Kildare jockey Katie honoured at top awards ceremony
Leading jockey Katie Walsh was honoured at the annual Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Awards which were held in Dublin at the weekend.
The Kildare jockey won the Sportswoman of the Month Award for March after riding her third Cheltenham winner. A month later she was one of just 12 finishers in the Aintree Grand National before going on to announce her retirement from the sport after riding a winner at Punchestown.
Her Cheltenham winner was Relegate, a 25-1 outsider, whom she steered home from the back of the field to win the Champion Bumper.
“I was a long time waiting for the third, I hit the crossbar a couple of times, but I got there in the end” said Walsh. Her previous winners both coming at the 2010 Festival on Poker De Sivola in the National Hunt Chase and Thousand Stars in the County Handicap Hurdle.
Thirty-three-year-old Walsh finished 12th in her last Grand National on Baie Des Iles, trained by her husband Ross O'Sullivan. She is the highest placed female finisher of a Grand National – third in 2012 on Seabass and one of three women to win the Irish Grand National – in 2015 on Thunder And Roses.
"I said to myself that I'd retire whenever I rode my next winner, whether it be here at Punchestown or wherever…. I wanted to ride in a National for Ross and did that, and have ridden winners in France, Australia, England and Ireland and was very lucky throughout my career…..I've had the backing of dad (Ted Walsh) and Ross, and wouldn't have ridden half these winners without the backing of Willie (Mullins).”
"Everyone is here, my husband Ross and my family. I couldn't have picked a better place…I've had a marvellous career and I've unbelievable memories. The next chapter in life begins now," she said.
Harrington named 2018 Sportswoman of the Year
World champion boxer Kellie Harrington, who was Sportswoman of the Month for November, was crowned The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year for 2018 at the event.
The 29-year-old Dubliner’s lightweight division victory at the world championships in India last month, made her the first Irish boxer to win world medals in two different weight categories.
She is also just the third Irish boxer - after Katie Taylor and Michael Conlan - to become an amateur world boxing champion.
Along with her former Irish team-mate Katie Taylor, Sanita Puspure in rowing and cycling’s Katie-Georg Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal, Harrington is the fourth monthly winner in 2018 to have been crowned a world champion.
Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy, who was The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year two years ago was on hand to present Harrington with the award. This is the 15th year of the awards and the boxer was among 15 monthly award winners – there were multiple winners on several occasions - nominated for the 2018 title.
Irish hockey team honoured
The Irish ladies’ hockey team, which claimed a silver medal at the hockey World Cup in London in August was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Sport 2018 Award.
Despite being amateurs – the only amateur team at the event - and the second lowest seeds, the Irish team surpassed expectations by getting to the final, the first Irish team to get to a senior world final in any field sport. They topped their group before beating India in the quarter final and Spain in the semi-final, both after penalty shoot outs.
The Sports Editor of The Irish Times Malachy Logan described 2018 as a momentous year for Irish sportswomen.
“World and European championships medals have become almost the norm across a huge variety of sports at these Awards while, at home, our GAA, soccer and horse racing stars are equally celebrated for their enormous contribution to women’s sport. None of this would have been possible without the skill, dedication and training of the women we are honouring today as well as the unswerving support of their coaches, families and partners. It is only fitting, therefore, that we are today saluting those achievements.
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross said: “2018 has been another year of success for Ireland’s sportswomen, who have given us many wonderful memories and produced some spectacular performances which have captured the imagination of the country. Their continued success serves to inspire our children and young people and to enhance Ireland’s reputation abroad. I would like to acknowledge Sport Ireland and the Irish Times for staging these awards which recognise the incredible contribution of Irish women in sport. I would like to congratulate all of today’s winners and also pay tribute to their families and all of the coaches and support teams who have helped them to reach the highest levels of sport.”
The Chairman of Sport Ireland Kieran Mulvey said: “In sporting terms 2018 has been a spectacular year. Sport has a unique ability to unite people of all backgrounds and we have had no shortage of sporting success to celebrate in the past twelve months. We are all united in our pride for the achievements of our athletes and teams on their success this year. The Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year awards is the perfect way to round-off an excellent year and a fitting way to celebrate our wonderful athletes. I congratulate each of the monthly award winners on their achievements and wish them well for the year ahead.”
Ends.