25th November 1998

Email this Page |

Seventeen outstanding young athletes have been selected for awards under the University of Ulster's Sports Scholarships Scheme, which is supported by Guinness. The £80,000 four-year programme is now in its third year. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Wednesday, 25 November.

The programme has proven very successful. Five of last year's scholars competed for Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur; two competed for Great Britain; and seven competed for Ireland.

The programme has proven very successful so far, this year's award winners span thirteen different sports and include one medallist at the European Championships, an all-Ireland Champion, a British Champion and members of Irish and British Olympic squads.

The scholarships provide financial help to offset travel expenses incurred in training and competition, the purchase of specialist equipment and clothing, entrance fees etc. University support services including fitness testing, nutritional and biomedical advice and sports psychology are also provided.

Guinness' National Accounts Manager, Jim O'Brien, said: "Guinness is proud to support these scholarships which promote the achievement of both sporting and academic excellence. The commitment and dedication of the recipients indicates a very bright future for Northern Ireland not only in terms of sporting plaudits but also in economic growth."

"The value of the programme is demonstrated by progress made by individuals and the results achieved both in the lecture theatre and in the sports stadium. Guinness and the University are adding value to the existing sports programmes. It has been a fruitful and successful partnership," said Malcolm Brown, Director of Sport and Recreation, University of Ulster.

For further information please contact:

Mr Malcolm Brown, University of Ulster. Telephone: 368216. Mr Tim Gracey, Communications Group, University of Ulster. Telephone: 01232 366178 m/f

Recipients of Sports Scholarships 1998/99

Athletics
Vicki Jamison from Newtownards

Great Britain Senior International, Bronze Medallist at the European Championships in Budapest, Bronze Medallist at the World Student Games, ranked 4th in British Seniors and finished 6th at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia.

Athletics
Brian O'Donnell from Falcarragh, Co Donegal

Irish Senior 20K champion, member of the Irish Senior Team which won the team event at the Phoenix Park International Grand Prix for 20k, Irish University indoor champion.

Athletics
Wendy Davis from Carrickfergus

Great Britain U20 International, Northern Ireland U20 champion 400m and 800m, Ulster and Irish Schools champion 800m.

Athletics
Brendan McConville from Bangor

Great Britain Junior International, Ranked 2nd in U.K. (U20)- Decathlon, Northern Ireland Senior Decathlon champion, Irish Senior Decathlon champion.

Basketball
Neville Charles from Dublin

Irish Senior International, competed for Ireland at the European Championships in Finland May 1998, played for Kings College in the United States on a four year basketball scholarship 1992 - 1996.

Boxing
Conor McAllister from Belfast

Competed for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games where he was narrowly defeated in the quarterfinals, Ulster Senior featherweight champion 1998, competed in the Kings Cup Tournament in Thailand.

Gaelic Football
Sean Lockhart from Feeny, Londonderry

Irish Senior International, member of the Irish team which defeated Australia in the compromise rules series and was voted Irish player of the series, member of the Derry Senior County team which won the Ulster Championship, received an Irish News All Star Award.

Hockey
Kerri Anderson from Carrickfergus

Plays for the University's women's hockey team in the Ulster Senior League, won a Gold Medal with Northern Ireland Universities at the British University Games, played for the British Universities representative team and in November this year was selected for the Irish Universities team.

Hockey
Paul Barrett from Cookstown

Irish U21 International, played for the Ulster Senior Team during the recent Inter-Provincial tournament, won a Gold Medal with Northern Ireland Universities at the British University Games, has been a member of the Irish Senior training panel.

Judo
Emma Walker from Belfast

Bronze Medallist at the Commonwealth Judo Tournament, Silver Medallist at the British University Championships, Gold Medallist at the Irish University Championships, Northern Ireland champion 63kg, Northern Ireland Open champion.

Netball
Bronagh Loughran from Glengormley

Northern Ireland Senior International, played in the European Championships, won a Gold Medal with Northern Ireland Universities at the British University Games, played for the Northern Ireland U21 team.

Powerlifting
Jamie Burke from Glengormley

Great Britain Junior International, Gold Medallist at the British University Championships, 8th place at World Junior Championships, British U23 champion, Northern Ireland Senior champion.

Snooker
Aaron Cahoon from Belfast

Northern Ireland Senior International, competed for Northern Ireland at the World U21 Amateur Championships, Gold Medallist at the British University Championships, member of the Irish Universities Team which won the Home Nations Tournament.

Swimming
Louise Robinson from Portstewart

Ranked 1st in Ireland at 100m breaststroke, competed at the Commonwealth Games, Irish breaststroke champion at 50m and 100m, Bronze Medallist at 50m and 100m at the British University Championships.

Table Tennis
Andrea Glover from Crossgar

Irish Senior International (30 Caps) Irish and Ulster Senior No 1, Represented Ireland at European Championships, Won a Gold Medal at a major International Tournament in Sweden, Silver Medallist at British University Championships.

Triathlon
Julie Murphy from Belfast

Irish Senior International, competed for Ireland at the European Triathlon Championships, competed at the World Students Triathlon Championships and was the first British girl home, competed for Ireland at the Home Countries Championships and was the first Irish girl home.

Waterpolo
Aidan McMahon from Belfast

Irish U21 Team Captain, member of the Irish Universities Team which won the Celtic Nations Tournament, member of the Ulster Senior Team, member of the Irish Senior training panel.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk