Gala awards on the horizon

SOME of the best known names in Irish sport will gather at the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim on Monday, 2nd February when the 2008 'Meath Sports Personality of the Year" will be announced at a gala dinner. This is the second year of the prestigious awards which is a joint-promotion between the Meath Chronicle and Cusack Hotels and, for the first time, there will also be an 'Outstanding Sports Achievement" category. The gala dinner will be compered for the second successive year by the doyen of sports commentators Micheal O Muircheartaigh. He proved to be a big hit at the event last year mixing folklore, personal memories and humour to entertain the big crowd at the Trim hotel. The overall winner was Gordon Elliott who trained Silver Birch to the 2007 Aintree Grand National. The 2008 awards have been commissioned from local artist Seamus Cassidy who is based at Beauparc. and a number of presentations will take place before the overall winner is announced. This year there will also be a Hall of Fame award which will be announced on the night while the winner of the 'outstanding" category will be selected by readers of the Meath Chronicle. The voting coupon appeared in last week"s issue. Those in the hunt for the big rpize, this year"s 'Sports Personalty of the Year" award include the brother / sister combination of Paul Carberry and Nina Carberry. Paul took the February award after he was first past the post with four winners on the one day at Punchestown. The following month Nina was recognised after she partnered Garde Champetre to win the cross country chase at the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival. The prodigious talents of Bohermeen jockey Johnny Murtagh was once more highlighted when he claimed six winners and took the 'leading jockey" title at Royal Ascot. That notable achievement resulted in him ending up with the June accolade. Rugby was well represented among the awards with the high-achieving Navan team sharing the April accolade with golfer Damien McGrane who came in from the cold when he won his first title on the European Tour, clinching the Volvo China Open in Beijing. Denis Hurley, who was brought up in Kells, played at full-back as Munster defeated Toulouse to win the European Cup in Cardiff and that achievement was duly recognised when he won the May award. Two well known figures from the world of Gaelic football featured prominently in the list of award winners. Meath minor football manager Pat Coyle took the July honour for leading his team to a Leinster title. Sean Boylan took the October accolade after he guided Ireland to victory over Australia in the International Rules series. Moynalvey"s achievement in bagging the Leinster JFC crown under manager PJ Cummins was recognised when they got the nod for December and Kilmessan hurlers won the Leinster IHC title in style, defeating Kilkenny side Erin"s Own in the provincial decider in what was a memorable achievement. Representatives from other sports were recognised with boxer Darren Sutherland took the August award for winning the bronze medal in Beijing Olympics while Bettystown woman Rachel Eagleton displayed an indomitable spirit to win two gold medals and a silver at the European Transplant and Dialysis Games in Wurzburg, Germany. She took the September award. The list of nominees for the 2008 'Outstanding Sports Achievement Awards as voted by Meath Chronicle readers includes Tom Sheridan and Brian Carroll (handball), Colm Gilcreest (snooker), Noel Meade (horseracing), Meath camogie team, Navan O"Mahonys football team and Gary Rogers (soccer).