KARLA IS PRIDE OF NORTHWEST!

Nineteen year old British Junior Ice Skating Champion – Karla Quinn from Rasharkin has just been voted not only the Sports Category Winner of the prestigious PRIDE AWARDS 2008 but has won the Area Winner as well...

Karla made the comeback of the year last year to not only recover from a serious illness which required an operation but took the British Junior title in Jan ’08. The Awards were organised by Alpha Newspapers Group and were run in over 20 NI papers and 92.7 FM Radio Station for over six weeks. The general public had to nominate their favourite in each category and there were over 200 nominations in the sports category alone.

A panel of judges then presided over the entrants and short-listed them to 6 finalists – Karla being one of them. The public were then given the opportunity to vote again for the winners and Karla won the sports category and was presented with her prize by Mr Brian Slattery – Sainsbury’s Coleraine, AKR Promotions Karin Rowlands, Karla’s PR commented:

‘This is a fantastic win for Karla and the fact that it is voted for by the General Public of the Northern Ireland makes it very special. It is wonderful that Ice Skating has been recognised in this way and that Karla’s efforts last year have been recognised by everyone in the province. To win out of over 200+ sports is fantastic!’

However more was yet to come, Karla then attended the Pride Awards Winners Ceremony in Dungannon with all the other category winners from the around the province and was awarded Overall Area Winner from the Northwest, she received her award from Malachy Cush (Fame Academy), singer and broadcaster. In attendance was Lady Mary Taylor.