Sailing club lands CIT gong

The sailing club have landed the top spot at CIT's annual sports awards after being named as the Club of the Year.

After doubling in size in the space of a year, the sailing club had an impressive year with a noteworthy third place finish at the Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup in March. A first place finish against keen rivals and near neighbours UCC at the Yachting Nationals will see the CIT team travel to France in autumn for the Student Yachting World Championships.

Elsewhere, Fresher of the Year was awarded to Clodagh Walsh who is the National Junior and Senior Indoor Pole Vault Champion while two Risam Uile Awards were presented to the powerlifting and AFL clubs for their progression during the college year.

12 individual students received awards at the ceremony held in CIT with powerlifting, handball and wheelchair athletics among the sports recognised.

Guest speaker on the evening was former Munster Rugby player Denis Fogarty while former Kerry footballer Aidan O’Mahony was honoured with this year’s Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award.

Running since 1993, the CIT Sports Awards are an annual event that afford the college the opportunity to recognise the talents of students who have contributed to their various clubs across the academic year.

Speaking on the awards, President of Cork Institute of Technology, Dr Barry O Connor said: “The annual CIT Sports Awards recognise the important contribution of sport and sports clubs to the entire CIT community. In particular it recognises outstanding achievements of past and present students of the institute.

“As President I am very proud of our current crop of athletes across the various sporting disciplines that we cater for at CIT. These are wonderful role models both for our students and for young people in their respective home towns, schools and parishes. At CIT, we encourage, in equal measure, widespread participation in sport and outstanding sporting excellence.”