BELFAST TELEGRAPH SPORTS AWARDS 2011.

“YOUNG TEAM OF THE YEAR”

LURGAN COLLEGE 1ST XI GIRLS HOCKEY TEAM

 

 

ACHIEVEMENTS 2010-2011:

THIS REPRESENTS A CLEAN SWEEP OF ALL AVAILABLE TROPHIES OPEN TO 1ST XI GIRLS.

On Monday evening the annual Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards took place at the Ramada hotel in Belfast, hosted by Jackie Fullerton and Claire McCollum.  This represents the Northern Ireland equivalent of the glittering BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and in fact our own Darren Clarke who won the BBC title very recently followed it up with the Northern Ireland Sports Personality award on Monday evening.

Lurgan College girls’ 1st XI hockey team, who made a clean sweep of all available trophies for 2010-2011 season were nominated in the ‘young team of the year’ category, where they faced stiff opposition from Dalriada School Volleyball team, The Northern Ireland Youth Commonwealth Games team and St.Colman’s Newry GAA team.

With such an accolade of achievements the young College side were always strong contenders but when the Sports Minister confirmed to the huge gathering of sporting elite that Lurgan College had indeed won the award, there was warm applause as captain Natalie Barr and coach Julie Hinds went up to receive it.

This final award was the icing on the cake for a hugely talented and committed young team who won every single piece of silverware available to them.  Given the lack of playing facilities at College Walk and the constant need to travel offsite to train and play regular fixtures, it simply makes their 2010-2011 season all the more remarkable.  The pupils, staff, Headmaster and Board of Governors of Lurgan College are rightly proud of this group of players and their dedication to their sport. 

The Lurgan College community continue to show their unwavering support to this season’s squad who have currently reached the quarter final stage of the Senior School’s Cup competition, having already retained their Senior Tournament title from last season.  The College 2nd XI have also reached the quarter final of the McDowell cup competition, illustrating the strength in depth in girls’ hockey that exists at the school.   This strength is also consolidated through the strong links that exist between Lurgan Ladies Hockey Club and the school, with many girls turning out for both on a weekly basis.  

Hopefully the memories of last season will now spur both current school teams on to future successes this season.

JH.