K Club Course Director Gerard Byrne honoured with the 2006 Texaco Sportstars Special Achievement Awards

DUBLIN, IRELAND – 22 November 2006 - Gerard Byrne, Course Director at The K Club is to be presented with this year's 2006 Texaco Special Achievement Award. The Award is presented to him in recognition of his outstanding work in preparing the popular Kildare venue for the recent playing of the 2006 Ryder Cup.

On the first occasion on which the Ryder Cup was played here, when the eyes of the world were firmly focused on Ireland and on the golfing challenges which The K Club course posed for participants, Gerard Byrne and his ground staff faced a sufficiently daunting challenge to present and maintain the course in top condition.

However, their task was not helped by the exceptionally inclement weather that prevailed throughout the competition, especially in the opening days.  Despite the adverse conditions, Gerard and his team faced down wet and windy weather to present the course in a condition that won the unanimous acclaim of the golfers who participated on the US and European teams.

The award will be presented to Gerard at the annual Texaco Sportstars of the Year awards ceremony which takes place in Dublin this evening at which An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD will be guest of honour.

In choosing him as winner of the 2006 Texaco Special Achievement Award, the judges praised the skill which Mr. Byrne and his ground staff bring to their role and the resolve shown by them in the face of extremely difficult conditions.

Introduced in 1970, the Texaco Special Achievement Award is presented annually to those whose contribution to Irish sport is recognised by the judging panel yet who, by virtue of their role within the world of sport, cannot otherwise qualify to win a Texaco Sportstars trophy.

- END -

Editors’ notes

• Texaco (Ireland) Ltd. is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, which markets its fuels under the Texaco brand across Europe, among other markets. Chevron Corporation is one of the world’s leading energy companies. With more than 55,000 employees, Chevron conducts business in approximately 180 countries around the world, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas, and refining, marketing and distributing fuels and other energy products. Chevron is based in San Ramon, California, USA. More information on Chevron is available at www.chevron.com

• There are approximately 250 Texaco-branded service stations in Ireland and more than 2,000 across Europe. Texaco Ireland also holds an equity stake in four fuel storage facilities in the Republic of Ireland. For more information, visit www.texaco.ie

 

For any media enquiries about the Texaco Sportstars awards, call Don Hall, Hall PR on 01 660 9377 or email don@hall.ie. For further information on Texaco Ireland, contact Daniel Schraibman on 0044 207 719 4459 or email danielschraibman@chevron.com

 

Legendary athlete Eamonn Coghlan receives 2006 Texaco Sportstars Hall of Fame Award

DUBLIN, IRELAND - 19 NOVEMBER 2006 - Eamonn Coghlan, one of the most legendary figures in the history of Irish sport, has been chosen as the worthy recipient of this year's 2006 Texaco Hall of Fame Award.

Born in Drimnagh, the amiable Dubliner achieved a level of success in domestic and international competitions that made him one of the biggest names in world sport and one of the most successful ever Irish sportsmen.

Despite being twice pipped for an Olympic medal - finishing fourth in  the 1,500m in 1976, and again in the 5,000m in 1980 - Eamonn was both a world champion and world record holder. Nicknamed the ‘Chairman of the Boards’ because of his incredible success on the indoor circuit, he set the world record in the indoor mile run at 3:50.6 in 1981, and again in 1983 at Meadowlands, New Jersey, running at 3:49.78. This record stood until 1997 when it was broken by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in a time of 3:48.45.

His 1983 time remains the fastest mile ever run in the United States, and one of only three sub-3:50 miles run on American soil. He also set the record for the indoor 2,000 metres run at 4:54.07 in 1987 - a record which stood until Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia ran 4:52.86 in 1998.

Coghlan won the world famous Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose games in NYC's Madison Square Garden on a record seven occasions in 1977, 1979-1981, 1983, 1985 and 1987. He finally dispelled the pain of his Olympic finals when he won the 5,000 metres at the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki with a scintillating sprint finish. He continued running competitively for quite some time, and in 1994 became the first man over age 40 to run a sub-four minute mile.

In the course of his career, Eamonn was presented with a Texaco Sportstars Award on five separate occasions - in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981 and 1983.

- ENDS -

Editors’ notes

• Texaco (Ireland) Ltd. is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, which markets its fuels under the Texaco brand across Europe, among other markets. Chevron Corporation is one of the world’s leading energy companies. With more than 55,000 employees, Chevron conducts business in approximately 180 countries around the world, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas, and refining, marketing and distributing fuels and other energy products. Chevron is based in San Ramon, California, USA. More information on Chevron is available at www.chevron.com

• There are approximately 250 Texaco-branded service stations in Ireland and more than 2,000 across Europe. Texaco Ireland also holds an equity stake in four fuel storage facilities in the Republic of Ireland. For more information, visit www.texaco.ie

For any media enquiries about the Texaco Sportstars awards, call Don Hall, Hall PR on 01 660 9377 or email don@hall.ie. For further information on Texaco Ireland, contact Daniel Schraibman on 0044 207 719 4459 or email danielschraibman@chevron.com

 

Ireland’s success in world and European competition reflected in the 2006 Texaco Sportstars Awards recipients

DUBLIN, IRELAND - 15 NOVEMBER 2006 - Ireland’s success in World and European competition is reflected in the ten stars chosen to receive this year's 2006 Texaco Sportstars of the Year Awards.  Selected by Sports Editors representing print and broadcast media, north and south, from a shortlist of eighteen sports, the full line-up of Texaco award winners for 2006 comprises:

ATHLETICS	Derval O’Rourke
BOXING	Bernard Dunne
EQUESTRIAN SPORT	Jessica Kuerten
GAELIC FOOTBALL	Kieran Donaghy
GOLF	Padraig Harrington
HORSE RACING	Aidan O’Brien
HURLING	Henry Shefflin
ROWING	Gearoid Towey Eugene Coakley Richard Archibald Paul Griffin
RUGBY	Denis Leamy
SOCCER	David Healy

 

Two additional awards will be presented to the Texaco Hall of Fame and Special Achievement Award winners, both of whose names will be announced shortly.  Of the thirteen stars who will receive awards, including the four-man rowing team, six are being honoured for the very first time.  They are Derval O’Rourke, Jessica Kuerten, Kieran Donaghy, Denis Leamy, David Healy and Bernard Dunne.

Commenting, Texaco Country Chairman Declan McAndrew said "Ireland’s profile as an international sporting nation is underlined by the calibre of this year’s Texaco Award winners. Their success in domestic and international competitions has brought pride and joy to the Irish people and is an inspiration to a younger generation that will follow in their footsteps."

The 49th Texaco Sportstars Awards will be presented by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD at an awards ceremony which takes place in Dublin later this month.

Athletics: Derval O’Rourke
In Athletics, the award goes to Cork athlete Derval O’Rourke. Poised to succeed Sonia O’Sullivan as the queen of Irish athletics, Derval’s achievements in 2006 were quite outstanding. Determined to prove herself after illness cruelly curtailed her performance at the Athens Olympics, Derval showed what an exciting talent she is with her magnificent gold medal victory in the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow and her silver medal success in the 100m event after her dramatic photo-finish at the European Championships in Gothenburg.

Boxing: Bernard Dunne
In Boxing, the award goes to Bernard Dunne. Billed as one of the finest young boxers ever to come out of Ireland, the charismatic 26-year-old Dubliner capped an illustrious career at the Point last weekend when he overcame his English opponent Esham Pickering to capture the vacant European super bantamweight title. Before a capacity audience of 7,000 excited spectators, the Neilstown dynamo crafted a superb victory to win a points decision and become the first Dubliner ever to take a European title in his home town. In what was an historic night for Irish boxing, Dunne became the fifth Irishman ever to hold a European title, taking his place alongside Barry McGuigan, Rinty Monaghan, Ray Close and Charlie Nash. Boxing seriously since he was 12 years old, he is now undefeated in 22 pro contests. He turned professional with a record of 119 amateur fights behind him in which he lost on only 11 occasions, the last being a pre-Olympic qualifier in 1999.

Equestrian Sport: Jessica Kuerten
In Equestrian Sport, the award goes to Antrim rider Jessica Kuerten. 2006 was a fantastic year for Jessica, one which saw her established as the World No.2 rider. From the start of the year, she produced a series of dazzling wins. With her Danish-bred mare Quibell and German-bred mare Castle Forbes Libertina, Jessica took the spotlight winning $250,000 at the prestigious Dubai Show, and quickly adding a Mercedes by winning the Grand Prix in Zurich. Her good form continued throughout the year, and included a magnificent second place at the FEI World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

Gaelic Football: Kieran Donaghy
In Gaelic Football, the award goes to Kerry full forward Kieran Donaghy. As Kerry struggled in their early games in Munster, coach Jack O´Connor took the decision to switch Kieran from midfield to full-forward - a move that was to have a major impact on the team’s performance. Pitted against some of the best defences in the country, the 6ft 5in Kerry star was unstoppable, as the defenders of Longford, Armagh, Cork and Mayo discovered! As well as picking off some fantastic scores on his own account, he was equally impressive in the way he helped steer Kerry to another All Ireland victory, winning possession and setting up scores for the other forwards around him. Described as a classic full forward target man, he is a player hailed as being in the great tradition of Kerry full forwards.

Golf: Padraig Harrington
In Golf, the award goes to Padraig Harrington. A great season saw Padraig end up as European No.1 golfer.  After a moderate beginning to the year, Padraig made a big impact at the US Open where he was in contention right up to the end, finishing in 5th place. Buoyed by his performance, he returned to Ireland where he played an important role as a member of the European team in their memorable Ryder Cup victory over the United States at the K Club. Winning the Dunhill Links title at St Andrews, he went on to clinch the Harry Vardon Trophy and the title Europe´s No.1 after a battling second place finish in the Volvo Masters.
 
Horse Racing: Aidan O’Brien
In Horse Racing, the award goes to trainer Aidan O’Brien. It has been an outstanding season for Aidan O’Brien, not just in Ireland but internationally. In total, he saddled a remarkable thirteen Group 1 winners worldwide in 2006. In Ireland, the highlight of his season came with his fourth win in the Irish Derby and a superb success for Dylan Thomas at the Curragh.  Jockey, Kieran Fallon bided his time before Dylan Thomas left the other 12 runners to win by three and a half lengths.  And there were many other stars  in the O’Brien stable - George Washington, the brilliant 2,000 Guineas winner, Alexandrova, who has won both the English and Irish Oaks, Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats, and dual Group 1-winning juvenile Holy Roman Emperor.

Hurling: Henry Shefflin
In Hurling, the award goes to that great Kilkenny star, Henry Shefflin. For his consistency, his attitude and his outstanding talent, Henry wins the award in what was certainly Kilkenny´s year in hurling as they won both the League and the Championship. Though there were several star performers in the Kilkenny line-up, Henry outshone them all, finishing the year as top scorer. As Cork supporters would agree, he proved to be a huge influence on the Kilkenny team, denying the Leesiders the three-in-a-row with a brilliant performance in the All-Ireland final.

Rowing: Gearoid Towey, Eugene Coakley, Richard Archibald & Paul Griffin
In Rowing, the award goes to Gearoid Towey, Eugene Coakley, Richard Archibald & Paul Griffin. In what has been another fantastic year for the Irish Lightweight Four, their record in the three World Cup events is nothing short of remarkable. Taking silver in Munich, gold in Poznan, and gold in Lucerne, they became the first ever Irish crew to win the World Cup series outright. Then at the World championships in Eton they took bronze, after being pipped by France for the silver by the tiniest of margins...nine hundredths of a second.

Rugby: Denis Leamy
In Rugby, the award goes to Munster and Irish international Denis Leamy. In such a memorable year for Irish rugby, a year in which Ireland won the Triple Crown and Munster finally got their hands on the European Cup, the task of choosing a star was one that proved most difficult. While a case was made for several players, it was the sheer consistency of this Tipperary man that swung the judges - a factor that makes the award all the better for Denis given that he beat off so many outstanding contenders to take the trophy. His courage, his power, and his ability to score memorable tries like the one for Ireland at Twickenham, when victory over England clinched the Triple Crown are especially remembered. So too are his heroic defensive qualities so often illustrated with Munster in this fantastic year.
 
Soccer: David Healy
In Soccer, the award goes to Northern Ireland international David Healy. For the Leeds United striker, this has been an exceptional year, one in which he was to be Northern Ireland’s record goal scorer in circumstances that are unforgettable. Already a legend for scoring the goal that gave Northern Ireland their famous victory over England in Windsor Park last year, David experienced the pressure was on the Irish team after they lost their first European Championship qualifier at home to Iceland.  On the following Wednesday, Northern Ireland gave their supporters something to cheer about  when they stunned the world of international football with a remarkable 3-2 victory over Spain - a game in which David scored all three goals to create his own unique position in the annals of Northern Ireland football.

- ENDS -

Editors’ notes

• Texaco (Ireland) Ltd. is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, which markets its fuels under the Texaco brand across Europe, among other markets. Chevron Corporation is one of the world’s leading energy companies. With more than 55,000 employees, Chevron conducts business in approximately 180 countries around the world, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas, and refining, marketing and distributing fuels and other energy products. Chevron is based in San Ramon, California, USA. More information on Chevron is available at www.chevron.com
  
• There are approximately 250 Texaco-branded service stations in Ireland and more than 2,000 across Europe. Texaco Ireland also holds an equity stake in four fuel storage facilities in the Republic of Ireland. For more information, visit www.texaco.ie
  
• For any media enquiries about the Texaco Sportstars awards, call Don Hall, Hall PR on 01 660 9377 or email don@hall.ie. For further information on Texaco Ireland, contact Daniel Schraibman on 0044 207 719 4459 or email danielschraibman@chevron.com

 

49th Texaco Sportstars Awards shortlist announced.

Eighteen sports make up list from which Texaco Sportstars will be chosen

With just one year to go until the longest running sports sponsorship in Ireland celebrates its 50th anniversary, the shortlist of eighteen sports from which this year’s 49th Texaco Sportstars of the Year Award winners will be selected has been announced.

Amongst the sports that have made it through to the final shake-up are cycling, motor sport, greyhound racing and sailing. Other sports featuring on the shortlist are athletics, boxing, camogie, gaelic football, golf, horse racing, hurling, rowing, rugby, snooker, soccer, swimming, ladies football and equestrian.

Chosen by a panel of national sports editors, the winners to whom awards will be presented this year will be announced in two weeks time. This will be followed by the awards ceremony to be held in Dublin on Wednesday, 22nd November at which An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD will officiate.

Also presented on that evening will be the Texaco Hall of Fame Award, which goes to a prominent sports personality from the past, and the Texaco Special Achievement Award which is presented annually to a prominent person from the world of sport, who is not eligible to receive a Texaco Sportstars Award. The winners of these two awards will be announced shortly.

Commenting, Texaco Country Chairman, Declan McAndrew said ‘we applaud those who will be selected as Texaco Sportstars Award winners this year. They will join a unique grouping of Irish sports personalities and former Texaco award winners upon whose shoulders rests the honor of having brought the event forward from its inception in 1957 into its 50th year in 2007’.

END.
1st November 2006

 

THE 48th TEXACO SPORTSTARS, HALL OF FAME & SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS PRESENTED

The thirteen leading Irish sports personalities chosen as this year’s winners of the ten Texaco Sportstars Awards were presented with their trophies at a ceremony held in Dublin's Burlington Hotel last evening (Wednesday, 30th November) at which An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD was Guest of Honour.  Two additional awards, the Texaco Hall of Fame and Texaco Special Achievement Awards, were also presented.  Chosen from a shortlist of twenty-two sports, the full line-up of  Texaco Sportstars Award winners for 2005 is:

ATHLETICS	David Gillick
CRICKET	Ed Joyce
GAELIC FOOTBALL	Stephen O'Neill
GOLF	Padraig Harrington
HORSE RACING	Kieren Fallon
HURLING	Jerry O'Connor
LADIES GAA	Valerie Mulcahy
ROWING	Richard Archibald Eugene Coakley Paul Griffin Tim Harnedy
RUGBY	Trevor Brennan
SOCCER	Damien Richardson

Of the thirteen stars chosen to receive awards, all but two were winners for the very first time. Previous recipients were jockey Kieren Fallon, a winner in 1997, and golfer Pádraig Harrington who won his sixth Texaco Award having previously been honoured in 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2004.

Recipient of the 2005 Texaco Hall of Fame award was legendary Irish international John Giles, one of the most distinguished figures in Irish soccer renowned for his various roles as player, manager and media pundit.

Winner of the 2005 Texaco Special Achievement Award was veteran broadcaster and sportswriter, Jimmy Magee whose award was presented in recognition of his long and distinguished career in sports broadcasting.

Chosen by a panel of Sports Editors representing national print and broadcast media across Ireland, the Texaco Sportstars Awards are now in their 48th year having been presented annually since 1958.

Hosted by Texaco Country Chairman Paul Martin, the awards ceremony was attended by the Sportstars and their guests along with celebrities from the world of sport, media, business and entertainment as well as senior officials from Texaco.   

Commenting on the 2005 awards, Texaco Country Chairman Paul Martin said 'it is particularly pleasing to see so many young sportstars being chosen to receive awards for the very first time.  This surely reflects the very healthy state of Irish sport and the high level of domestic and international competition in which Irish sports stars are now engaged.’

Issued: Wednesday, 30th November 2005

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The 48th Texaco Sportstars Awards, November 2005, Dublin
WHO WILL WIN THIS YEAR’S TEXACO SPORTSTARS AWARDS?

Speculation has begun as to who will win this year’s ten Texaco Sportstars Awards.

The shortlist of twenty sports from which this year’s winners will be selected was announced today. Chosen by a panel of national sports editors who decide who the recipients will be, the 2005 list includes:

Gaelic Football; Hurling; Soccer; Horse Racing; Boxing; Rugby; Athletics; Camogie; Ladies Football; Rowing; Bowling; Snooker; Sailing; Golf; Cycling; Equestrian Sport; Greyhound Racing; Cricket; Motor Sport and Hockey.

This is the 48th year of the Texaco Sportstars Awards and the winners to whom awards will be presented this year will be announced in three weeks time. This announcement will be followed by an awards ceremony which takes place on November 30th and at which An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD will officiate.

Also presented on that evening will be the Texaco Hall of Fame Award, which is given to a prominent sports personality from the past, and the Texaco Special Achievement Award which is awarded annually to a person who has made a valuable contribution to Irish sport but who would not normally be considered for a Texaco Sportstar Award. The winners of these two awards will be announced later on this month.

Commenting, Texaco Country Chairman, Paul Martin said ‘this year marks the beginning of the build-up to the 50th anniversary of the Texaco Sportstars awards which takes place in 2007. For that reason, our efforts will be concentrated on promoting the event as the original and most prestigious sports awards scheme in Ireland.’

‘To put it simply, our focus will be on projecting the Texaco Sportstar award as the one which every sports person likes to have in his or her trophy cabinet’ Mr. Martin said.

Issued: Wednesday, 2nd November 2005

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2004 TEXACO SPORTSTARS, HALL OF FAME AND SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS

Bowling - Margaret Johnston
In Bowls, the 2004 Texaco Award goes to Margaret Johnston, a woman who quite simply dominates the world of bowling. In a glittering career, Johnston has won gold in the Commonwealth Games and has won three World Pairs titles with Phyllis Nolan. But it is her remarkable record in singles competition that stands out. Last year she overcame formidable opposition at Leamington Spa in England to win the World Singles title for the third time. A previous Texaco Award recipient in 1988 and 1992 and current All-Ireland champion in singles, pairs and fours, Johnston underscores her outstanding record in world bowling by winning her third Texaco Award.

Boxing - Andy Lee
In Boxing, the Texaco Award goes to Andy Lee, the only Irish boxer to qualify for the recent Olympic Games. Winner of the National senior title, Lee went on to perform superbly well at the European Championships in Croatia where, despite his youth, he boxed with great courage, maturity and skill to reach the semi-final and win a bronze medal. In Athens, he suffered a heartbreaking defeat against the champion of Cameroon. Level on 27 points each at the end of their second round bout, Lee was beaten on a countback. Despite this setback, a very bright future is in store for the young Limerick man.

Camogie - Úna O’Dwyer
In Camogie, the Texaco Award goes to Tipperary full-back Úna O’Dwyer, the second Tipperary camogie player to receive a Texaco Award in as many years. In an historic year in which camogie celebrated its centenary, O’Dwyer played a pivotal role in a Tipperary team which won the National League, the Munster title and clinched the All-Ireland title with victory over Cork. In what was their fifth title in six years, the young Cashel girl rounded off a wonderful season with a brilliant defensive display that ensured Tipperary cruised to an 8 points win. In winning her Texaco trophy, Úna is one of only five camogie players ever to win a Texaco Award.

Gaelic Football - Colm Cooper
In Gaelic Football, the 2004 Texaco Award winner is Kerry forward Colm Cooper. Referred to affectionately as ‘Super Cooper’, he is arguably the finest forward which Kerry has produced over the past three years. All season, the 21-year old Dr. Crokes forward showed incredibe maturity as he led the Kerry attack with a brilliant tactical awareness. Already an All-Star, Cooper wins the award for his capacity to gain possession, his excellent distribution and his wonderful scoring ability - qualities best displayed in the All-Ireland final when he scored 1-5 to help Kerry overcome the Mayo challenge.

Golf - Ireland’s Ryder Cup team members Darren Clarke, Pádraig Harrington & Paul McGinley
In Golf, this year’s Texaco Award goes to three Irish golfers - Darren Clarke, Pádraig Harrington and Paul McGinley - whose performance as members of Europe’s 2004 Ryder Cup team brought pride and enjoyment to all Irish golfing enthusiasts. Displaying great calmness, all three Irish golfers played an immense part in the success of Bernhard Langer's team winning their vital singles games in what was a sensational three days of golf at the Oakland Hills course. Harrington picked up 4 points, Clarke won 3 and a half, and McGinley picked up 2 and a half points to help underdogs Europe beat the United States by a record margin of 18 and a half to 9 and a half points.

Horse Racing - Pat Smullen
In Horse Racing, the Texaco Award goes to jockey Pat Smullen. In what proved to be a fantastic year for the Offaly jockey, Smullen won the Budweiser Derby riding ‘Grey Swallow’ and then partnered ‘Vinnie Roe’ to a remarkable fourth successive Irish St. Leger. In the Derby, he showed great judgement and timing as he took ‘Grey Swallow’ clear from one furlong out to beat the hot favourite and English Derby winner ‘North Light’ at the Curragh. The 10-1 shot, trained by Dermot Weld, won by half a length from the odds-on favourite with rank outsider ‘Tycoon’ in third place. The celebrations continued in September when Smullen partnered another Weld horse ‘Vinnie Roe’ to a record fourth successive Irish St Leger with a convincing success over 12 rivals at the Curragh. The six-year-old stormed clear with two furlongs to run and Pat was able to celebrate well before the 7-2 joint favourite crossed the line. He is married to successful trainer, Frances Crowley.

Hurling - Seán Óg Ó hAilpín
In Hurling, the 2004 Texaco award goes to the highly talented Cork wing back Seán Óg Ó hAilpín . Chosen for his outstanding contribution to Cork's All-Ireland hurling success, Ó hAilpín is an athletic and skilful hurler whose season was highlighted by a fantastic defensive display against Kilkenny in September's All-Ireland final. A member of the Na Piarsigh team, he hails from a talented hurling family. His ability to win possession, mark intelligently and hit quality ball underscored his achievement in winning his second All-Ireland senior medal with Cork, the first coming in 1999.

Rugby - Gordon D’Arcy
In Rugby, the this year’s Texaco Award goes to 24-year old Ireland and Leinster centre Gordon D’Arcy. First capped for Ireland for their World Cup game against Romania in October 1999 , D’Arcy was the only player from these islands nominated for the International Rugby Board's Player of the Year Award. His adventurous, attacking running and crucial tries made him a key figure in helping Ireland to achieve their first Triple Crown success since 1985. His performances also saw him voted the outstanding player of the Six Nations tournament.

Soccer - Shay Given
In Soccer, the 2004 Texaco Award goes to Irish international goalkeeper Shay Given. Since he was first capped against Russia back in 1996, the Newcastle United goalkeeper has been outstanding in his role as Ireland’s first choice goalkeeper. Following in the footsteps of another famed Irish goalkeeper, fellow Donegal man and former Texaco Award winner Packie Bonner, Given has played a pivotal role as part of the solid defensive base that has brought the Irish soccer team to their current position at the top of our World Cup qualifying group.

Swimming - David Malone
Paralympic swimmer 27-year-old David Malone from Ballinteer in Dublin produced another magnificent performance to claim a silver medal for Ireland at the recent 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. Competing in the S8 100m Backstroke, Malone battled superbly over the last 15 metres of the final to take a deserved silver medal. A world record holder and former Paralympic gold medal winner, Malone felt he might be outside the medals after taking a break in the aftermath of Sydney 2000. But, in the end, his hard work paid off when he was rewarded with a deserved silver medal at Athens and a proud place on the roll of honour of Ireland’s Paralympic medal winners.

Hall of Fame - Mick O’Dwyer
One of the most legendary figures in the history of Irish sport, Mick O’Dwyer has been synonymous with Gaelic Football for over half a century. Actively involved at inter-county level for over 50 years, he is widely regarded as one of Gaelic Football’s most inspirational figures. During a glittering playing career with Kerry, he won four All-Ireland senior medals - two as a defender and two as an attacker – and seven National League medals. One of the highlights of his career came in 1969 when he was named Texaco Sportstar of the Year. Turning to management, he went on to create what many would argue was the most famous team in the history of the game - the great Kerry side of the 70's and 80's. Under his guidance, they won eight All-Ireland titles, always displaying a sense of style and purpose which was universally admired. His task in Kerry completed, Mick O’Dwyer extended his horizons returning to manage Kildare in 1998, leading them to an All-Ireland final in that year. Proving that he had still not lost his zest for the game, he then took over the Laois team in 2002 which he led to a famous Leinster title in 2003.

Special Achievement Award – Everest Climber Dr. Clare O’Leary
Cork doctor Clare O’Leary receives the 2004 Texaco Special Achievement Award in recognition of her success in being the first Irish woman ever to conquer the summit of Mount Everest and one of the few Irish climbers ever to reach the highest point on Earth. From Bandon, Dr. O’Leary is Registrar in Gastroenterology at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. A member of the 2004 Irish Everest Expedition led by her fellow Cork climber and Himalayan adventurer, Pat Falvey, Dr. O’Leary’s gruelling climb to the top of Mount Everest took six weeks to complete. It ended successfully on the morning of Tuesday, May 18th when she finally reached the summit at 06.45am. In choosing her as winner of the 2004 Texaco Special Achievement Award, the judges described Dr. O’Leary’s triumph as ‘a demonstration of skill and endurance unique in Irish sporting history and one of the most challenging pursuits ever undertaken by an Irish sports person’.

2004 TEXACO SPORTSTARS ANNOUNCED IRELAND’S RYDER CUP GOLFERS IN STAR STUDDED LINE-UP OF TEXACO AWARD WINNERS

The three Irish members of this year’s victorious Ryder Cup team - Darren Clarke, Pádraig Harrington and Paul McGinley - are included in this year’s Texaco Sportstars Awards’ recipients. Chosen from a shortlist of twenty-two sports, the full line-up Texaco Award winners for 2004 comprises:

BOWLING		Margaret Johnston
BOXING		Andy Lee
CAMOGIE		Úna O’Dwyer
GAELIC FOOTBALL		Colm Cooper
GOLF		Ireland’s Ryder Cup Team Members: Darren Clarke Pádraig Harrington Paul McGinley
HORSE RACING		Pat Smullen
HURLING		Seán Óg Ó hAilpín
RUGBY		Gordon D’Arcy
SOCCER		Shay Given
SWIMMING		David Malone

Two additional awards will be presented to the Texaco Hall of Fame and Special Achievement Award winners both of whose names will be announced shortly.

Of the twelve stars chosen to receive awards, all but three are winners for the very first time. Previous winners are golfer Darren Clarke, who won his first Texaco Award last year; Pádraig Harrington who has now won his fifth Texaco Award having previously been honoured in 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2002; and bowler Margaret Johnston, a winner in 1988 and 1992. Commenting, Texaco Country Chairman Paul Martin said ‘this year’s winners are a reflection of the prominent positions which Irish sports men and women hold, both in domestic and international arenas, and of the high levels of success which they achieve in all forms of competition’.

Chosen by Sports Editors representing national print and broadcast media across Ireland, the 47th Texaco Sportstars Awards will be presented by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD at an awards ceremony which takes place in Dublin later this month.

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ICE HOCKEY AND CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING FEATURE IN 47th TEXACO SPORTSTARS AWARDS SHORTLIST