LADY Mary Peters has presented Athletics NI’s Celebration of People Awards.
Main pic (above) shows winner of Participation Coach of the Year, Louise Smart.
Louise is the head coach for County Antrim Harriers and lead CIRF for the club’s Couch to 5k programme, that the club runs in the lead up to their May Fair Race. This programme is in its’ ninth year. During that time Louise has guided well over 200 runners in the local Ballyclare community and the surrounding areas to finish Couch to 5k and their first 5km race.
Louise has the ability to get the best out of all the participants and offers encouragement at every opportunity. Louise quickly adapts to each runners needs during the programme so that everyone can complete the programme easily. Not only does she prepare all the new runners to complete the programme, but she motivates them to make ongoing lifestyle changes with running so that our community is a healthier and happier place.
She has an infectious love of all things running that quickly infiltrates into the runners’ lives. Her no nonsense approach to running and runner safety is well loved by all whom she coaches. When she is not running the Couch to 5 programme, Louise organises a coaching team of 20 CIRF/LIRFs for Co Antrim Harriers.
She has developed a large variety of running routes round the town keeping training varied for members. She also develops extensive improvement sessions throughout the year to help members meet their goals. Louise is a lynch pin in the life of her club and is an inspiration for her ultramarathon running where she regularly places on the podium.
Winner of Volunteer of the Year, Liz Glover (above) is a former NI international. Now in her 60’s, she has been an invaluable asset to athletics in Northern Ireland for over 40 years.
Liz was the organiser for voluntary officials for decades and tirelessly recruited officials to help prepare and be active in working at events covering all the disciplines within the sport from cross country and roads to full scale track and field fixtures.
Come rain come shine, Liz and her colleagues were there, and are there, helping make athletics enjoyable for all, competitors and spectators alike. More recently she acted as part of the team which operates the computer-based track timekeeping systems.
Winner of International Official of the Year, Joy Alexander (above) has been to the fore of officiating within Northern Ireland for as long as most people in the sport can remember. Joy has officiated at many major international events in the Diamond League and Commonwealth Games. Recently she was the liaison officer between UK athletics and World Athletics at the World Indoor Championships. Her role was central to the success of this World Championship event and reflects the hard work, dedication, and sporting knowledge that Joy brought to it.
