Derval Finally Recognised!

Finally, sense has prevailed. After been snubbed at the RTE's 'prestigious' Sports Personality of the Year Awards, Derval O'Rourke received the recognition her achievements merited when she was announced the Irish Times Vhi Healthcare Sportswoman of the Year 2006.

What's more after reviewing the competition I have now come to the conclusion that 2006 was probably the greatest ever year for Irish women in sport. Not only did we have Derval's great achievements (listed below) but 2006 was also the year of Katie Taylors emergence as a World star, Briege Corkery's Cork teams did the DOUBLE DOUBLE in Football and camogie, Madeline Perry reached 6th in the World in squash and Joanne Cuddihy stock began to rise!

Derval won the Award for her outstanding achievements during 2006. The highpoints of a memorable twelve months included Derval winning the World Indoor Gold 60m hurdles in Moscow, breaking her own Irish indoor record in the process. A feat repeated six times during the season with her record now standing at 7.84 seconds.

She followed up her brilliant indoor season with more success outdoors during the summer as she won a silver medal in the 100m hurdles at the European Championships in Gothenburg. She also broke more personal records outdoors in the 100m hurdles and was part of the Irish women’s 100m relay team that set a new Irish women’s record in Gothenburg.

There is talk now that Derval wont compete indoors this season in anticipation ofthe main outdoor competitions ahead.

Congratulating Derval and each of the monthly nominees, Minister Hanafin said, "Today we honour Irish Sportswomen who are national and international heroes and who have represented us proudly in the international arena and will no doubt be an inspiration to young girls around the country. The Irish Times Vhi Healthcare Sportswoman of the Year Award highlights the calibre of Irish sportswomen and their success in a range of sporting activity from athletics to camogie from boxing to golf."

A native of Cork, now residing in Dublin, Derval was selected by the judging panel from a list of thirteen* monthly nominees, who were also honoured at the Awards ceremony today.

Commenting on the announcement, Greg Allen, Chairperson for the judging panel, said, "While Derval’s success was unquestionably the performance of the year in women’s sport, it was also, for many people, the greatest achievement through all Irish sport in 2006 in a period of conspicuously high performance levels in a wide variety of sports."

The Irish Times Vhi Healthcare Sportswoman of the Year Award is the first award of its kind in Ireland and is aimed specifically at women in sport, recognising their achievements and creating greater awareness of their sports.

Commenting on the Awards, Vincent Sheridan, Chief Executive, Vhi Healthcare said, "This year's award winners continue the trend of Irish women sports stars competing at the highest level on both the national and international stage. They are rightly being acknowledged for the huge contribution they make to Irish society and the vital function they serve as outstanding role models to younger generations of aspiring sportswomen."

The Award was launched in 2004, with each nominee a monthly winner selected by a panel of three independent judges.

Irish Sportswomen Set for Big Stage

The cream of the crop of Irish sportswomen are set to be honoured and the overall winner announced at The Irish Times Vhi Healthcare Sportswoman of the Year Awards which takes place on Friday 12th January at the Westin Hotel, Dublin.


The Award, which is the first of its kind in Ireland, is aimed specifically at women in sport, recognising their achievements and creating greater awareness of their sports.


This year’s nominees are some of the very best competitors Irish sport has to offer, covering a wide variety of disciplines including, boxing, athletics, golf, rowing and squash.


Malachy Logan, Sports Editor of The Irish Times, said: ''It's quite remarkable how quickly these awards have become the standard bearer for Irish sportswomen. The depth and quality of achievement by all the monthly award winners speaks volumes for the strides women's sport has made in recent years.

This year's award winners are really an exceptional and diverse group of athletes. They are rightly being acknowledged for the huge contribution they make to Irish society and the vital function they serve as outstanding role models for both girls and boys who want to follow in their footsteps.''

Commenting on this years nominees, Vincent Sheridan, Chief Executive, Vhi Healthcare said; "National recognition is a tribute hard earned, and each of our thirteen nominees have travelled the hard road required to achieve the type of sporting excellence exemplified in this years nominees.


Sheridan continued, "Vhi Healthcare would like to take this opportunity to applaud each of the nominees and wish them the best of luck for 2007 in their various sporting fields. They each play a pivotal role for the younger generations of aspiring sportswomen who in turn may one day be recognised like their heroes."


The Award was launched in 2004, with each nominee a monthly award winner selected by a panel of three independent judges. This year sees thirteen nominees put forward for the National Award as rowers Sinéad Jennings and Niamh Ni Cheilleachair were both selected for the Sportswoman Award for June. The list also contains the 2005 Sportswoman of the Year Briege Corkery.


The 2006 Irish Times Vhi Healthcare Sportswoman of the Year nominees are as follows:


Jessica Kürten Equestrian January

Derval O’Rourke Athletics February

Madeline Perry Squash March

Nina Carberry Horse Racing April

Fiona Connery Hockey May

Sinéad Jennings &

Niamh Ní Cheilleachair Rowing June

Joanne Cuddihy Athletics July

Kelly Liggan Tennis August

Briege Corkery Camogie & September

Gaelic Football

Katie Taylor Boxing October

Claire Coughlan Golf November

* December winner yet to be announced.

The 2006 Irish Times Vhi Healthcare Sportswoman of the Year will be announced on Friday 12th January by Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin T.D. at the Awards ceremony hosted by Des Cahill of RTE in the Westin Hotel Dublin 2.