Considered to be the longest running commercial sponsorship in Irish sports history - surpassed only by Texaco’s own Children’s Art Competition which this year celebrates its 50th Anniversary - the Texaco Sportstars Awards have become the premier medium by which the achievements of Irish sports men and sports women are recognised.

Across the 47 years since they were first presented in 1958, the annual Texaco Sportstars Awards have stood as a celebration of Irish sporting achievement and a testament to the sense of pride and pleasure which our sporting ambassadors have brought to Ireland through their success in national and international competitions. In the words of one leading athlete “despite the numerous awards schemes that exist today, the Texaco Sportstars Trophy is the one we all like to win.”

Film Sparks Sportstars Idea
It was in a Dublin cinema that the idea for the Texaco Sportstars Awards was born. On screen was a film entitled The Champion in which Kirk Douglas portrayed a world middleweight boxing champion the pinnacle of whose career was recognised by the presentation to him of the American Boxing Writers’ Award of the Year.  

Amongst the audience were two members of the Texaco (then Caltex) public relations staff. Watching the story unfold, the thought occurred to them that a similar awards presentation in Ireland could arouse tremendous public interest. In that flash of inspiration, the Texaco Sportstars Awards were born. The rest is history!

Judging Panel
In bringing the idea to fruition, the immediate task was to devise an appropriate awards format - one that would be recognised as expert and impartial and acceptable to the vast majority of the sporting public in Ireland.

After some deliberation, it was decided that an approach should be made to the Sports Editors of the main national newspapers to determine if they would form the judging panel.

The idea of bringing a group of newspaper editors together was unique at that time.  After careful negotiations with the editors and their proprietors, agreement was reached regarding the composition of the panel that would meet collectively to select the Texaco Sportstars Award winners. Their first meeting took place in 1958.

Members of that first Texaco panel were names distinguished in history of Irish sports journalism: Mitchel Cogley (Irish Independent), Oliver Weldon (Irish Press), Paul McWeeney (Irish Times), Gerry Merrin (Evening Herald), George Gormley (Evening Mail), Paddy Flynn (Evening Press), George King (Sunday Independent), and Tom O’Hara (Sunday Press). In 1960 Eugene Murphy (Cork Examiner) and Malcolm Brodie (Belfast Telegraph) were invited to join followed, in 1969, by Michael O’Hare, then Head of Sport at Telefis Eireann.

Though the personnel have changed, the structure and composition of the adjudication panel has remained virtually unchanged. Current members are: Adrian Logan (UTV), Stephen Cullinane (TV3), Glen Killane (RTE) Adhamhan O’Sullivan (Sunday Independent), PJ Cunningham (Irish Independent), David Courtney (Evening Herald), John Laverty (Belfast Telegraph), Malachy Logan (Irish Times), Tom Aherne (Irish Examiner) and Brian Farrell (Sunday World).

Awards
At their first meeting in 1958, the adjudicators decided that ten awards would be presented to the sports men and sports women who had achieved outstanding performances in their respective fields of sporting endeavour.

In 1960, the Hall of Fame trophy was inaugurated, its purpose being to honour a famous sports star of the past whose achievements would have merited a Texaco Sportstars Award had the award existed during his/her sporting era. This Award continues to be presented each year, very often to former Texaco Sportstars who have long since retired from active sporting life.

In 1970, the Supreme Sportstars Award was introduced. Now known as the Texaco Special Achievement Award, this Award recognises those who are not eligible to win a Texaco Sportstars Award but whose contribution to Irish sport is nonetheless noteworthy.

Trophy
Standing 14 inches high, the Texaco Sportstars Award is one of the most coveted awards in sport. Next to an Olympic, World, European or national sporting trophy, it has become the Award that every sports person wants to have in his or her trophy cabinet - one that has come to symbolise success and achievement in every aspect of Irish sporting life.

Created by Alwright & Marshall of Fade Street, Dublin, the Award has a classic design that has remained unchanged since the very first versions were presented 46 years ago. It comprises a silver Corinthian pillar mounted on a base of black polished marble with silver nameplate on which the recipients name is engraved. Mounted above the column, positioned within a gold laurel wreath, is a silver medallion bearing the Texaco ‘star’ trademark engraved with the legend ‘Texaco Trophy’.

Venue
Venue for the first Texaco Sportstars Awards presentation ceremony was the Aberdeen Hall in Dublin’s Gresham Hotel - the preferred location until 1971 when, due to developments at the hotel and an increase in guest numbers, the ceremony transferred to the Burlington Hotel which has remained its home until the present time.

Guests of Honour
As befits the star-studded nature of the event, the Awards have traditionally been presented by leading figures from Government and other dignitaries whose presence has brought added stature to the occasion. In 1958, the first awards were presented by Dr. Tim O’Driscoll, then Director General of Bord Failte Eireann.  

Since then, Na Taoisigh Sean Lemass TD, Jack Lynch TD, Liam Cosgrave TD, Garret Fitzgerald TD, John Bruton TD, Charles Haughey TD, Albert Reynolds TD and Bertie Ahern TD have graced the occasion with their presence. This year (2004), the Awards will be presented by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, TD.

’Who’s Who’ of Irish Sport
In its 47 year history, the Texaco Sportstars Awards has become a ‘who’s who’ of Irish sporting success. Giants of Irish sport who have received awards during that period include: Ronnie Delaney and Sonia O’Sullivan (Athletics), Johnny Cadwell and Michael Carruth (Boxing), Vincent O’Brien and Aidan O’Brien (Horse Racing), Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke (Golf), D.J. Carey (Hurling), Roy Keane (Soccer), Ken Doherty (Snooker) and many more.

The 47th Texaco Sportstars are noted as follows:

Bowling Margaret Johnston
Boxing Andy Lee
Camogie Úna O’Dwyer
Gaelic Football Colm Cooper
Golf Darren Clarke
Pádraig Harrington
Paul McGinley
Horse Racing P.J. Smullen
Hurling Seán Óg Ó hAilpín
Rugby Gordon D’Arcy
Soccer Shay Given
Swimming David Malone

The 47th Texaco Sportstars Awards will be presented on Monday, 15 November 2004.