Ulster youth golfing sensation drives entries for Dromona Sports Award
One of the worlds most promising young golfing talents, Ulsters 17 year old Rory McIlroy, urged Northern Irelands outstanding young sports people to ensure they are in the running for the Dromona Sports Award, a unique bursary which offers the biggest financial award currently available on an individual basis to youth sporting talent here.
Created by local dairy company, Dale Farm, in partnership with the Ulster Sports Trust, the Award carries a significant prize fund of £5000, providing much needed funding support to help propel Northern Irelands youth sporting elite onto the international competitive circuit.
Rory, who is one of only two under 18s on the international amateur golfing circuit, joined Elly Hunter of Dale Farm,, Dame Mary Peters of the Ulster Sports Trust and last years winner, cyclist Ryan Connor from Ballymena, to tee off the 2006-07 Awards.
The Dromona Sports Award really has the potential to change the life of its winner because this level of funding is hard to obtain, particularly from a single source, Rory said “As a young athlete myself, I understand that funding presents a major challenge to many sports people, particularly at that critical stage of trying to break into the international arena. £5000 is a substantial bursary and could cover at least a years worth of training, including vital international travel expenses, for many people. The Award can really open doors for young sports people in their chosen fields. I would encourage everyone who is eligible to pursue a nomination so as to be in with a chance to win”.
Last years Dromona Sports Award attracted entries from across the youth sporting arena, with 22 year-old cyclist Ryan Connor beating fierce competition to take home the award.
“The Dromona Sports Award really helped me to take my sporting career to the next level, enabling me to train and compete internationally, including in Brussels and Serbia. This helped me increase my world ranking points and qualify for international events, including the Commonwealth Games as well as the European and World Championships.
My selection for these events would have been highly unlikely if my racing was just limited to Great Britain or Ireland. The Dromona Sports Award can really make a difference to your sporting career”.
Elly Hunter from Dale Farm is keen to highlight the benefits of the Aware, “As a leading local food company, we are committed to supporting the physical development of our young people. We created this Award to encourage young sports people across Northern Ireland and we are delighted to learn that it did just that for Ryan, enabling him to compete in such major, international events. We look forward to supporting future winners in the same way and we know that with Ryan and Rory as excellent example, young people everywhere will be inspired to get out and get active”.
Dame Mary Peters DBE from the Ulster Sports Trust added, “Success stories like Ryan and Rory illustrate the importance of the Dromona Sports Award. The Trust is working hard to promote the opportunities available to young athletes in Northern Ireland and we are delighted that Dale Farm is in partnership with us to actively provide encouragement and financial support to those athletes who are making their way to the top of their sport”.
Nomination forms will be available from today (27 November) when the Ulster Sports Trust will post them to all sports governing bodies. In addition, forms can be downloaded at www.dalefarm.co.uk from today. All queries regarding the bursary should be directed to Isobel Bannerman at the Ulster Sports Trust on 028 9038 3830. The closing date for nominations is Friday 9 February 2007. The Ulster Sports Trust will carry out the selection process and the winner will be announced in March 2007.
