Meath Sports Awards - NOVEMBER winner MARY WATTERS
The countdown is on for the Meath Chronicle Sportsperson of the Year awards with the 13th annual ceremony scheduled for its traditional home at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim next Friday evening.
TICKETS
You can still buy tickets as there is limited availability - If you wish to attend contact Linda Cahill in the Meath Chronicle by Wednesday - linda.cahill@meathchronicle.ie or the Ticketline at (046) 9079654 - 10am - 2pm - Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
The overall 2019 Sportsperson of the Year will be selected from the monthly winners who will each be honoured on the night in recognition of their specific achievements during 2019.
The 2019 Sportsperson of the Year awards will be hosted by RTE’s Evanne Ni Chuilinn.
The list of contenders is listed at the end of this article and in this piece the focus is on November winner - Mary Watters from Navan AC.
MARY WATTERS
Navan Athletic Club chairperson Mary Watters knows a thing or two about the loneliness of a long distance runner, but one Saturday in November all her years of hard work paid off when she represented Ireland at the British & Irish Masters Cross-Country Championships.
The championships were held in one of the most famous horseracing venues in the world - Aintree, the home of the Grand National.
And it was extra special for Watters, a mother and grandmother, because it was the first time she represented her country at an international competition.
After years of running the 56-year-old had become an overnight sensation! A fully-fledged international runner.
Mary was part of the W55 Irish team that included three other runners from different parts of the country - Kay Byrne (Finn Valley AC, Donegal), Niamh O’Sullivan (An Riocht AC, Kerry) and Michelle O’Mahony (Kilmurray/Ibrick/North Clare AC).
The quartet claimed the silver medal position behind England with Mary Watters clocking up a very respectable 26 minutes over the 6k course.
MARY WITH HER HUSBAND SEAMUS
In January (2020) Mary won her category at the Meath Masters Cross Country Championships.
MONTHLY WINNERS
January - Gavin Kennedy (Ashbourne RFC); February - Shane Aston (Trim AC); March - Ger Lyons (horseracing), Andy McEntee (GAA); Keith Donoghue (horseracing), Gavin Cromwell (horseracing), April - Ray Moloney (Navan RFC), Gordon Elliott (horseracing); May - Eamonn Murray (GAA); June - Nick Fitzgerald (GAA); July - Donal Keogan (GAA); August - Colin Keane (horseracing); September - Brian Carroll & Gary McConnell (handball); October - Cian Carey (motorsport); November - Mary Watters (athletics); December - Alan Murphy (Trim Celtic).
OTHER AWARDS
Other awards that will be presented include
Team of the Year - Na Fianna Camogie (voted by Meath Chronicle readers)
Outstanding Achievement Male - Jack Regan (voted by Meath Chronicle readers)
Outstanding Achievement Female - Natalya Coyle (voted by Meath Chronicle readers)
Young Sportsperson of the Year - TBA on the night (selected by Meath Chronicle)
There will be some Facebook live from the Knightsbrook next Friday night.