ciara Mageean
TEAM OF THE YEAR: Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Team
YOUNG TEAM OF THE YEAR: Tyron Minors
MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Stephen Friel and Michael Hawkins
SPORTS PERSON WITH A DISABILITY: Sally Brown
LOCAL HEROES: Banbridge Academy boys’ hockey teams
GEORGE BEST BREAKTHROUGH AWARD: Craig Cathcart
SPECIAL AWARD: Bryn Cunningham