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Disability Sports NI has held their first Awards Ceremony, hosted by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. The evening, which marked ten years of the charity, was attended by an array of key people within disability sport.
Disability Sports NI is Northern Ireland's main disability sports organisation representing the vast majority of disability sports groups and clubs. The organisation works to provide Northern Ireland's 201,000 disabled people with the same opportunities as non-disabled people to participate fully in sport and physical activity. The organisation annually runs programmes and events, which benefit disabled adults and children with physical, sensory and learning disability.
Paralympic swimmers Johnny Cummings and Hannah Clarke, 800m gold medal winner and world record holder Michael McKillop, footballer Mark Jones and adaptive rower Karen Cromie all shone for Northern Ireland during the Beijing 2008 Games and at the DSNI event.
Compered by the BBC's Stephen Watson, the awards, which were held to recognise the achievements of those involved in disability sport over the last ten years, began with the Coach Award. This went to Jason Kennedy, of the Knights Wheelchair Basketball Club, player coach to both the senior and junior teams for the last eight years.
The Governing Body Award went to the Irish Football Association in recognition of their extensive disability programme run throughout Northern Ireland, which includes recreational and competitive opportunities for people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities.
The Rising Star Award went to Karen Cromie, a relative new comer to the sport of adaptive rowing who came an impressive 5th place, along with her GB and NI partner, James Roberts (from Wales) in the mixed doubles adapted rowing class at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. The Volunteer Award was then presented to Ross Hill and Trevor Harte, who have been pivotal in the development of the sport of pool for people with learning disabilities over the last ten years.
The District Council Award was awarded to Fermanagh District Council which has been at the forefront of good practice in disability sport over the last few years. Achievements include the establishment of the first IFI accredited inclusive fitness suite in Ireland at the Lakeland Forum Leisure Centre, and the development of a comprehensive disability sports programme for people with disabilities in the Fermanagh area.
The Knights Wheelchair Basketball Club, based at Antrim Forum, won their second award of the night when they were presented with the Club Award. The Club has been one of the most proactive disability sports clubs in Northern Ireland over the last ten years, and is one of the first to actively develop a junior club structure.
The final trophy of the night, the Dr Janet Gray MBE Excellence Award, was won by Jason Smyth, double Paralympic Gold medallist in T13 100m and 200m sprint. This award was presented in recognition of outstanding performance in elite disability sport.
A number of special awards were presented at the end of the night to key organisations in recognition of their valuable contribution to the work of Disability Sports NI over the last ten years - Belfast Telegraph, accepted by Sports Editor Steven Beacom, for their 1998 Fundraising Appeal; the staff of CCEA for their continued fundraising efforts over the last ten years; Royal Mail in recognition of their long standing support of DSNI through the Royal Mail Ready Willing & Able for Sport Programme; to Sport NI for their commitment to and support of the development of disability sport; The Mary Peters Trust in recognition of their direct financial support of numerous aspiring young disabled sports people and to The Lady Taverners for their support over the last ten years to improve the sports opportunities available to children with disabilities across Northern Ireland.
Angela Hendra, MBE, Chairperson Disability Sports NI, said on the evening:
We are delighted to celebrate Disability Sports NI's 10th Anniversary by recognising the many volunteers and organisations helping to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities through sport."
For more information on the work of Disability Sports NI go to www.dsni.co.uk
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