Sports fans, clubs, schools, governing and sports bodies in Northern Ireland are being urged to nominate their top sporting stars for 2015 with the launch of the Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Sports Awards. The awards programme is sponsored by Linwoods and honours Northern Ireland’s top sporting achievers in both the amateur and professional arenas. The gala ceremony which attracts some of our most famous and successful sporting heroes, will take place on Monday 25th January 2016 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Belfast.
Last year’s Hall of Fame winner football legend David Healy helped launched this year’s awards programme and was joined by Grace Campbell Marketing Executive from Linwoods, title sponsors and Steven Beacom, Sports Editor at the Belfast Telegraph.
The Sports Awards celebrate the excellent achievements of local sports people from grass roots to elite sport and the public can nominate in each of the 12 categories by visiting www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sportsawards2015 and completing a nomination form by Monday 30th November 2015. Nominations will be judged and shortlisted in December and shortlisted finalists will be invited to come along to the January 25 awards evening.
As well as the coveted Sports Star of the Year title, category awards include Manager/Coach of the Year, Young Team and Young Player of the Year as well as the Hall of Fame trophy, the Malcolm Brodie Player of the Year, Local Heroes and Sportsperson with a Disability. Other categories are Special Recognition Award, George Best Breakthrough, Team of the Year and the WJ ‘Paddy’ Patterson Award for services to sport presented by the NI Sports Forum.
Armagh based Health foods company, Linwoods are once again backing the Sports Awards and Linwoods marketing executive, Grace Campbell says the company is delighted once again to give its support to the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards, championing healthy living through this high-profile partnership.
“Linwoods is a multi-million pound manufacturing and distribution business based in Armagh producing a range of healthfoods. As a local company which has built its success, growth and international reputation on healthy foods and lifestyles, it is entirely natural that we should celebrate the achievements of Northern Ireland’s outstanding sportsmen and women.
“This last year has been a wonderful, action-packed testimony to our region’s sporting talents, from grass roots commitment to the dizzying heights of international acclaim. In the last twelve months we have been excited, entertained and inspired by our sporting heroes and we now look forward to honouring their achievements with these coveted awards.
“Sport – in all its guises – makes a wonderful contribution to the vibrancy and health of our community, an ethos which has strong resonance for all of us at Linwoods. Our healthfoods, seeds and berries provide powerful natural boosts to health and energy levels. Whether you are aspiring to sporting greatness or simply racing to keep up with the demands of modern living, Linwoods Healthfoods are a delicious way to get you off the starting blocks!”
Chairman of the judging panel and Belfast Telegraph Sports Editor, Steven Beacom said, “I would really encourage everyone to put forward nominees for consideration from both the grass roots and elite sports sectors. Northern Ireland continues to punch well above its weight and year on year the judges face a huge challenge ultimately deciding on the top winners. I’m certainly looking forward to a great line-up of nominations over the next two months.”
For details on each category and tips on how to create a nomination visit www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sportsawards2015
Nominations can be submitted online or by hard copy (no more than 200 words) and posted to Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards, C/O JPR, Sylvan House, 232-240 Belmont Road, Belfast BT4 2AW.
Tickets cost £60 plus vat (£72) per person or £600 plus vat (£720) for a table of 10. To purchase tickets for the Gala Awards evening on Monday 25th January 2016, contact Sarah Weir at JPR Tel 028 9076 0066 or email sarah.weir@jprni.com .