CHEERS AS DARREN SWINGS IT
Cheers as Darren swings it
By John Laverty
SPORTS EDITOR
DARREN Clarke defied the odds to win last night's Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year award.
After all, the last three winners have all been Big Macs -Wayne McCullough, Phillip McCallan, Tony McCoy.
And McCoy was in the frame again last night as well, along with Katherina McKiernan...
But just to show we're not biased against non-Macs, it was the Dungannon golfer who landed the main award.
I jest of course. Darren has already made a name for himself, and his achievements this year stand up to any scrutiny.
When you consider the 'competition' last night, you realise the enormity of it all.
McCoy, McKiernan and Eddie Irvine all had legitimate claims to the main award but in the end Darren managed' to swing it, so to speak.
Winner of the Benson and Hedges international, winner of the Volvo Masters, runner- up in the European Order of Merit ... not bad for a year's work.
And certainly good enough for this year's big prize which, in Darren's absence, was collected by Omagh bomb victims Donna Marie Keyes and her fiance Garry McGillion.
Rather appropriate that, considering the efforts Clarke has put in this year to raise funds for the people of Omagh in his native Tyrone.
Big Darren had already made headlines earlier in the day by becoming the highest ranked Irish golfer of all time.
But it wasn't all about the big headline-makers at last night's lavish Europa Hotel banquet, co-sponsored by BBC NI and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum.
We were there to celebrate a year of achievement in local sport - and the many facets that go towards it.
For instance, not many people outside motorcycling know who Dr David McManus is -but those who have had life-threatening spills certainly do.
And those motorcyclists who have benefited from the healing hands of David and his team will have been delighted at the good doctor receiving the Award of Merit live on telly last night.
Women's hockey administrator Joan McCloy, that tireless ambassador for the sport, for once outshone her great friend and fellow guest Mary Peters by picking up the Paddy Patterson award.
Andy Ward's nomination as Player of the Year was no surprise - the adopted Ulster flanker has made great strides, in more ways than one, with Ballynahinch, Ulster and Ireland over the past year.
The new BBC award went to Irish League champions Cliftonville, who were just pipped by the Commonwealth Games men's fours bowlers for the 'team of the year' prize but still managed to get among the silverware - not for the first time in 1998...
McCrory and Hogan Cup winners St Colman's College have to make room for yet another trophy after being nominated as winners of the School team of the Year award.
But one of the biggest cheers of the night was reserved for Lewis Balmer, whose prowess in shooting despite his handicap earned him the Disabled Sports Star of the Year vote.
Golfer David Jones, a man just starting out, was Young Player of the Year while big Pat Jennings, who never needs an introduction, was elevated to the Hall of Fame.
Eddie Irvine's relentless pursuit of perfection - and McLarens - was recognised via the new International Award.
By John Laverty
SPORTS EDITOR
DARREN Clarke defied the odds to win last night's Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year award.
After all, the last three winners have all been Big Macs -Wayne McCullough, Phillip McCallan, Tony McCoy.
And McCoy was in the frame again last night as well, along with Katherina McKiernan...
But just to show we're not biased against non-Macs, it was the Dungannon golfer who landed the main award.
I jest of course. Darren has already made a name for himself, and his achievements this year stand up to any scrutiny.
When you consider the 'competition' last night, you realise the enormity of it all.
McCoy, McKiernan and Eddie Irvine all had legitimate claims to the main award but in the end Darren managed' to swing it, so to speak.
Winner of the Benson and Hedges international, winner of the Volvo Masters, runner- up in the European Order of Merit ... not bad for a year's work.
And certainly good enough for this year's big prize which, in Darren's absence, was collected by Omagh bomb victims Donna Marie Keyes and her fiance Garry McGillion.
Rather appropriate that, considering the efforts Clarke has put in this year to raise funds for the people of Omagh in his native Tyrone.
Big Darren had already made headlines earlier in the day by becoming the highest ranked Irish golfer of all time.
But it wasn't all about the big headline-makers at last night's lavish Europa Hotel banquet, co-sponsored by BBC NI and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum.
We were there to celebrate a year of achievement in local sport - and the many facets that go towards it.
For instance, not many people outside motorcycling know who Dr David McManus is -but those who have had life-threatening spills certainly do.
And those motorcyclists who have benefited from the healing hands of David and his team will have been delighted at the good doctor receiving the Award of Merit live on telly last night.
Women's hockey administrator Joan McCloy, that tireless ambassador for the sport, for once outshone her great friend and fellow guest Mary Peters by picking up the Paddy Patterson award.
Andy Ward's nomination as Player of the Year was no surprise - the adopted Ulster flanker has made great strides, in more ways than one, with Ballynahinch, Ulster and Ireland over the past year.
The new BBC award went to Irish League champions Cliftonville, who were just pipped by the Commonwealth Games men's fours bowlers for the 'team of the year' prize but still managed to get among the silverware - not for the first time in 1998...
McCrory and Hogan Cup winners St Colman's College have to make room for yet another trophy after being nominated as winners of the School team of the Year award.
But one of the biggest cheers of the night was reserved for Lewis Balmer, whose prowess in shooting despite his handicap earned him the Disabled Sports Star of the Year vote.
Golfer David Jones, a man just starting out, was Young Player of the Year while big Pat Jennings, who never needs an introduction, was elevated to the Hall of Fame.
Eddie Irvine's relentless pursuit of perfection - and McLarens - was recognised via the new International Award.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0535
Published Date: 08-Dec-98
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