Jonathan McMullan

19 Year old past Ballyclare Secondary Student from Newtownabbey. Is now studying a Sports Science Degree at Belfast Metropolitan College. Jonny started his motorsport career at the age of 10 at the cadet level for the youngest drivers and impressed straight away by winning the K Plate Championships at Kirkistown in his first two years of racing. He then progressed on through the karting ranks through mini max into junior max where he won his first major championship. In 2007 he became Northern Ireland Junior Max Champion, B Plate Champion, Coleraine and Distrit Champion and 2nd in the Ulster Cup. He stayed in junior max in 2008 for a second year and finished 2nd in both the NI Championship and Ulster Cup. In 2009 he moved his career on by making the next step by moving to car racing. In his first year of car racing he became NI Sprint Champion, Pre 93 Champion, 5th in the NI Formula Ford 1600 Championship and 15th at the prestigious Formula Ford Festival. In 2010 he stayed in cars for his second year and he became Northern Ireland Formula Ford 1600 Championship and Pre 93 Champion. He also took part in the two biggest Formula Ford events in the world and finished 5th in the final at the formula ford festival at Brands Hatch and 13th at the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone. 2011 has been a mixed season taking part in the first two rounds of the British Championship with a top finish of 7th place but due to finance the Newtownabbey driver could not continue. He also became Pre 90, 93 Champion and 3rd in the open Championship. He is also hoping to take part in the Formula Ford Fetival and Walter Hayes trophy with one goal in mind to win both!

 

Jonathan’s Diary...

 

 

Pony Club Tetratlon at Hartpury College - Nicole

Ballyclare girl Nicole McConnell has qualified to represent Northern Ireland in Pony Club Tetratlon at Hartpury College in Gloucester.

 

The event will be taking place in the equine part of the college. Nicole will have to complete a gruelling 1,500m cross- country run, swim as far as she can in 3 minutes, shoot at a turning target at a distance of 10 meters and take on a cross country course of around 28 jumps at a height of 1m – 1m 10cm on her horse Tahoe Tradewinds (Snip).

 

The 15 year old is a past pupil of Tildarg Primary School and now attends Ballyclare Secondary School. She is a member of East Antrim Pony Club and has been competing in Pony Club Tetratlons since she was 7 years old.

 

 

2010 Commonwealth Games - Conor

Ballynure swimmer Conor Leaney of Larne Swimming Club became the first male swimmer from Northern Ireland to qualify for the 2010 Commonwealth Games taking place in India this October. Conor competed last weekend at the Irish Long Course National Championships held at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.

 

Qualification was achieved in the Mens 200m Freestyle in a time of 1:52.00, this was 0.7 seconds inside the qualification time.

 

Only three swimmers including Conor have qualified so far and these are very impressive achievements considering uncertainty in the sport following the FINA ban of full body race suits.

 

Conor competed in India at the 2008 Youth Commonwealth Games and brought home the first ever Games medal for male competitors. He also represented Ireland at the 2009 World Championships in Rome last summer and finished in the top 50 in the world.

 

 

Paralympic Gold Medalist - Michael

Michael, from Newtownabbey, is a Paralympic Gold Medalist from the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. At these games he also broke the T37 800 Metre World Record and is the first person to break 2 minutes in this division. He also managed to win the T37 World 800M champion in Assen in 2007. If this isn’t enough in 2005 he was also a silver medalist in the European 800M and 1500M.

 

Michael has been selected by his club to compete in the European Champion Clubs Cross Country Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, on Sunday 1st February 2009. Michael has been supported by Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Individual Sport grants programme to allow him to compete at this level.

 

 

Academy Mini \ Maxi Rugby Rodez 2008

Eighteen local boys represented Academy Rugby Football Club and the Borough of Newtownabbey last weekend in a prestigious Top 12's Mini Rugby tournament in Rodez, France. Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Sports Development Department assisted the touring team with a grant to aid travel expenses.

 

This is the third year that Academy has been invited to play in the TOP 12 Tournament a truly international Rugby Tournament. Teams from South Africa, France, Wales, Ireland, Germany, Romania, Spain and Belgium all competing.

 

Academy Mini Rugby Club departed on Friday 3 October from Belfast International Airport via Stansted to Rodez France. The Touring party consisted of 18 players and 5 coaches.

 

Click to read more...

 

 

 

Conor’s Diary

Conor started off 2007 by breaking his first Irish record. During the year he broke this record five times and went on to break forty nine records altogether. Conor attends many training camps as he is a member of the Ulster Swim Squad and was made captain of the Irish Team Squad in December 2007. Conor is a member of the 2012 Olympic Games Squad and is extremely dedicated to his training for this event. Conor retained his titles of Ulster Junior Champion and Ulster Senior Champion in Freestyle and Butterfly in December. Conor’s hard work has paid off and his tremendous level of fitness will stand him in good stead for his future competitions.

 

Conor is now heading off to the junior world championships and has agreed to let us know what he’s up to by sending regular emails!

 

Click to read Conor’s Diary

 

 

Other Individuals and Clubs we have funded:

 

2007 - Andrew Cowden

Andrew can be viewed as one of the best up and coming cricketers not only Newtownabbey but Ireland had to offer. He was a regular last season in Carrickfergus Cricket Clubs first eleven and will no doubt be very prominent this season after winning the young player of the year award last term. The highly rated all rounder has played at numerous levels including NCU under 13 up to under 17 level, Ulster and Irish schools culminating in playing for Ireland’s under 19 squads.

 

Andrew has been selected to attend the Australian Sports Overseas International Cricket Academy for 6 months intensive training next winter. Andrew has applied for financial assistance toward attending this prestigious training facility which in turn will aid in him achieving his ultimate potential of competing and excelling at first class cricket. This training is seen as vital in the development of his obvious potential.

 

This award will be beneficial to Andrew, his club and to the borough as it will bring positive publicity because of his further successes. Andrew further intends to bring back skills and tools that can be used to improve up and coming cricketers in schools and clubs in Newtownabbey.

 

Click to read Andrews’ Diary

 

 

2006 - Joseph Ward

Joseph is a member of Plush MTB Club and has been extremely successful in his career of cycling. He has just returned from winning the European Championships in Italy, which means he is the first cyclist from Northern Ireland and Ireland to win a Gold medal. He is also ranked 6th in the world and 1st in Europe. His successes have led him to be selected to represent his country in Canada at the World MTB Championships in September. Financial assistance will help Joseph to compete in this competition which will allow Joseph to fulfil a dream at the peak of his sporting career.

 

 

Academy Rugby Club

Academy Rugby Club was formed in 1945 to promote the playing of Rugby Football. The Club now takes part in Mini Rugby which is for children of Primary School age. Academy has got 17 boys who are going to represent Academy Rugby Club and Ulster in Rodez, France, whilst playing against clubs from Biarritz, Toulouse, England Italy and Wales. This tour will promote the sport of Rugby in general and will also promote Mini Rugby to Primary School Level children.