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Teen sailor for top sportswoman award

Thursday, 21 January 2010

A SAILING sensation from the Southside has been declared ‘Sportswoman of the Month’ for her outstanding performances during the month of December. Annalise Murphy (19) scooped the Irish Times/Irish Sports Council award after enjoying spectacular success with wins in the Sail Brisbane and Sail Sydney regattas followed by a fourth place position in the Women’s Laser Radial division of Australia’s top regatta, Sail Melbourne. These achievements are set to advance her from her current position at 40th place in the next world rankings to be published in February ahead of her Olympic campaign for London 2012. Annalise will now battle it out with other monthly winners this Friday (January 22) to be named Sportswoman of the Year. The teen enjoyed great success in her first year on the senior circuit. Victory came in early August of last year when she became the first Irish sailor in 13 years to win a Europa Cup Laser event. Her winning streak continued later that month at the World Championships in Japan where Murphy lifted the under-21 world title. She finished eighth in the senior category at the same event, which was made up of 87 boats from 30 nations. Speaking following her win Annalise said: “I am delighted to get this recognition, both for myself and for Irish sailing. I’ve been training non-stop since last May and it’s great to see all that hard work paying off.” Annalise finished 2009 on a high with two major wins in Australia in December that have indicated a very bright future for the sportswoman. Later this month she will be competing in the second of the ISAF World Cup series in Miami, Florida that will be followed by the North American Championships, ensuring a packed schedule for the young sailor. Annalise will join international football star, Yvonne Tracy; squash player, Madeline Perry; Galway walker, Olive Loughnane; athletics star, Ciara Mageean and Wicklow boxer, Katie Taylor, among others, as contenders for the Sportswoman of the Year which will be announced at the gala awards ceremony. Established in 2004, the awards recognise the achievements of women in Irish sports. The awards run over a 12 month period, with the judges selecting a winner each month. The overall Sportswoman of the Year is selected from the 12 monthly winners.