Your chance to cast your vote for Readers' Choice award

Members of the public will have the chance to vote for the Readers' Choice award in the Westmeath Independent Sports Awards from this Saturday morning, January 18 until midnight on Wednesday, January 29. To vote, simply dial the number corresponding to your choice from the list of monthly award winners. All relevant numbers are provided below.

The 2019 Westmeath Independent Sports Awards take place on the evening of Friday, January 31, 2020 in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone. Family members and friends of the award winners, and members of the general public, are welcome to purchase tickets for the event. Tickets will be available to purchase at the Westmeath Independent offices (now located at Inish Carraig, Golden Island, Athlone) in the coming days. A special offer is in place whereby people receive two complimentary tickets when buying four or more tickets. For more information on tickets, please call 090 6434300.

The Readers' Choice award winner (based on votes cast by the public) and the overall winner (decided by our judging panel) will be revealed on the awards night. The Westmeath Independent Sports Awards are organised in conjunction with the Shamrock Lodge Hotel (main sponsors), and associate sponsors Byrne Carolan Cunningham Solicitors, Action Physio and Baysports.

JANUARY
Eoghan Duffy (Sailing)

Young sailing star Eoghan Duffy won the junior (under-16) title at the International Mirror World Championships in Sydney, Australia last January. Duffy was joined by crew member Cathal Langan and their boat 'A Close Shave' was the highest placed junior entry and finished 22nd overall out of 59 boats. Eoghan came second in the same competition in 2018 but the Glasson teenager went one better in 2019. A member of Lough Ree Yacht Club, Eoghan is a son of Hilary and Emmet Duffy. Eoghan (16) is a student at Marist College, and he has achieved national success as part of the Marist sailing team.
To vote for Eoghan, call 1516 306 001

FEBRUARY
Jack Carty (Rugby) & Niall Murray (Rugby) – joint winners

Two rugby stars - Jack Carty and Niall Murray - are the joint award winners for February.
Jack Carty made his Six Nations debut for Ireland in the victory over Italy in Rome last February. Overall, it was a hugely memorable year for talented out-half Carty who was selected in Ireland's World Cup squad. And the Buccaneers player featured in the World Cup matches against Scotland, Japan and Russia, starting the match against hosts Japan. A native of Barrymore in Athlone, Carty also became Connacht's record scorer in league action last season. 
To vote for Jack, call 1516 306 002 

Niall Murray was a key figure in the Ireland U-20 rugby team which won the 2019 Six Nations championship. Ireland won the title in highly impressive fashion, completing the Grand Slam by winning all five of their games, with Murray a regular in the second row. Murray was also selected in Ireland's U-20 World Cup squad and he featured in the games against England and Australia. Later in the year, the Brideswell native made his debut for the Buccaneers senior team and he recently made his first start for the Connacht senior team in their Pro14 clash against Leinster.
To vote for Niall, call 1516 306 003

MARCH
Shauna Stewart, Sarah Kilmartin & John Keenan (Special Olympics); and Kielan Woods (Horse Racing) – joint winners

Three local Special Olympians and Athlone jockey Kielan Woods are the joint winners for March. Sarah Kilmartin and Shauna Stewart were part of the Ireland basketball team which won gold medals at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi. Both Sarah and Shauna are members of Athlone Special Olympics club. John Keenan from Ballymore also won gold for Ireland in the Special Olympics, when competing in gymnastics. John, who trained with St Hilda's in Athlone, left the Games with a haul of four medals in artistic gymnastics, including two golds. John (20) won his gold medals in the pommel horse and vaulting events, a bronze in floor exercise and a silver medal as an all-round male competitor.
To vote for Sarah, Shauna & John, call 1516 306 004

Athlone native Kielan Woods achieved one his sporting dreams when he rode a winner at the Cheltenham Festival last March, steering Croco Bay to a famous victory. With Woods on board, Croco Bay, trained by Ben Case and priced at odds of 66/1, won the Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase. Speaking in the aftermath of the win, Woods described it as "the best moment" of his career "by a long way.” Originally from Beechpark in Athlone, Kielan has been based in England for several years and he lives in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire.
To vote for Kielan, call 1516 306 005

APRIL
Kieran Martin (Gaelic Football) & Isabelle Clarke (Fencing) - joint winners

Westmeath football star Kieran Martin and young fencing ace Isabelle Clarke are the joint winners for April. Martin was captain of the Westmeath team which secured promotion to Division 2 of the 2019 Allianz Football League. And the Maryland player lifted the Division 3 trophy after Westmeath's league final win over Laois. Earlier in the year, Westmeath won the O'Byrne Cup for the first time in over 30 years. In the 2019 Championship campaign, Martin delivered one of his best displays for Westmeath despite his side's defeat to Clare in the All-Ireland qualifiers. 
To vote for Kieran, call 1516 306 006

Isabelle Clarke became the first Irish fencer to win the Glasgow Open tournament, and the youngest from anywhere to ever win the prestigious first place prize at the tournament. From Castlesampson close to Athlone, the 16-year-old is a student at Our Lady's Bower. As there are no fencing clubs in the midlands, Isabelle joined the Dublin-based fencing club Brian Boru and regularly travels to Dublin for training. She has impressed in several international fencing tournaments over the last few years. Isabelle is currently ranked number two in senior women's fencing in Ireland and her preferred fencing weapon is the epée.
To vote for Isabelle, call 1516 306 007

MAY
Alan Sheehan (Soccer)

Athlone native Alan Sheehan was captain of the Luton Town team which achieved promotion to the English Championship by winning last season's League 1 title. Although injury hampered his own playing involvement, Sheehan described the achievement as the "pinnacle of his career". The Coosan man has played for a number of English clubs over the course of his career, including Leicester City, Leeds United, Notts County and Bradford City. He has represented Ireland at under-21 level and has made over 400 competitive appearances in English football. Sheehan was named on the League Two team of the season for 2017-18, when he was also chosen as Luton Town player of the season.
To vote for Alan, call 1516 306 008
 

JUNE
Niall Daly, Conor Daly & Ronan Daly (Gaelic Football)

The June winners are the Daly brothers - Niall, Conor and Ronan - who were part of the Roscommon football team which won the Connacht senior title. Roscommon defeated Mayo in the semi-final and Galway in the decider to make the success all the sweeter. Niall was chosen as the official man of the match award winner after the Connacht final and he was also an All-Star award nominee for 2019. Later in the year, the Daly brothers were on the Padraig Pearses team which won the club's first ever Roscommon senior football title. With Ronan Daly joint captain, Pearses defeated Roscommon Gaels in the county final to spark huge celebrations across the club's catchment area. Pearses went on to reach the Connacht club final and it took All-Ireland champions Corofin to prevent them from adding a provincial title to their Roscommon crown. 
To vote for Niall, Conor & Ronan, call 1516 306 009

 

JULY
Kate Derwin (Showjumping)

Athlone teenager Kate Derwin secured an individual gold medal with a stunning performance in the U-18 competition at the European Youth Showjumping Championships. The 17-year-old became only the fourth Irish rider in the 60-year history of these championships to win a gold medal. A brilliant performance from Derwin on AHG Whiterock Cruise Down saw her finish with five clear rounds during the competition, including a double clear round in the final. Kate also won a bronze medal with the Ireland U18 team as part of the championships which were held in The Netherlands.  
To vote for Kate, call 1516 306 010
 

AUGUST
Fiona Scally (Basketball) & Rebecca Lowe (Tetrathlon) - joint winners

Athlone native Fiona Scally was selected on the Irish senior women's basketball squad in 2019. She was on the squad which played Estonia and Norway last August as part of a four-game series. Fiona enjoyed a superb year at club level with Galway outfit Maree, playing a key role in the team which won the Division 1 National Cup and League double.

To vote for Fiona, call 1516 306 011

Rebecca Lowe claimed her first senior national title at the National Tetrathlon Championships, run by the Irish Pony Club. Overall it was Rebecca's fifth national title as she had previously won two titles at both minimus and junior level. Rebecca Lowe became just the second female athlete to claim a ‘grand slam’ in the Tetrathlon Championships, by winning titles at minimus, junior and senior levels. Tetrathlon consists of four disciplines - swimming, horse riding, shooting and running. 
To vote for Rebecca, call 1516 306 012

 

SEPTEMBER
Mairéad McCormack (Camogie)

The September award winner is Mairéad McCormack, the captain of the Westmeath camogie team which made history by winning the All-Ireland intermediate title for the first time. A native of Streamstown, Mairéad scored Westmeath's only goal in the All-Ireland final win over Galway - a score which proved vital in a stirring comeback. And in 2020, Westmeath will compete in the All-Ireland senior camogie championship for the first time. Mairéad was one of seven Westmeath players chosen on the 2019 Soaring Stars team, selected from players who competed in the All-Ireland intermediate and junior camogie championships. Mairéad plays her club camogie with the Castletown-Geoghegan and has also played football for Kilbeggan.
To vote for Mairéad, call 1516 306 013
 

OCTOBER
Alex Gardiner & Doron Harte (Gaelic Football)

Alex Gardiner and Doron Harte both played vital roles in Garrycastle winning the 2019 Westmeath senior football title. Gardiner scored 1-4 in the dramatic county final victory over St Loman's Mullingar and was chosen as the recipient of the official man of the match award. With Garrycastle fighting back from eight points down, Gardiner proved a highly influential figure in the comeback mission. Harte was the team captain who lifted the Flanagan Cup and it was the former Westmeath player's eighth senior championship medal in total, having featured in all of Garrycastle's senior county final wins, stretching back to 2001. Garrycastle went on to defeat Longford champions Emmet Óg Killoe and Ratoath of Meath in the Leinster club championship, before their run was halted by eventual provincial champions Ballyboden St Enda's.
To vote for Alex & Doron, call 1516 306 014

NOVEMBER
Kenny Okungbowa (Boxing)

Athlone boxer Kenny Okungbowa was crowned Super Heavyweight champion at the IABA National Senior Elite boxing finals at the National Stadium last November. The Athlone boxer had been crowned heavyweight champion earlier in the year, but he subsequently moved up a weight division (91kgs plus) and duly claimed the title, thereby becoming a national champion at two different weight divisions. The powerful Athlone boxer joined a select group of Irish boxers who have such an achievement to their name. A member of Athlone Boxing Club, Kenny overcame Crumlin's Thomas McCarthy in the semi-final, before defeating Antoine O’Griofa from Galway in the final. Kenny's success puts him into the selection process for the Irish boxing team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with qualifying events to take place next March in London.
To vote for Kenny, call 1516 306 015

DECEMBER
Allie Heatherington (Hockey)

Allie Heatherington from Glasson was chosen as an award winner by virtue of her selection on the Ireland U-18 hockey squad. The Athlone Community College student was the only Connacht player to be picked on the Ireland squad. A daughter of Elaine and Mick Heatherington, Allie has been an outstanding hockey player for both her school and Athlone Hockey Club. She now plays with Old Alexandria having moved to the Dublin club last year. Having been selected on the Ireland U-18 squad, Allie was part of the panel which took part in a series of games against Scotland recently. 
To vote for Allie, call 1516 306 016

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Lines open on Saturday January 18th and close at midnight on Wednesday January 29th with the winner being announced at the Westmeath Independent Sports Awards in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel on January 31st, 2020. Voters must be over 18. Lines open in the Republic of Ireland only. 1516 calls cost €1.52 per call. BDC Helpline: 0818 286 600.