Lord Mayor Arder Carson with winners at the Belfast Sport Awards

Gary Wilson, who has just made his 200th cap for Ireland Cricket, and bowls player, Sandra Bailie, have been honoured at the Belfast Sports Awards in City Hall.

The two were named as Male and Female Personality of the Year at the dinner hosted by Lord Mayor, Arder Carson. Gary played for Ireland in two World Cups and is currently playing in the World Twenty20 World Cup in India. Sandra won gold in the triples at the 2015 Atlantic Rim Championships in Cyprus, and also won Irish Pairs & Triple champion for the sixth consecutive year in 2015.

Eilish Rutherford, current Chairman of The Mary Peters Trust and a former player for Ulster Hockey, and three times Irish Master Winner, David Corkhill, were inducted in the Belfast Hall of Fame. The same honour was awarded posthumously to Former County Antrim and St Paul’s GAA Hurling coach, Jim Nelson.

Former weightlifter and founder member of St Gabriel’s Weightlifting Club, Ronnie Whiteway received a special Lord Mayor’s Award. Mr Whiteway (70) a club coach and international referee has been a member of the north Belfast club – the oldest in Belfast - since he was 17 years old. Over a long career in the sport he has won a number of local, national and international titles. He also trained John Cromie, the only local weightlifter to win a Commonwealth Games Medal.

The Belfast Sports Awards recognise the contribution and massive difference that local volunteers make to the life of local sports clubs.

Among the other winners on the night; Healthy Lifestyle – ‘On Yer Bike’ a project from Cedar Lodge to assist those with disabilities to ride a bike; Volunteer of the Year – husband and wife duo Danny and Maureen Treacy from Rosario Football Club; and Junior and Senior Team of the Year – Civil Service Cricket Club under 15’s and Cathal Brugha Waterpolo Team.

Junior winners included up and coming golfer, Keaton Morrison and Chloe Watson the first Northern Ireland player to win a World Indoor Bowls title for Under 25 Women’s Singles. She has become the first lady in history to win the Irish Indoor Junior and Senior Single titles; pairs, triples and fours.