At a ceremony in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry four Leevale people were nominated for GloHealth Athletics Ireland Awards in 2015.
Sam Healy for the junior athlete of the year, Alex Wright for the endurance athlete of the year, Michelle Finn for performance of the year and team of the year and Dick Hodgins for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Michelle and her bronze winning Irish teammates from the European Cross Country Championships received the team of the year award.
Dick Hodgins received the Lifetime Achievement Award. As a runner Dick won fourteen Irish titles over a wide range of distances over twelve years. Twice winning the national 1500m, twice winning the mile, three times champion over 2 miles, once over 10 miles, three times 15 mile champion and a marathon title in 1975 to round it off.
After that came the administrative side of things with a long spell as Leevale AC treasurer, before joining the Cork City Sports Committee. It was not long before he found himself in the position of chairman, a role he undertook with great passion and expertise for 19 years.
Unfortunately Dick is recovering from an illness and was unable to attend in person; his daughters Jill & Carol and his son Rickey accepted the award on his behalf.
Award winners
Athlete of the Year: Thomas Barr (Ferrybank)
Hall of Fame: Frank O’Mara
Lifetime service to Athletics: Dick Hodgins (Cork City Sports)
Outstanding Official Award: John McDermott (Annalee AC)
Junior Athlete: Kevin Mulcaire (Ennis Track)
U23 Athlete: Mark English (UCD)
Endurance: Robert Heffernan (Togher)
Track & Field: Thomas Barr (Ferrybank)
Inspirational Performance: Brian Murphy (Crusaders)
Performance Club: Clonliffe Harriers
Development Club: Finn Valley AC
Team of the Year: Women’s Senior Team European Cross Country Championships
Service to Coaching: John Shields (Clonliffe Harriers)
Mountain Runner: Ian Conroy (Raheny Shamrock)
Master Athlete: Mick Traynor (Raheny Shamrock)
Ultra Athlete: Eoin Keith (Sportsworld)
University Athlete: Thomas Barr (Ferrybank)
Irish Schools Tailteann Awards – Girl: Phoebe Murphy (Loreto Clonmel)
Irish Schools Tailteann Award – Boy: Matthew Behan (CUS)