Armagh Rugby Club (below) had reason to celebrate once again last night when they captured the coveted Kukri Sportswear 'Club of the year' award.
And what made it all the sweeter was beating off the competition of neighbouring rivals, Portadown – as well as Letterkenny – to take the accolade.
It was an excellent year for Armagh both in league and cup competitions.
The firsts enjoyed a u
nique cup treble in winning the Powerade Towns’ Cup, Millar, McCall, Wylie Junior Cup and the Past Players Cup as well as finishing third in Kukri Ulster Qualifying League One.
The 2nd XV won section three of the Magners Junior League and went on to win the Junior Championship and lift the Harden Cup. The 3rd XV were winners of Guinness Minor League South.
Meanwhile, at youth level, the Under-18s secured the Bell Lawries Conference and contested the final of the Bell Lawrie Cup and the Under-16s were runners-up in their Bell Lawrie Conference League.
Another of last night’s club awards, the First Trust Bank ‘Club Player of the Year’ was won by Queen’s University’s Ian Porter.
A member of what was an impressive Queen’s side this year in the Ulster Senior and All Ireland Three Leagues, Porter is an up-and-coming scrumhalf who displays natural ability and a determination to progress further within the game.
Meanwhile, the award for outstanding athlete at the Sports Institute, the Ken Goodall Award, went to Queen’s Ian Whitten.
The special merit award went to Ballynahinch RFC member, Latimer Adair.
A former pupil of the Royal School Armagh and a member of their School’s Cup winning team of 1977, Latimer is recognised also for his outstanding contribution made to his club, Ballynahinch RFC, through 17 years of total commitment as Youth Convenor during which time he has developed a youth structure which is the envy of other clubs.
Each year he introduces a steady flow of homegrown talent into the adult ranks and these players have sustained the seven adult teams at his Club, including notably the 1st XV.
He was instrumental in the Club being awarded a ‘Clubmark’ recognition by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland and ensures that all necessary training is undertaken by other volunteers.
The full article contains 386 words and appears in News Letter newspaper.
