OUR good friend Joan Cunningham, organiser of the Saintfield Horse Show and the Saintfield Christmas Charity ride, was on a high during, and following, a recent black-tie event hosted by Local Women Sport which is part of the Derry-based Local Women Magazine Group.

Over 500 guests attended the first Women’s Sports Awards in Belfast’s Europa Hotel including Dame Mary Peters who represented Northern Ireland at every Commonwealth Games from 1958 to 1974 and whose long and successful athletics career was highlighted when she won the gold medal in Pentathlon at the Munich Olympics in 1972. The Mary Peters Trust benefitted from the awards night which was compèred by UTV sports presenter Ruth Gorman.

It was green, not gold, which first brought attention to Joan as she started off the evening by winning the Blades and Beauty Best Dressed Lady award and then went on to be presented with the Best Equestrian Sportswoman of the Year award sponsored by Thyolo Equestrian Supplies.

All winners of the various sports awards were then invited onto the stage to choose a golden envelope and Joan won a three-night stay in one of London’s top hotels for two people plus flights and a night out in Marco Pierre White’s restaurant at The Shard sponsored by Elite Travel. Well-deserved Joan – enjoy tour trip!