Inside Track: Votes will get the O’Connors over the line

Colleague, Anthony Bravender’s call in this ‘paper last week for support for Kate O’Connor and her father, Michael, in their quest for Team Ireland 2025 Olympic Sports awards, gives those who delighted in the duo’s achievements the chance to show their appreciation.

There are three categories for which the O’Connors qualify: Kate, female athlete of the year, Olympic sporting moment; and Michael, coach of the year.

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No need to go into detail on what heptathlete Kate achieved in 2025. Suffice to say, she won medals of all colours at Olympic, World and student levels, indoor as well as on the track, with each performance bettering the one that went before it.

She was also a record-breaker, giving her a consistent place in the top five in world rankings. The 2028 Los Angeles can’t come around quick enough for the Dundalk girl – and, of course, her dad, who has been ever-present at her side throughout her career.

The awards night takes place on December 6th, giving readers ample time to get their vote into https:olympicsportsawards.com/vote/

Votes count. Without enough of them, jockey Tony McCoy would not have won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, nor would Stephanie Roche have put the best goalscorers in the world in the shade when taking the runner-up spot in the Puskás Award.

The BBC introduced the scheme in 1954, when it was won by the athlete, Chris Chataway. I don’t know if this caused a surprise, but given that another Brit, Roger Bannister, had Chataway in his wake when he became the first in the world to dip under 4 minutes for the mile, you would have to think there was some controversy.

The award has been won by many outstanding sportspeople in its seven decades since, three Irish among them (This is the first of the questions appearing in this piece: Name the trio.)

But until 2010, no-one in horse racing had got to the finish-line in front – not even Lester Piggott, or the trainer for whom Piggott rode many Classic winners, Vincent O’Brien.

Racing might still be waiting for a first winner had not a huge campaign for votes been mounted, encouraging support for McCoy. The trade paper, The Racing Post, was behind it, daily making the case for the jockey’s inclusion on the roll of honour.

By then, McCoy had set the record for riding the most winners in National Hunt history, figuring a long-awaited Aintree Grand National win among them.

Racing enthusiasts were only too glad to get involved, and when the final tot was done, McCoy was several lengths ahead of his nearest rival.

Stephanie Roche (now Zambra) suffered her short-head defeat four years later. The Dublin soccer International star scored a wonder goal in a league match. The game wasn’t televised, but luckily it was caught on video. Soon afterwards, it went viral.

Among those who saw it were the organisers of the Puskás Award, the competition for the season’s best goal. To get among the finalists, Stephanie needed votes. Among the many of the world-renowned publications seeking support for her was the Dundalk Democrat.

This was another successful campaign. Roche got big enough backing to make the final three. She was in good company. James Rodriguez, the Colombian International and Real Madrid player, was there along with Robin van Persie, who, following an outstanding career with Arsenal, was playing for Man United at the time.

Neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi made the final cut, but both were there for the Ballon d’Or night to hear Stephanie Roche being named runner-up to Rodrigeuz. It was a tremendous effort by the first female to make the final cut and only the sixth of her gender to be nominated.

And now for those questions on SPOTY;

1. Name the only duo to win

2. Name either of the two winners who later sat in the House of Lords

3. Who were the two Irishmen to finish runner-up

4. It was 1966 before a first footballer to be chosen. Who was he?

5. Who are the only mother and daughter to have won.

Answers

1. Torvill and Dean, 2. Seb Coe and Ian Botham, 3. Darren Clarke (twice) and Rory McIlroy, 4. Bobby Moore, 5. Princess Anne and Zara Phillips.

And the three Irish winners: Tony McCoy, Barry McGuigan and Mary Peters.