The Champ: Martyn Irvine's world title and his string of top results have been recognised by those judges who decide the winner of Northern Ireland's biggest annual sporting award.
By Gerard Cromwell
Just days after attending the Irish Independent Sports Star of the Year awards, where he was nominated alongside fellow cyclists Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin, world scratch race champion Martyn Irvine has won the Northern Ireland Sports Star of the Year award, it was announced today.
Irvine became the first Irish cyclist in 117 years to win a world title on the track when he took gold in Minsk last February.
And despite suffering a career threatening injury at the Tour of Taiwan a few weeks later, he came back to win a gold medal at the UCI Track World Cup in Manchester seven months later.
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Having missed out on the Irish Independent award to jump jockey AP McCoy, Irvine was pleasantly surprised to beat the racing star for the Northern Ireland award.
“I didn’t even know I was in the running for it,” admitted Irvine today.
“Tony McCoy was the main man but his 4,000 wins are over a whole career I suppose. And when they broke it down into just this year, I think the year I’ve had, with the world title, the comeback from injury and stuff, swung the jury and I won."
"It’s great to get an award from Northern Ireland. It’s great for cycling to be in the running and to win was a really nice surprise.”
The judging panel of Northern Ireland sports journalists chose Irvine ahead of runner-up McCoy and motorcyclist Michael Dunlop.
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Others shortlisted for the award were boxer Carl Frampton, Ireland cricket captain William Porterfield and triathlon star Aileen Reid.
The panel of judges comprised of editor Sport BBC NI Shane Glynn, BBC NI sports reporter Nikki Gregg, Belfast Telegraph sports editor Stephen Beacon, Kenny Archer of the Irish News, News Letter sports editor Richard Mulligan and author and freelance journalist Orla Bannon.
"Once again the judging panel had a tough decision to make this year but we felt that Martyn's achievements were just outstanding," said Glynn, adding he was delighted Irvine had won.
"To become a world champion, literally within an hour of winning a silver medal in another discipline, is nothing short of phenomenal. And to beat the likes of AP McCoy and Michael Dunlop to this award speaks volumes about Martyn's achievements."
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It’s been a busy period for Irvine, with award ceremonies taking up most of his week. He is also nominated for the RTE Sports Star of the Year award, which will be decided on Saturday.
“It’s been a hectic week,” he said.
“Yesterday’s one went to Tony McCoy and now I’ve won the Northern Ireland one but there are a lot of people who’ve had a good year. The RTE awards are televised live, which is going to be different so I’m looking forward to that.”
“Cycling is on an upward trend in Ireland at the moment. Hopefully it gets a bit more recognition because it’s a great sport and we work as hard as any other sports people. It’s great to get some mainstream recognition.”
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