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Principal’s Letter 
Search is on for cream of local sporting talent
Dale Farm announces major sports bursar
Leading dairy business Dale Farm has today launched a major funding boost for local sporting talent, through the Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award in association with the Mary Peters Trust.
Specifically open to local athletes aiming to compete at Olympic and Paralympic Games level, the award represents the biggest individual sporting bursary available in Northern Ireland – worth £5,000. The initiative also incorporates a possible £1,500 for runners up and at grassroots level, a support campaign this summer will provide local primary schools with special sporting equipment for use at Sports Day events.
The winner of last year’s Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award, long distance runner Ciara Mageean, helped launch this year’s award alongside Dame Mary Peters DBE and Brian Beattie, Head of Marketing with Dale Farm. Brian commented:
“Over the years, the Dale Farm Sports Award has helped nurture talent such as Ciara Mageean, Jenna McCorkell and Paddy Barnes – all of whom demonstrate the determination and ambition to compete at the top of their game – and we continue to enjoy watching their journeys progress.
“With the Olympics drawing ever closer, we want to encourage Northern Ireland’s sporting elite to come forward for this award, which has been designed specifically to help them realise their goals.
“As well as supporting the local sporting elite, we are this year rolling out a Schools Sports Day programme, to encourage the stars of tomorrow and, fundamentally, underline the importance of active lifestyles among all young people.”
Dame Mary Peters DBE, President of the Mary Peters Trust added:
“We are proud to once again be working in partnership with Dale Farm on this important award, which year on year provides a much needed financial boost for local sportspeople. Recognising and supporting young talent is so important and with the Games in 2012 fast approaching this year’s award is more significant than ever.”
Nomination forms are available from today (14th March) from all sports governing bodies, the Mary Peters Trust or by logging on to www.dalefarm.co.uk. The deadline for entries is Fri day 27th May. The Mary Peters Trust will carry out the selection process and the winner will be announced in June.
If you would like to be in with a chance to win this year’s coveted ‘Dale Farm Sports Award’,why not fill out our Application Form
Ciara ‘On Track’ for Olympic Dreams
Dame Kelly Holmes presents local athlete with Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award
18 year old athlete Ciara Mageean from Portaferry has outrun the competition to become the first winner of the Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award, an Olympic-sized £5,000 bursary towards her sporting development. The long distance runner was presented with the award by Olympic legend Dame Kelly Holmes in a ceremony in Belfast today.
One of Ireland’s top young athletes, Ciara was chosen for the accolade by an expert sporting panel from the Mary Peters Trust and leading dairy business Dale Farm, who together launched the ‘2012 Dreams’ Award this year to support home-grown talent. Specifically open to athletes aiming for selection in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the initiative drew entries from across Northern Ireland in a wide range of sporting disciplines.
The current 800m Irish and 1500m European Youth Champion, Ciara has had an explosive year – setting records at numerous competitions and claiming silver at the World Youth Olympics. Her 2010/2011 schedule will see her defend these titles as well as compete at international level at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, World Cross Country Championships and the European Indoor Championships – all building up to the 2012 London Olympic Games.
“I’m completely overwhelmed to have won the Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award and am so grateful for the support that it will bring me,” said Ciara. “To have been presented with the award by my idol Kelly Holmes was an absolute ‘dream come true’ as she has always been a real inspiration to me.”
“Getting to where I am today hasn’t always been easy – I live in a rural area with no track or training facilities so I could often be found running laps of the local hurling field or even chasing the sheep off in winter! This bursary will really help towards funding my training and travel costs, especially for the upcoming season when I am competing in a lot of international races, all of which will bring me one step closer to reaching my ultimate goal of competing at the London 2012 Olympics.”
“We wanted to find a young sporting star that embodied the spirit of the Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award – someone with the talent, determination and ambition to compete at the very top of their game,” said Andrew Nethercott, Dale Farm’s commercial director. “Ciara stood out in the judging as a shining example of that spirit – we hope that coupled with her boundless passion and skill, our support can help her realise her Olympic goal. We’re looking forward to watching Ciara progress in the build up to 2012 and wish her every success throughout her journey.”
Dame Mary Peters DBE, President of the Mary Peters Trust further congratulated Ciara, “I am delighted for the Trust to once again be working in partnership with a local company such as Dale Farm in supporting such a bright star as Ciara. Recognising and nurturing young talent is so important in the sporting arena, particularly in the run up to the Olympics. I am positive that with this support Ciara will achieve her 2012 dream and make Northern Ireland proud.”
Local Athlete Flying High Thanks to Dale Farm and Olympic ‘Dames’ :
Running star Ciara Mageean was awarded the Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award at a special ceremony today at the George Best City Airport. Andrew Nethercott from Dale Farm (centre) joined Olympic royalty Dames Mary Peters and Kelly Holmes to present the Award and a £5000 bursary to 18 year old Ciara. One of Ireland’s top young athletes, Ciara was chosen for the accolade by an expert sporting panel from the Mary Peters Trust and leading dairy business Dale Farm, who together launched the ‘2012 Dreams’ Award this year to support home-grown talent.
Dale Farm launched its ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award this year as part of an initiative to inspire young people in Northern Ireland to get into the Olympic spirit and get active. The scheme also encompassed a schools’ competition, calling on local pupils to design the Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Awards logo. Shannon Simmons, a Primary 7 pupil from Irvinestown, designed the winning logo, which was revealed on Ciara’s logo today. Shannon also won £2,000 worth of sports equipment for her school as part of her prize.
A podium finish for young artist Shannon
Shannon Simmons, Irvinestown; Craig Allen, Podium 4 Sport and Brian Beattie, Dale Farm.
Ciara’s Up and Running
Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award Winner Ciara Mageean prepares to take on the World
At just 18 years old, Ciara Mageean is living every young athlete’s dream as she prepares to depart for her first senior competition – the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Recently crowned winner of the Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award – an award recognising outstanding home grown athletes facilitated by Dale Farm in partnership with the Mary Peters Trust – the Co. Down athlete received a career boosting £5,000 from the leading dairy company which has been instrumental in funding her trip.
Mageean has had a brilliant 2010 season, the highlight of which was her fantastic 4:09.51 in Canada to win the 1,500m silver medal for Ireland at the World Junior Championships – the sole medal won by a non-African competitor in the women’s middle distance events. And whilst shining as one of NI’s brightest sporting hopes for the future, securing the level of funding required to perform at this higher level has remained a struggle for the young athlete.
“I can’t believe the Commonwealth Games are just around the corner,” says Ciara. “This is my first senior competition and knowing that I’m going to be competing against some of the best middle-distance runners in the world is hugely exciting- not to mention hugely daunting!”
“To prepare myself for this level of competition, I’ve had to travel further afield, often internationally, to compete at the necessary standard,” she continued. “The travel alone is a huge expense, and when you add in accommodation and training costs- it can really add up.”
“Winning the Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award has been invaluable as it has allowed me to gain the experience I need at this level as well as helping fund my travel to New Delhi. It has allowed me to be the best I can be and hopefully I can put Northern Ireland on the map for middle distance running.”
Brian Beattie, head of marketing for Dale Farm, is delighted that the company’s funding has had such an impact on Ciara’s career. “As a local company we are a firm believer in supporting home grown talent, so we launched the Dale Farm ‘2012 Dreams’ Sports Award as a way of helping young, promising athletes make their mark on the international stage as they ultimately aim towards competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London,” he said.
“Our award is the biggest individual bursary currently available to athletes in NI, and stories like Ciara’s prove just how crucial the funding boost is. We all wish Ciara the very best of luck in her race next week and hope the people of Northern Ireland will join us in supporting her!”
Ciara is competing in the 1500m event on 7th October.
