Updated at 16.10
HORSE TRAINER JESSICA Harrington has been crowned the 2017 The Irish Times / Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year.
Harrington enjoyed an incredible year on the racing circuit, picking up the Irish Gold Cup and Punchestown Gold Cup along the way. She also won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in what was her first time to enter the race.
Her horse Sizing John — ridden by Robbie Power — is the first horse to win all three races in the same year.
After receiving the award on Friday, a delighted Harrington told the Irish Times:
“Everything came together this year and when it does come together, those things happen . . . You’ve got to be hopeful that it will keep going. If we weren’t hopeful we’d be no good at all.”
Harrington joins some sports figures who previously won the award, including Annalise Murphy who won it last year, and Cork dual stars Rena Buckley Briege Corkery, who shared the accolade in 2015.
The monthly winners all received their awards this afternoon and the overall winner (Harrington) was announced at the ceremony at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin.
Irish Times / Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year monthly winners
- January: Gráinne Dwyer (basketball)
- February: Paula Fitzpatrick (rugby)
- March: Aoife Ní Chaiside (camogie)
- April: Chloe Magee (badminton) and Jessica Harrington (horse racing)
- May: Leona Maguire (golf)
- June: Mona McSharry (swimming)
- July: Gina Akpe-Moses (athletics)
- August: Eve McCrystal & Katie-George Dunlevy (para-cycling)
- September: Rena Buckley (camogie) and Sinead Aherne (Gaelic football)
- October: Katie Taylor (boxing)
- November: Katie McCabe (soccer)
- December: Leanne Kiernan (soccer)
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
He wins the gold and he automatically becomes one of the greatest swimmers in history, double world & double Olympic champion with more to come. Along with Paul odonavan that’s 2 athletes in the highest possible echelon. I dunno if Ireland has produced athletes of that calibre in any sport ever before
@munsterman: agree, these guys are world beaters. But would have to throw Roche and Kelly into that where they were top of a very tough sport for so long.
@Kevin Dillon: yea good call that
@munsterman: bet ya ridge ray wont be happy
@Square: You sure are more than a few degrees off Square!!
@Ray Ridge: thanks Ridge ray
@Square: Its always a pleasure!
Love his confidence not like conor mcnugget do very nice guy we all are proud
Well done Daniel, brilliant time, we are so proud of you!! Good luck tomorrow evening in the final!!!
They pointed it out on commentary but he literally didn’t use his legs at all to set that time in heats. ( I don’t use mine swimming as I’ve God awful technique and a decent 8yr old would beat me) But try swimming a couple of lengths using only arms and it shows the unbelievable cardio and power this guy has. Cruised the last 200meters. Think we need to start a petition to add 1000m 1200m and 1800m to the games and this guy would have a fair shot at the lot
Ray ridges says he’s northern Irish lol
@Gary Galligan: he is lol
@Gary Galligan: Well, Armagh is in Northern Ireland, so I guess Ray Ridge would be right again!!
@Ray Ridge: again?
Is he alongside Michael phelps.. genuine question??
@Gary Galligan: wouldent think so but he is a superstar
@Gary Galligan: Nope, Phelps has 23 Olympic Gold medals, 26 World Championships.. plus other silvers, bronzes.
But exceptional for Wiffen to win an Olympic Gold.