Ballyvally presents annual awards

Ballyvally archers met in the Belmont Hotel on Friday to celebrate one of their most successful years yet.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Feb 2016, 13:06 BST
Ballyvally Archery Club President Frank Mulligan and Special Guest Andy Haggan pictured at the Annual Prize Night with the Junior Trophy winners ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1605-227EBBallyvally Archery Club President Frank Mulligan and Special Guest Andy Haggan pictured at the Annual Prize Night with the Junior Trophy winners ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1605-227EB
Ballyvally Archery Club President Frank Mulligan and Special Guest Andy Haggan pictured at the Annual Prize Night with the Junior Trophy winners ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1605-227EB

Last year, the club had just over 400 archers of all ages shooting in Banbridge Leisure Centre, the youngest just three years old and the oldest a very young 91 years.

Special guest Andy Haggan presented the prizes and begun by presenting all the Ballyvally Buckaroos with specially designed certificates.

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There were big awards for several key names from around the club, including Robert Nesbitt, who picked up the Ballyvally Award in recognition of his work in the backroom team of the club’s 14 international archers.

Special Guest Andy Haggan pictured at the Annual Prize Night of Ballyvally Archery with the Junior Badge Achievers ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1605-228EBSpecial Guest Andy Haggan pictured at the Annual Prize Night of Ballyvally Archery with the Junior Badge Achievers ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1605-228EB
Special Guest Andy Haggan pictured at the Annual Prize Night of Ballyvally Archery with the Junior Badge Achievers ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1605-228EB

The Most Improved Awards went to Aoife McDermott and Ethan McKinley (U9), Anna Mehaffey and Bailey Kelly (U12), Molly Dunne and Fraser Leonard (U15), Niamh Burns and David Fairley (U18), Romaine Mehaffey (lady) and William Edwards (gent), The Russell Award, selected by the Junior Committee, went to Anna Mehaffey.

The Paddy Rooney Trophy was an easy one to decide. It went to the archer who had the first and only Robin Hood in 2015 and who won £25 for his efforts - the 2015 winner was Robert McCreery. The trophy is made out of actual wood from Sherwood Forest.

The Family Trophy went to the Heaney Family (Kevin, Caoimhe, Sian and Aidan), followed by the McMath Family (Eden and Norman).

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Pat’s Choice was Marc Matthews for all his hard work in the junior section, setting an example to other members.

Special Achievement awardees Rachel Wilson, Romaine Mehaffey and Marc Matthews ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1605-229EBSpecial Achievement awardees Rachel Wilson, Romaine Mehaffey and Marc Matthews ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1605-229EB
Special Achievement awardees Rachel Wilson, Romaine Mehaffey and Marc Matthews ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1605-229EB

Finally, the Clubperson of the Year / Behind the Scenes awards went to Valerie Sleith, Paul Copeland, Sam Jackson, Patricia McLean, the Heaney family and Club Secretary Eddie McClean.

The club raised £400 on a raffle to add to the £500 raised at the pink shoot for cancer in November and brought the club’s total to £900 raised for charity in the past few months.