At the UCD Athletic Union Council Sport Awards ceremony yesterday evening in the UCD Student Centre, over 450 students from 27 different sports clubs were honoured for their sporting achievements on behalf of the University over the last twelve months.

A number of special awards were presented on the night. The Rugby Club was named the “Elite Club of the Year” for the second year in a row in recognition of its outstanding competitive success during the past twelve months. The Under 21 sides won the All Ireland Frazer McMullan Cup, the Conroy Cup, the JP Fanagan League, the Jamsie Maher Cup, the Leinster McCorry Cup and the Purcell Cup. The first XV retained their position in Division 1B of the All Ireland League for next season. While the J4’s also won their Leinster League.

Veterinary student, Niamh Field was also awarded the ‘David O’Connor Memorial medal’ for her achievements in Athletics this year. The ‘David O’Connor Memorial medal’, presented last night by Professor Alan Baird, commemorates David O’Connor a 1994 Veterinary Medicine graduate who died suddenly after football training, within a year of graduating as a Vet.

The Ladies Hockey first team was named the “Elite Team of the Year” following their victory in the Leinster Cup and securing the Division A Leinster League title. The team also reached the Irish Senior Cup final.

International athlete Ciara Everard was named as the “Dr. Tony O’Neill Sportsperson of the Year”, in recognition of her victory victory at both the Indoor University Championships and National Championships in the 800m. Ciara also broke the Sonia O’Sullivan’s Under-23 national record at the University Championships.

In terms of other award winners on the night, Dermot Sheridan from the Men’s Boat Club was named the “Gerry Horkan Club Administrator of the Year”. The Cycling team was named the “Varsity Team of the Year” and the Sailing Club was named the “Varsity Club of the Year”.

Commenting on the sporting achievements the UCD President, Dr. Hugh Brady, said that “Sport is an integral part student life at UCD and the fact that we have so many students from so many clubs are not only triumphant at Intervarsity level, but many others taking on the cream of competition nationally and internationally, underlines the quality of our sportsmen and women”.

Dublin, 14th May 2011