Joint-awards for March

Drumree jockey Barry Geraghty and former Walterstown footballer Paddy Carr have been selected as the joint recipients of the Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotels Sports Personality-of-the-month for March. Geraghty proved again that he is one of the top jockeys withthree winners at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival. The highlight of Geraghty"s Cheltenham came on the opening day when he won the Champion Hurdle on board 22/1 shot Punjabi for trainer Nicky Henderson. He also claimed the Arkle Chase on the opening day when he rode the Tom Cooper-trained Forpadydeplasterer and the Triumph Hurdle on board Zaynar on the final day. Carr enjoyed his greatest day as a manager when he guided Kilmacud Crokes to the All-Ireland Club SFC title with a St Patrick"s Day victory over Crossmaglen Rangers at Croke Park. Carr is a hugely respected coach in Meath and won several Meath SFCs with Walterstown before guiding the fortunes of the Meath minors and Summerhill seniors for a number of years. This is the third annual Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotels Sports Personality-of-the-year awards. Each monthly winner during 2009 will go forward to the annual banquet which will take place at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim on Monday 8th February next year where the overall winner will be announced. Local artist Seamus Cassidy will produce the monthly awards and the overall awards in the main category and subsidiary categories which will include outstanding achievement, young sportsperson and hall of fame. January - Joanna Morgan; February - Stephen Clynch.