Countdown is on for awards night

The countdown is on for the second annual Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotel Group Meath Sports Personality of the Year awards which is scheduled for Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort, Trim on Monday, 2nd February. Once again, the hugely popular Micheal O Muircheartaigh will act as master of ceremonies at the invitation-only event. The inaugural event, which took place last February, proved to be a huge success with Aintree Grand National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott scooping the top accolade which included a cheque for €5,000. The 2008 awards scheme has been expanded and apart from the overall award, which will be decided between the 12 monthly winners from January to December, there will also be extra categories. Added to the awards package this year will be an 'outstanding achievement" award and Meath Chronicle readers have an opportunity to participate in the selection process. Twelve nominees are listed on this page and they cover a wide range of sports including handball, soccer, Gaelic games, archery, athletics, snooker, motor racing and horseracing. 'Last year we introduced an 'outstanding achievement" category and it was decided to expand on that this year due to the phenomenal amount of success which Meath teams and individuals enjoyed during a memorable year for sport in 2008,' commented Cusack Hotel Group managing director Paul McQuillan. The list of nominees will also appear in next week"s edition of the Meath Chronicle and readers are invited to select their top three candidates and submit their vote on the coupon which is printed on page one this week, it will also be carried again next week. The closing date for votes will be Thursday, 8th January and only original coupons will be accepted. The top six will be selected from that poll and they will go forward to the awards night next February where each will be presented with an individual award before the overall winner of that category is announced. The overall winner will be selected by the panel of judges who will also be selecting the overall Meath Sports Personality of the Year. Readers may send them directly to the Meath Chronicle, Sports Department, Market Square, Navan, Co. Meath or they may be returned to any of the Cusack Group Hotels, Knightsbrook, Castle Arch, Newgrange or Ardboyne. There will also be an special Hall of Fame introduced this year and the recipient of that award will also be announced on the night as will the recipient of a 'young sports personality of the year" award. This year, the individual monthly and overall awards are the work of Meath craftsman and artist Seamus Cassidy who was educated at Kells CBS and then went on to study Construction Studies in the Regional Technical College, Dundalk. After qualifying, he worked for a number of architectural firms in Dublin where he took up woodwork as a hobby. However, that hobby soon turned into a passion for working with wood and a real talent was apparent. His experience in design and drawing has been invaluable in enabling him to produce unique and creative pieces. About a decade ago he moved back to Meath and renovated an old carthouse as a workshop and gallery at Gilltown, Beauparc. He has exhibited at the prestigious National Crafts Competition at the RDS on a number of occasions and he may be contacted at (041) 9825032 or by email: seamuscassidy01@eircom.net