IT'S DARREN'S DAY
IT'S DARREN'S DAY
Dungannon golfer tops our order of merit
By Sammy Hamill
DARREN Clarke's love of his native Tyrone is no secret.
Nor are his feelings for the people whose lives were wrecked by the bomb which devastated the county town of Omagh on August 15.
The Ryder Cup golfer from Dungannon made one of the most tangible efforts of all to aid the victims by staging a pro-am tournament which raised around �350,000 for the victims of the tragedy.
Last night, when Clarke was named Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year he was far away in the West Indies with his wife Heather and the baby son they named Tyrone.
So it was appropriate that two of the victims he has tried to help came forward to accept his award from Belfast Telegraph Editor Edmund Curran at the the glittering ceremony in Belfast's Europa Hotel.
Donna Marie Keyes was severely injured in the Omagh blast. Her fiance Garry McGillion, a boxer, was also injured.
Both are now recovering and hope to marry in March.
And they wanted to be in Belfast to pay tribute to the Ulster golfing giant who was one of the first to find a way to raise money for the Omagh Fund.
"We know that Darren has a very busy schedule but the people of Omagh appreciate the efforts he made on our behalf," said Donna-Marie.
It was a day of double celebration for Clarke, who was yesterday listed at number 17 in the world rankings - the highest ever for a Irish golfer.
But the lesser lights were shining too at last night's event, co-hosted by BBC NI and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum.
People like Dr David McManus, whose on-the-spot treatment of injured motorcyclists made him a hitherto unsung hero, was a deserved recipient of the Award of Merit.
People like Lewis Balmer, whose physical handicap was no barrier to his love of shooting - and his prowess at which led to his award as Disabled Sports Star of the year.
People like Joan McCloy, whose behind-the-scenes enthusiasm for women's hockey was rewarded courtesy of the prestigious Paddy Patterson award.
Of course, the year's big headline makers were out in force as well.
Not surprisingly Cliftonville manager Marty Quinn and his assistant Rory O'Boyle walked off with the new BBC award following their team's tremendous victory in the Irish League championship earlier this year.
Formula One ace Eddie Irvine won the other new award, for international achievement, and Pat Jennings got his big hands around yet another trophy, this time as the latest entry to our Hall of Fame.
TELEGRAPH SPORTS STARS AWARD WINNERS
Sports Star of the Year
Darren Clarke (golf)
Player of the Year
Andy Ward (rugby)
Young Player of the Year
David Jones (golf)
Disabled Snorts Star of Year
Lewis Balmer (shooting)
Team of the Year
Commonwealth Games men's fours (bowling)
School Team of the Year
St Colman's College, Newry (gaelic football)
Award of Merit
Dr David McManus (motorcycling)
Paddy Patterson Award
Joan McCloy (women's hockey)
International Award
Eddie Irvine (motor racing)
Hall of Fame
Pat Jennings (football)
BBC Award
Cliftonville (football)
Dungannon golfer tops our order of merit
By Sammy Hamill
DARREN Clarke's love of his native Tyrone is no secret.
Nor are his feelings for the people whose lives were wrecked by the bomb which devastated the county town of Omagh on August 15.
The Ryder Cup golfer from Dungannon made one of the most tangible efforts of all to aid the victims by staging a pro-am tournament which raised around �350,000 for the victims of the tragedy.
Last night, when Clarke was named Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year he was far away in the West Indies with his wife Heather and the baby son they named Tyrone.
So it was appropriate that two of the victims he has tried to help came forward to accept his award from Belfast Telegraph Editor Edmund Curran at the the glittering ceremony in Belfast's Europa Hotel.
Donna Marie Keyes was severely injured in the Omagh blast. Her fiance Garry McGillion, a boxer, was also injured.
Both are now recovering and hope to marry in March.
And they wanted to be in Belfast to pay tribute to the Ulster golfing giant who was one of the first to find a way to raise money for the Omagh Fund.
"We know that Darren has a very busy schedule but the people of Omagh appreciate the efforts he made on our behalf," said Donna-Marie.
It was a day of double celebration for Clarke, who was yesterday listed at number 17 in the world rankings - the highest ever for a Irish golfer.
But the lesser lights were shining too at last night's event, co-hosted by BBC NI and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum.
People like Dr David McManus, whose on-the-spot treatment of injured motorcyclists made him a hitherto unsung hero, was a deserved recipient of the Award of Merit.
People like Lewis Balmer, whose physical handicap was no barrier to his love of shooting - and his prowess at which led to his award as Disabled Sports Star of the year.
People like Joan McCloy, whose behind-the-scenes enthusiasm for women's hockey was rewarded courtesy of the prestigious Paddy Patterson award.
Of course, the year's big headline makers were out in force as well.
Not surprisingly Cliftonville manager Marty Quinn and his assistant Rory O'Boyle walked off with the new BBC award following their team's tremendous victory in the Irish League championship earlier this year.
Formula One ace Eddie Irvine won the other new award, for international achievement, and Pat Jennings got his big hands around yet another trophy, this time as the latest entry to our Hall of Fame.
TELEGRAPH SPORTS STARS AWARD WINNERS
Sports Star of the Year
Darren Clarke (golf)
Player of the Year
Andy Ward (rugby)
Young Player of the Year
David Jones (golf)
Disabled Snorts Star of Year
Lewis Balmer (shooting)
Team of the Year
Commonwealth Games men's fours (bowling)
School Team of the Year
St Colman's College, Newry (gaelic football)
Award of Merit
Dr David McManus (motorcycling)
Paddy Patterson Award
Joan McCloy (women's hockey)
International Award
Eddie Irvine (motor racing)
Hall of Fame
Pat Jennings (football)
BBC Award
Cliftonville (football)
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0536
Published Date: 08-Dec-98
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