John Byrne: Western People Sports Star 2012

The winners of the Western People Sports Star awards for 2012 are revealed in today’s WP. And it is great news for John Byrne and Mayo AC. John won the ‘Endurance’ award – one of four athletics winners. This John’s second Western People Sports Star, he won the Athletics Award in 2006.

Heartiest Congratulations, John!
This is the WP citation:
“Dedication, devotion and a savage will to push his body to the very limits of its capability has set this athlete apart in 2012.
Since he took up running a decade ago John has been a very talented competitor, but it was his long distance displays which brought him onto the world’s stage during a remarkable season.
In February he beat a high-class field to win the National 50k road race championships.
In April he competed for Ireland in the World 100k Championships in Italy, and helped his country to finish 6th.
The Straide man was then selected to run for Ireland at the World 50k Trophy Final in Italy in October and he stunned the athletics world by finishing 5th overall.
This was the performance of his life, but nine days after this outstanding achievement he ran the Dublin Marathon and led Mayo AC to the gold medal in the o35 team competition.
Thrown in the fact that he won bronze in the National half marathon championships and captured numerous other titles in 2012 and one realises why John Byrne is an inspiration to so many.”

Congratulations also to the other three athletics winners: Ballina AC Marathon trio – ‘Team of the Year’, Con Doherty  – ‘Young Sports Star’ and Cian McManamon ‘Walking’.