Commonwealth Games Hopeful Wins Inaugural Trinity Sportsperson of the Year

Posted on: 09 April 2014

PhD student, Victoria Mullin was named Trinity’s first Sportsperson of the Year at the Sporting Commons and Inaugural Sports Awards held on 2nd April. Ireland rugby star, Jamie Heaslip was the guest presenter at the event which took place following thanksgiving service for the Gift of Sport held in the College Chapel.

Victoria Mullin has been competing in the sport of Air Pistol Shooting for ten years.  She has represented Great Britain internationally and is currently the highest ranked Great Britain female pistol shooter in the World and European Rankings.  Her recent achievements include winning the Welsh Open, runner up at the Commonwealth Federation Championships and winning the silver medal in the British Championships. Victoria will travel to the Munich World Cup in May to compete for Great Britain and is aiming for World Championship selection.  Currently, Victoria is vying for selection to represent England in the Commonwealth Games which take place Glasgow this summer.

“The Sports Awards are a great addition to the tradition of Sporting Commons and allows students, staff and supporters of Sport at Trinity to celebrate the successes of teams, individuals, coaches and volunteers achieved throughout the year,” stated Head of Sport, Michelle Tanner. “The new Sports Awards are a tribute to the accolades and contribution of students and volunteers, all of whom make sport such a vital part of the Trinity experience. I congratulate all the winners and I am extremely proud of the standards and victories recorded by all Trinity sportspeople, on and off the field of play.”


Victoria Mullin, Trinity’s first Sportsperson of the Year at the Sporting Commons with Ireland rugby star, Jamie Heaslip at the Sporting Commons and Inaugural Sports Awards

Six students were awarded Trinity Pinks on the night, a recognition by Dublin University Central Athletics Club (DUCAC) of reaching high standards in their respective sports. These included:  Aisling Smith (Kayak), Sam Mehigan (Ultimate Frisbee), Ciaran O’Neill (Trampoline), Rebecca Woods (Athletics), Brian Du Toit and Patrick Lavelle (Rugby). The Trinity Pink, designed to correspond to the Light Blue of Cambridge and the Dark Blue of Oxford, is awarded on individual sporting merit which is generally assessed in terms of outstanding club performance, representative selection or external achievement.

Other winners of the inaugural Trinity Sports Awards were Student Club Administrator of the Year – 3rd Year PhD student and Captain of the DU Trampoline Club, Aideen Ni Choilean; Team of the Year – DU Harriers & Athletics Ladies Cross Country Team; Coach of the Year- Elvy da Costa from DU Squash Club; and Trevor West who was posthumously awarded the Contribution to Sport at Trinity Award, accepted on the night by his brother, John West.

Pink Awardees
2014 Pink winners L-R Sam Mehigan (Ultimate Frisbee), Ciaran O’Neill (Trampoline), Aisling Smyth (Kayak), Jamie Heaslip, Rebecca Woods (Athletics), Brian Du Toit (Rugby) and Patrick Lavelle (Rugby).