Swimmer Murphy wins Sportswoman of the Year award

Swimming star, Gráinne Murphy, was today crowned The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council ‘Sportswoman of the Year 2010’ for her exceptional achievements throughout the year.

The 17-year old was presented with her award by Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin at an awards ceremony today in Dublin.

Renowned horse trainer, Jessica Harrington was also awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her valued contribution to the world of horse racing and jumping.

Gráinne won her Sportswoman of the Month award in August for her performance at the senior European Championships, where she reached three finals and broke an Irish record, twice, and came home with a silver medal for the 1,500 metres freestyle.

Since then, Gráinne has continued to add to her growing accolades by winning two bronze medals in the 800 metre and 400 metre freestyle events at the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Eindhoven last month.

In Eindhoven, Gráinne also broke Michelle De Bruin’s 15-year-old Irish record in the 200 metre individual medley heats, cutting 0.6 of a second of the 1995 time.

Gráinne Murphy said: "It was an honour to even be included as a finalist with women such as Derval O’Rourke, Katie Taylor, Madeline Perry and Katie Walsh. I would like to congratulate all of the other finalists on their amazing successes that have brought us all here today."

Jessica Harrington is one of the top dual purpose horse trainers in Ireland and has been associated with many high profile winners since the early nineties, leading her to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s ceremony.

Having six Cheltenham Festival victories over the years, one of Jessica’s greatest associations is with the chaser Moscow Flyer, who many regard as one of the finest jumpers to come out of this country in the last 40 years.

Prior to training, Jessica was also renowned as one of the country’s top three-day event riders, having represented Ireland with credit at European, World and Olympic level.

Other high achievers commended at the awards included Katie Taylor, who won her third consecutive International Boxing Association world lightweight title as well as being named AIBA world female boxer of the year; squash star Madeline Perry who won the prestigious Australian Open the same month that Gráinne won her medal at the European Championships; and Derval O’Rourke, for her silver medal in the 100-metre hurdles at the European Championships in Barcelona in July.