Sport Lisburn & Castlereagh Celebrates Local Archer Champion and Basketball Ireland Player

Sport Lisburn & Castlereagh has celebrated the latest winners of the prestigious Sports Personality of the Month Award. The winners were selected for December 2023 and January 2024 highlighting the wealth of sporting talent in the council area.

Sponsored by Decathlon, the award recognises the achievements and dedication of sporting stars within Lisburn & Castlereagh. The winners are selected each month by the Sport Lisburn & Castlereagh Executive Committee and a £100 voucher is awarded to each successful winner.

The Sports Personality of the Month winner for December was female archer, Erin Lunney. At just 13 years old, Erin's talent in archery is nothing short of exceptional. Over the course of December and January, she left an indelible mark on the sport by setting three UK Records, duly recognised by Archery GB. Remarkably, Erin now holds the U18 & U21 Recurve Women Double Portsmouth titles, along with the U18 Recurve Women Portsmouth, showcasing her unparalleled skill and dedication. Her journey into archery commenced through the Vitality Leisure Programme at Kilmakee Activity Centre in 2022, where her talent was evident from the outset. Erin is part of a group of five budding archers, including one para-archer, who all found their passion for the sport at Kilmakee Activity Centre and have since been selected to the prestigious NI Archery Academy. Transitioning to Lisburn Archery Club in late 2022 marked another milestone for Erin, propelling her onto the national stage. Her inclusion in the Archery GB National Talent Development Programme speaks volumes about her potential, underscored by her current title as the U14 Northern Ireland Champion.

U18 Basketball player, Fiontan Rogers was Januarys Sports Personality of the Month. Standing tall at 6’5”, Fiontan commands the court as a forward for the Phoenix Basketball Club's U18 Boys team, based at Lisburn Racquets Club. His standout moment came on January 19th when he and his Phoenix teammates clinched victory in the Irish U18 National Cup, a prestigious achievement that solidified their status as the top junior basketball team in Ireland. Fiontan's impact was felt throughout the tournament, notably in the semi-final matchup against the pre-tournament favourites, Galway Titans, where he led the scoring with an impressive 20 points. In the final showdown at the National Basketball Arena in Dublin, Fiontan continued his stellar performance, contributing 17 crucial points to secure an exhilarating 82-80 win over the Dublin Lions. His exceptional play was instrumental in Phoenix's success, particularly noteworthy considering the rarity of Northern Irish teams competing at this level in the U18 National Cup. Fiontan's all-star performances did not go unnoticed, as he was selected as part of the 25-man U18 International Squad announced by Basketball Ireland.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Sports Development Officer, Faron Morrison said, "The depth of sporting talent discovered within our council area remains truly remarkable. This month, we are proud to honour both an accomplished Archer champion and a standout Basketball Ireland player. Both teens should be extremely proud of their achievements. I hope these two amazing athletes will inspire other clubs or families to make a Sports Personality of the Month nomination and showcase the breadth of sporting talent we have in Lisburn & Castlereagh.”

Entries for the latest Sports Personality of the Month are currently open. For more details or to make a nomination, please visit https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/sportspersonalityofthemonthfebmarch24/ Nominations close on Friday 5th April 2024 at 5pm.

Pictured L-R: Roy Skillen, Sport Lisburn & Castlereagh Committee Member, Erin Lunney, Matthew Ferguson, Communication Manager, Decathlon Belfast, Fiontan Rogers and Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Sports Development Officer, Faron Morrison.