Ards and North Down Sports Awards
Promoting and rewarding local sporting achievement.
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2024 Sports Awards
The 2024 Ards and North Down Sports Awards nominations are now OPEN.
View the Nomination Criteria here.
Completed forms should be emailed to: sportsawards@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk or returned to Sports Development, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Londonderry Park, Newtownards, BT23 8SG
Nominations close Friday 10 January at 12 noon.
The 2024 Ards and North Down Sports Awards was launched on Thursday 21 November 2024 at the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Bangor.
The aim of the Awards Ceremony is to recognise, promote and reward local sporting achievement of teams and individuals across the Ards and North Down Borough.
The 2024 categories and sponsors are:
- Sports Person of the Year, sponsored by Mervyn Stewart, Skoda
- Sports Person of the Year (Under 18), sponsored by Prestige Trophies
- Sports Person of the Year (Under 15), sponsored by Exploris
- Sports Team of the Year, sponsored by Progressive Building Society
- Under 18s Junior Team of the Year, sponsored by Newtownards Saturday Market Traders
- Under15s Junior Team of the Year, sponsored by Ards Suicide Awareness Group
- Sports Coach of the Year, sponsored by The Echlinville Distillery
- Volunteer of the Year in memory of Alderman Menagh
- Lifetime Service Recognition Award, sponsored by Mayor of Ards and North Down
- Wall of Fame Inductee, sponsored by Ards and North Down Sports Forum
Previous Sports Award Winners
Please see our previous winners below.
2023 Sports Awards Winners
Sports Person of the Year (Sponsored by Mervyn Stewart)
Winner: Rhys McClenaghan (Gymnastics)
Wall of Fame Inductee (Sponsored by Ards and North Down Sports Forum)
Winner: Terry Harryman (Rallying)
Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by the Mayor of Ards and North Down)
Winners: Nan Allely (Bowling) and Michael Spence (Rugby)
Volunteer of the Year (In memory of Alderman Menagh)
Winner: Alex Jones (Football)
Special Recognition Award and Under 15 Sports Person of the Year (Sponsored by Royal British Legion)
Winner: Haleigh Miskimmin (Gymnastics)
Under 15 Junior Sports Team of the Year (Sponsored by Dynes Residential)
Winner: Glenlola Collegiate Under 15 Elite Trampoline Team
Under 18 Junior Sports Team of the Year (Sponsored by K9 Search and Rescue)
Winner: Ards Ladies Under 18 Indoor Hockey Team
Under 18 Sports Person of the Year (Sponsored by Prestige Trophies)
Winner: Grace Davison (Swimming)
Sports Team of the Year (Sponsored by Progressive Building Society)
Winner: Bangor Bowling Club
Sports Coach of the Year (Sponsored by RNLI)
Winner: Luke Carson (Gymnastics)
2022 Sports Awards Winners
On Friday 10 March, 2023 at Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, the 2022 Sports Awards were awarded to:
Sports Person of the Year (Sponsored by Charles Hurst)
Winners: Bethany Firth OBE (Swimming) and Rhys McClenaghan (Gymnastics)
Sports Person of the Year U18 (Sponsored by Prestige Trophies)
Winner: Aimee Robinson (Gymnastics - Trampoline)
Sports Person of the Year U15 (Sponsored by Danske Bank)
Winner: Grace Davison (Swimming)
Sports Team of the Year (Sponsored by Encore Parcs)
Winner: Ards Ladies HC 1st XI (Hockey)
Sports Team of the Year U18 (Sponsored by Belvoir Lettings)
Winner: Bangor Grammar (Table Tennis)
Sports Team of the Year U15 (Sponsored by Dynes Residential)
Winner: Regent House (Girls Relay)
Sports Coach of the Year (Sponsored by Quarry Plant Sales)
Winner: Iain McCarthy (Stand Up Paddleboarding, Sup Hub NI)
Volunteer of the Year (Sponsored by Colonel Paddy’s Café & Bistro)
Winner: Ashleigh Flannigan (Castle Juniors Football Club)
Lifetime Service Recognition Award (Sponsored by the Mayor of Ards and North Down)
Recipients: Jim Hayes (Running/Athletics), Archie Walls (Soccer), Hugh Shields (Football & Cricket), Colin Campbell (Bowls) and Dennis Nash (Journalism across all sports)
2021 Sports Awards Winners
Sports Person of the Year (Sponsored by Charles Hurst Renault) - Bethany Firth
Sports Person of the Year U18 (Sponsored by Prestige Trophies - Ellie McKibbin
Sports Person of the Year U15 (Sponsored by Danske Bank) - Lucy McGonigle
Sports Team of the Year (Sponsored by Dynes Resedential) - Ards Senior Relay Team Ards Swimming Club
U18 Junior Sports Team of the Year (Sponsored by Belvoir Lettings) - Bangor FC U16
U15 Junior Sports Team of the Year (Sponsored by Dynes Residential) -
Sports Coach of the Year (Sponsored by Quarry Plant Sales) - Davy Johnston
Volunteer of the Year (Sponsored by Truesdale Heating and Plumbing) - Naomi McKnight (Ards Ladies Hockey Club)
Lifetime Service Recognition (Sponsored by Mayor of Ards and North Down) - Alderman James Menagh
Wall of Fame Inductee (Sponsored by Ards and North Down Sports Forum) - Keith Gillespie