UU Sports Scholars announced - 01 December 2005

University Sports Award for NI Athletes

Athletes Elaine McCaffrey, Laura Kerr and Anna Boyle were recently awarded prestigious Sports Scholarships from the University of Ulster.

McCaffrey, a specialist at 400 m, is a full Irish senior International, has competed at the World Student Games in 2005, and won a gold medal at the Irish Inter-Varsity Championships in 2004. Laura Kerr is the current Northern Ireland Javelin record holder, having raised the standard from 47.72 m to 49.23 m. She is also a NI senior International and silver medallist at British Under 23 level. Anna Boyle is well known for her sprinting talent at 100 m events. She broke the NI 100 m sprint record no less than three times this year. It now stands at a lightening 11.53 secs.

The athletes were awarded at a ceremony along with several other high performing sportsmen and women including swimmer David McIlroy and soccer player Kris Lindsay. Irish cricket international Andrew White is a former winner of one such Scholarship, as are cyclists Derek Finnegan and Gary McKeegan.

The UU Sports Scholarship will support these outstanding athletes in their preparation for competition over the next year, helping to offset travel, training and equipment costs as well as the University providing unlimited access to its sports facilities on campus, and access to specialised support in areas such as strength and conditioning, podiatry and physiotherapy.