Jenna Glides to Victory at Dromona Sports Award
Overcoming injury and achieving British No.1 status has rewarded young Coleraine ice-skating star Jenna McCorkell with one of Northern Ireland’s most prestigious sports Awards. Jenna became the second young Northern Ireland athlete to lift the coveted Dromona Sports Award, when the results were announced on Monday 30 April at the Belfast Boat Club, Stranmillis.
With a top prize value of £5000, the award is the largest individual sports bursary currently available here and was developed by Northern Ireland’s leading dairy company, Dale Farm, in conjunction with the Ulster Sports Trust, to help boost the sporting career of young athletes hoping to make a real breakthrough in the international sporting arena. In recognition of this year’s strong field of entries, the Ulster Sports Trust has also awarded short listed finalists £:750, bringing the total prize value to £8,000.
The Ulster Sports Trust also announced the recipients of its Outstanding Sportspersons Awards. In the Junior category, awards went to Steven Fenwick (Fencing) and Paul McCreery (Table Tennis) while Senior awards went to David McCann (Cycling) and Jenna McCorkell resulting in a double celebration for the young ice skating star.
21-year-old Jenna has come back from injury last year to have a spectacular start to her 2007 skating campaign. She is the current British No.1, lifting the Ladies Senior title in January 2007 for the fourth time. Jenna has also qualified for the European championships, a real feat, as she was not even expected to compete in the event until next year due to her injury.
David Dobbin, Dale Farm Chief Executive, is delighted to support Northern Ireland’s young athletes; "By supporting and encouraging home grown sporting talent, the Dromona Sports Award is helping our young people reach their true potential on the international sporting scene. Excellence in sporting achievement is becoming increasingly expensive and I am delighted that this £5,000 bursary will help Jenna maximise her skills and achieve her long-term goals.
“Jenna is an inspiration who has battled against serious injury to become the British No.1. We were so impressed by her remarkable dedication and wish her every success in the European Championships. As a local company, Dromona is proud to help boost the career of young sportspeople.”
Winning the Dromona Sports Award will make a big difference to Jenna’s training plans, "I’m thrilled to receive this special Award. I train in Belgium which demands a huge financial commitment so this award will help me hone my performance for the international stage.
“It is also wonderful to get this recognition at home. I know that the competition for these awards was very stiff so I’m thrilled to have won.”
Dame Mary Peters DBE, President of the Ulster Sports Trust and former Olympic Champion is very excited about the wealth of young sporting talent in Northern Ireland, "We had a particularly strong field of entrants to this year’s Dromona Sports Award and it was an extremely difficult decision to single out one recipient which is why this year, the Ulster Sports Trust has supplemented the top prize by awarding each finalist £750. We appreciate the time, money and energy that these young people dedicate to excellence in their sport and it is a pleasure to be able to support that commitment.
“I am not surprised that Jenna has been successful in both the Dromona Sports Award and the Ulster Sports Trust Outstanding Sportspersons Awards, she is an inspiration in the dedication she has shown to her recovery and her sport and I look forward to seeing even more great things from her. I’m sure we are watching another potential Olympian.”
