Kelly receives her award from Lady Mary Peters with Carolynne Murray of sponsors Shandon Hotel
LOCAL female sporting heroes have been honoured earlier this evening at The Europa Hotel, at the Local Women in Sport Awards, organised by Local Women in Sport online magazine. These annual dedicated women in sports gala awards celebrate women in sport across the whole of Ireland and the UK. Hosted by UTV’s Ruth Gorman and sponsored by The Shandon Hotel and Resort, the star-studded event celebrated women in sport and everyone who helps women in sport thrive – the coaches, volunteers, sponsors and allies who make it all possible.
Lady Mary Peters presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Kelly Bailie, whose
extraordinary Glentoran career is defined by loyalty, longevity and excellence. Over 29 seasons in red, green and black, she has become one of the most decorated and respected figures in Northern Irish football. Initially a forward, Bailie’s intelligence and reading of the game saw her transition into a commanding defender whose leadership has anchored Glentoran Women’s remarkable era of success.
She has won around 30 major honours across league and cup competitions, captained the club in Europe and proudly represented NI more than 50 times.
Other winners who were unveiled this evening were:
Unsung Heroine Award sponsored by The Shandon Hotel and Resort
Winner – Anne Forsythe of North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club. A truly inspirational figure, Anne has given 43 years of passion and persistence to the sport – starting as a 13 year old volunteer at her dad’s club and going on to become the first female Clerk of the Course for a National Road Race anywhere in the world. Now MCUI (UC) Vice Chair and a leading light in the governing body of motorcycle racing. Anne is a selfless leader and fierce advocate for diversity, constantly encouraging young people, women and people with disabilities into officiating and volunteering roles – proving you can break any glass ceiling in a traditionally male-dominated arena.
Athlete of the Year, sponsored by ASC Aesthetics Skin Clinic
Winner – Rachel McCann
A 400m specialist who claimed the Northern Ireland and Ulster senior title this summer, Rachel has also stepped onto the world stage – racing for Ireland in the women’s 4 x 400m relay at the World Championships in Tokyo and helping the team qualify at the World Relays in Guangzhou.
Still only in her early twenties and juggling elite sport with a PhD at Queens, Rachel says the track is where the worries disappear for an hour.
Team of the Year sponsored by BTL Industries,.
Winner – Emily and Annabel Ridout Ballyholme Yacht Club
The sisters have had an extraordinary 2025 in the Feva class – Irish National Champions, Leinster Eastern Champions at Royal St George YC, Ulster / Northern Champions and winners overall at the RYA Youth Championships. On the International stage they finished 2nd female / 10th overall at the World Championships in France and were crowned Female European Champions – setting the benchmark for excellence, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Young sportswoman of the Year sponsored by Fabric World
Winner – Cassie Henderson. In 2025 she won her second European U17 boxing title in Germany with unanimous decision victories in her quarter-final, semi final and final and she captained Ireland U17s at both the World Championships and Euros. She also captained Armagh U16s to Ulster and All-Ireland Titles.
Rugby Player of the Year sponsored by Vaughan Chartered Accounts
Winner – Neve Jones, Ireland and Gloucester Hartpury Hooker. She was names in their Guinness Women’s Six Nations Team of the Championship, after topping the dominant tackle charts and led the front row again during the World Cup Qualifiers.
Rugby Coach of The Year, Sponsored by Perfectly Pure Juice
Winner – Neil Alcorn. He led the Wolfhounds to a second consecutive Celtic Challenge title with nine wins from ten matches and continues his valued work as an IRFU Talent Coach for Ulster.
Referee of the Year sponsored by Solasta Healthcare
Winner – Claire Conway. Claire is involved with Northern Ireland Powerlifting Federation for over 15 years – first as a lifter and volunteer, now as a national-level British Powerlifting referee – Claire is one of the most respected officials in the sport. Known for her straight-talking but fair approach, she mentors new referees, upholds IPF standards with integrity and travels to national events, as well as local NIPF competitions, showing real commitment and professionalism.
Club of the Year is sponsored by Go Fuel,
Winner – St Ergats Moneyglass
A historic year for the club, the senior ladies made history by winning the Ulster LGFA Senior Club Championship and finishing as All-Ireland Senior Club finalists. Add to that, a milestone off the pitch, with the appointment of the club’s first female chairperson, and St Ergnats has shown real leadership, progress and community spirit in 2025.
Most Inspirational Sportswoman of the Year sponsored by Caldwell’s Jewellers
Winner – Weightlifter Hannagh Crymble. As NIWL put it – Hannah has all the characteristics you’d want any young sportswoman to aspire to. Balancing life as an oncologynurse with her athletic career, she’s genuinely inspiring lifters of all ages across the sport.
Backroom Award sponsored by Complete Homecare
Winner – Paula Stewart of Lurgan RFC, who also chairs Ulster Rugby’s Women and Girls Committee and sits on the Ulster Management Committee… a tireless volunteer driving female participation across the province.
LGFA Player of the Year sponsored by Heron Bros
Winner Emily Druse had an outstanding 2025 season, turning 22, starting 12 of Armagh’s 13 games under three different managements and impressing at wing-back / wing-forward for club Armagh, Harps, Queens University in the O’Connor Cup and Armagh Seniors. All whilst studying medicine at Queens and sitting her final exams.
LGFA Coach of the Year sponsored by Heron Bros
Winner – Chris Scullion In one season, Chris transformed Antrim LGFA – from one win in 2024 to 16 wins in 17 games in 2025 – leading them to promotion from Division 4, A National League title, an Ulster Junior Championship and an All-Ireland Junior Final. Chris brought a professional, high-performance environment with GPS tracking, video analysis and detailed tactical work, creating real belief and a lasting cultural change within Antrim Ladies Football.
Camogie Player of the Year sponsored by ASC Aesthetic Skin Clinic,
Winner – Amy Boyle. Club and county captain, she inspires teammates and younger players alike, carrying the role with grace – leading Antrim in 2025 and captaining Loughgiel Shamrocks to their 12th Antrim title in a row.
Camogie Coach of the Year sponsored by Blades and Beauty
Winner – Paul Bannon of Loch Mor, started a Mothers and Others team to bring senior camogie back to the area, and has grown it into a fully functioning squad of nearly 40 women – coaching many of the girls from U10s right through to senior. He turns up an hour before every session to plan and set up, gives everything to training and games and his passion and respect within the community and beyond measure.
Breakthrough Award sponsored by Vaughan Chartered Accountancy
Winner – Caitriona O’Hagan. The Armagh player made her mark in 2025 after stepping into senior football and quickly becoming a strong player, respected by all her team-mates.
Netball Coach of the Year is sponsored by Belfast Live
Winner – Denise Prue head coach of Larkfield for over 30 years, she led the club to their first silverware since 2020 with a NI Senior Cup final win over Kingsway – Larkfield’s eighth Senior Cup under her leadership
Netball Player of the Year sponsored by Cunning Financial Solutions
Winner – Michelle Magee. As Northern Ireland captain and Birmingham Panthers defender, she’s a regular in the British Netball Super League and was named Northern Ireland International Player of the Year in 2023 after leading the Warriors at the Celtic Cup.
Hockey Player of the Year sponsored by MB Motors
Winner – Jessica McMaster of Ulster Elks, is a midfielder who has been back in the Ireland Senior squad in 2025 after and eight year absence. Jessica also helped drive Ulster Elks’ rise in the EY Hockey League this season.
Hockey Coach of the Year sponsored by MB Motors
Winner – Tamara Stronge (McLeod) has guided Ards through a standout season – topping the Ulster Premier League, lifting the Ulster Senior Indoor Title and leading a squad packed with top-flight experience into EYHL Division 2 as real promotion contenders.
Sportswoman of the Year sponsored by The Shandon Hotel and Resort
Winner Kate O’Connor is an Irish track and field athlete who competes in the heptathlon and indoor pentathlon for Ireland and Northern Ireland. O’Connor is the Irish record holder for heptathlon and indoor pentathlon.
A European medalist for Ireland at the under-20 age-grade level in 2019, she came to senior prominence by winning a silver medal in the heptathlon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, representing Northern Ireland.
In 2025 she achieved a breakthrough year, winning four senior international medals across the indoor and outdoor season. She won a bronze medal in the Pentathlon at the 2025 European Indoor Championships, setting a new national record, and a silver at the World Indoor Championships a few weeks later.[3] In the summer, she took gold in the 2025 World University Games, the Universiade in heptathlon. In September 2025, O’Connor won a Heptathlon silver medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Highly Commended Award sponsored by Elite Aesthetics.
Winner – Caitlin Dunne who at the tender age of 22 years is a 17 time world champion and 4 time European champion in kick-boxing and has been undefeated at World championships for four straight years. Caitlin is currently ranked world number 1 female by the world kickboxing Union and holds a black-belt after 10 years in the sport.
Health and Fitness PT of the Year is sponsored by Sara Edge Solicitors
Winner – Heather Nichol of Ella Mor Health Fitness and Wellbeing
is more than a trainer. Every nomination mentions her care for the individual, acting as an unofficial counsellor, friend and champion for her members. From checking in daily with a client through breast cancer, to helping so many women build confidence through through fitness and mental health coaching, Heather’s support never wavers – as one member put it, ‘It’s only an hour a week, but she solves all my problems’.
Gym of the Year sponsored by Platinum Support and Care
Winner – Jenn’s Gym is NI’s first Neuro Fitness centre, founded by Jennifer Smyth from Eglington. A quadriplegic athlete after a gymnastics accident left her with a spinal cord injury in 2013 – the gym provides specialized, adapted equipment and a safe, fully accessible space for people with neurological conditions and disabilities. From sit-down cross trainers and standing frames, to one-to-one support, Jenn has turned her own experience into a life-changing facility that puts individual needs first.
Footballer of the Year sponsored by Power to Switch
Winner – Caitlin Rae of Valley Rangers has scored over 100 goals across the last two seasons – more than any player from the Premiership down through the NIWFA leagues. After losing her dad at the start of last season, she channeled that emotion into her performances on the pitch, producing a superb year that earned her NIWFA Division 4 Player of the Year.
Football Coach of the Year sponsored by Complete Home Care
Winner – Roisin Beasley of TriStar is coach to the U14 girls team. Roisin has been instrumental in setting up TriStar’s senior women’s team – giving the girls a clear pathway – and the side completed its first league season in the NIWFA in 2025. She’s also on the IFA’s ‘Kick to Connect’ committee, a great promoter of women’s football at all levels and is more than a coach to her players – a hugely positive role model.
Sporting School of the Year sponsored by Solasta Healthcare
Winner – Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry. Despite its lack of facilities, has delivered outstanding results this year – including British Gymnastics titles, netball senior/junior/minor plate winners, Ulster Junior Camogie champions, Ulster Under 20 Shield and Under 16 A Football Champions and Year 8 Northern Ireland Soccer Champions.
Donegal Sportswoman of the Yearsponsored by McDaid Bathroom
Winner – Aine McCole who after tearing her ACL at the 2024 Europeans in Poland, spent 2025 fighting her way back – switching to kata, rebuilding through rehab and earning a silver medal at the 15th WUKF European Karate Championships. It’s an incredible comeback story of resilience and courage.
Sportswoman with a Disability of the Year sponsored by Linen Green
Winner – Dearbhaile Brady. In 2025 the 18 year old from Feeny moved to Dublin to train full-time at the National Aquatic Centre and won World Championship silver in the S6 50m butterfly and bronze in the S6 50m freestyle in Singapore.
Our first Special Recognition Award sponsored by Cocktail Keg Company
Winner – Ellie McCartney from Fermanagh recently claimed Gold and silver at The European Under 23 championships And also gold in the International Meet in Dublin and International Euromeet in Luxembourg and qualified for the World Championship final.
Our second Special recognition Award sponsored by Power to Switch
Winner – Ashlene McCloskey is a recognized figure in Ladies Gaelic Football (LGFA) coaching and goalkeeper training in Northern Ireland. She was shortlisted for the LGFA Coach of the Year award in early 2026, associated with sporting provision at St. Patrick’s & St. Brigid’s College, Claudy, is goalkeeper for the Belfast Ladies Football Team and is active in training and developing young players, specifically working with girls’ teams in Futsal and football. Ashlene is involved with sports at St. Patrick’s & St. Brigid’s College in Derry/Londonderry, including mentoring teams in Gaelic games (e.g., Year 8 Gaelic blitz).
Editor’s Choice Award sponsored by Local Women Sport
Winner – Nicola Doran, also a swimmer, is a three-time Guinness Book of Record holder, three time World Champion and four-time European Champion in ice-swimming. She holds the fastest para time for the 21km Baltimore to Fastnet Lighthouse swim, is the only para time in the world to have completed four ice miles and recently broke her Guinness World Record for the longest Ice Mile in Greece.
This time last year, Nicola won ‘Sportswoman with a Disability’ Award and walked onto the stage with both legs, before her operation to remove one of her legs last July. This lady shows strength, resilience and positivity and is a very worthy winner.
Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Contribution to Ladies Sport sponsored by broadcast media partner U105
Winner – Nigel Craig is a dedicated LGFA member of the Derry executive and manager of their U14 team, working tirelessly behind the scenes to support the county and his team. Nigel goes above and beyond often using his own resources to benefit the team. He’s passionate about giving back to the LGFA and his efforts have a real impact on the girls’ development.
Nigel’s approach is exemplary, he’s supportive, caring and genuinely invested in the team’s success. He’s a great role model and his commitment to the LGFA is inspiring.
