Talented young athletes receive Martin Sheridan Bursaries
Three of the county’s most talented young athletes were recipients of this year’s Martin Sheridan Bursary presented at a ceremony last Tuesday in Mayo’s greatest Olympian’s hometown of Bohola.
The overall winner was rising athletics star Freya Renton and the young Westport runner received the top Bursary prize of €3,000 to assist with costs of training and travel. The runners-up were Dave Sweeney, a member of All Stars Boxing Club Ballinrobe and Natasha Reddington, a martial artist with Mayo Karate Academy from Swinford.
The Martin Sheridan Bursary is intended for young sportspeople who have excellent potential, outstanding ability and the desire to perform at the highest level possible in their chosen sport, with the awards run in conjunction with Mayo County Council and the Western People.
The awards, which are now in their 11th year, are held in tribute to Ireland’s greatest Olympian, Martin Sheridan, who was a native of Bohola.
Born in 1881, Sheridan emigrated to the USA at the age of 18. He later represented the USA and was a five-time Olympic gold medallist in the discus and shot put and also won Olympic medals in the standing long jump, standing high jump and stone throw.
Chairman of the Martin Sheridan Bursary Awards committee Joe O’Neill thanked the adjudication panel which was made up of former GAA player and manager Martin Carney, parish priest Fr Padraig Costello and Western People editor James Laffey. He said they continue to be “flabbergasted” by the strength and calibre of the entrants year-after-year.
On behalf of the adjudicators, Martin Carney congratulated the three athletes for emerging successful from a selection of entrants of a really high standard. He said what Dave Sweeney and Natasha Reddington have achieved in their respective sports has been so impressive to date. Mr Carney said Freya Renton stood out because of her “mind-boggling” sporting CV, describing her as an athlete of international quality with limitless potential.
The Bursaries were presented by Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council John O’Hara who said he hopes the funding will assist the athlete’s in their preparation to compete at local, national and international level.
Freya Renton was not present at the event as she was enjoying a well-deserved family holiday following a hectic month of running in May that saw her steal the headlines as the winner of the Western People’s Mayo.ie Women’s Mini-Marathon and as the first female across the line in the Mayo AC 5K series. Her award was accepted on her behalf by her coach Hillary Hughes, who passed on a message on behalf of Freya.
“I want to thank you for selecting me to be the winner of this wonderful award. This money will go towards supporting my dream and will support me on my journey,” she said.
Freya added that the award had a ‘nostalgic’ feeling for her because of a family connection to Martin Sheridan. Her two great-great-great uncles also emigrated from Ireland at the same time as the Bohola native and also worked in the New York Police Department, meaning they likely would have known and worked alongside Martin Sheridan.
