Kate Veale is 21st Park Hotel Supreme Sports Star

The Twenty-First Park Hotel Supreme Sports Star Award was won last Saturday night by local athlete, Kate Veale, the second youngest recipient in the history of the event and only the second woman in twenty-one years to tak the title. This came as little surprise to the capacity attendance at The Park Hotel, as Kate has dominated the headlines and returned one of the finest performances by an Irish Athlete in modern times, devastating a class field in the World Youth Championships held in Rennes last July to take the World Racewalkin title.

An impressive array of talent and achievement lined up for the award, which for the very first time featured five women in th final shakeup. Shortly before midnight, Fr. Pat Moran, Chairman of the Adjudicating Panel handed the all important envelope containing the result to Special Guest, John Delaney, CEO of the FAI who made the announcement to a clearly delighted audience. Kate's almost indescribable fund of talent, her youth, her magnificent achievements, her poise in the spotlight, her unswerving focus on her career, as well as her presence in the banquet hall brought the audience to their feet for a sustained standing ovation which left everyone in no doubt as to the popularity of the decision.

Kate had received two nominations for two superb international medal winning performances last year and also added a string of Irish and international titles and records as she raced up the youth ladder to the very pinnacle of success. She must have been challenged by some other excellent performance represented in the monthly Awards, the longest running such event in provincial Ireland, most notably by international jockey, Tom Queally who continues to dominate on racetracks around the world and Motor Rally star, Craig Breen who not only has posted many victories, but has earned a small fortune as well.

However, Kate's first for Ireland, a Gold from the World Youth Championships while not yet eighteen, was deemed by the experienced judging panel, the performance worthy of the prestigious Park Hotel accolade in the year it comes of age.

As well as many of the monthly nominees, their families, friends and sports companions present on the occasion, the attendance included the Acting Mayor of Dungarvan, Cllr. Damien Geoghegan; the Mayor of County Waterford, Cllr. Liam Brazil and the Deputy Mayor of Waterford City, Cllr. Jack Walsh; County Manager, Mr. Denis McCarthy and recently retired Supt. Tom O'Grady, Garda Siochana.

The highly competent MC, Kieran O'Connor, asked Kate what had attracted her to racewalking, she said that her Coach, Jamie Costin, an Olympic walker had been a great inspiration to her. "I had always been interested in cross-country," she said, "and when Br. Lennon from St. Augustine's introduced me to racewalking, I just took to i and loved it." Later, after having been declared the Supreme Champion for 2011, Kate returned to the podium amid applause, cheers and shouts of support.

She said that while she had won many awards and having received many presentations, the Park Hotel Award was the one which meant most to her. "It is a prestigious award," she said, "and it means a great deal to me." "I am thrilled to be here, stars like John O'Shea who shared the monthly award with me and many others who have won here, are sportspeople I would look up to. I used to wish that I would get a Monthly Award some time and now it is just amazing to win it outright."

Kate Veale, Supreme Sportstar Award Winner with Fiona and Pierce Flynn, Special Guest, John Delaney, CEO.FAI. Monthly Award winners and Their Representatives along with members of the Adjudicating Panel at the 21st Park Hotel Supreme Sportstar Awards Gala Banquet. Photo Sean Byrne//Deise Media