Meath sports personality of the month - June - Johnny Murtagh

Bohermeen jockey Johnny Murtagh is the Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotels Sports Personality-of-the-Month for June. The Meath rider enjoyed a great month as the winners continued to roll since he teamed up with champion trainer Aidan O"Brien at the start of the season. Royal Ascot was where Murtagh showed his true class as he reeled of six winners and took the 'leading jockey" title as well. The overall winner will be selected from 12 monthly winners and any the outstanding achievement recipients. There will also be a number of additional awards including a 'young sports personality-of-the-year" and a Hall of Fame accolade. Monthly winners will receive a specially commissioned award by a local Meath artist and there will also be a one-off trophy for the overall winner. Next January"s invitation-only second annual banquet will be a black tie affair at Knightsbrook where the monthly winners and guests will join representatives of some of the major sporting organisations in Meath, local dignitaries and sponsors for what will be a major sporting celebration. 2008 nominees: January - Kieran Kelly (athletics); February - Paul Carberry (horseracing); March - Nina Carberry (horseracing); April - Damien McGrane (golf) and Navan RFC (joint winners); May - Denis Hurley (rugby); June - Johnny Murtagh (horseracing).