Chrissie's a finalist in the 2025 NI Women in Sport Awards!

7 April 2025

Congratulations to Chrissie McAuley, finalist in the 2025 NI Women in Sport Awards!

The third annual localwomensport.com awards will return to the Europa Hotel on Saturday, April 26. These are the only dedicated women in all-sports awards in the whole of the UK and Ireland and will honour inspirational women from various sporting fields, including football, hockey, camogie, LGFA, rugby, athletics, golf and equestrian, to name but a few.

Sponsored by fuel provider Go, and supported by Belfast Live, these star-studded awards are another ground breaker for Local Women Sport.

The prestigious awards ceremony will be hosted by UTV sports personality, golf and hockey player, Ruth Gorman.

Well deserved honour for Chrissie!

Chrissie McAuley - hockey finalist in the NI Women in Sport Awards

Nominated in the Local Hockey Player of the year category, it's a tremendous achievement and well deserved honour for Newry Olympic Hockey Club's own Chrissie McAuley to reach the final eight in hockey, out of 600 overall nominations for the NI Women in Sport Awards.

Chrissie started playing hockey when she first attended Crumlin High School in 1996 and loved it straight away, playing for the senior teams and being made captain of the school team every year from early on. After joining Randalstown for a few seasons, Chrissie moved to Dromore where she played for a short while before moving to Kilkeel for a season or two back in 2005.

Chrissie took a break to have her kids and started with Newry Olympic in 2010 and has played with the club ever since, only having a break when she had her two youngest children.

Chrissie has been a part of Newry Olympic Ladies over 15 years, playing at Ulster Hockey Senior and Junior levels. She is currently playing Junior 11 level and is Vice Captain of the Ladies 2s. She often plays up for the Ladies 1s in Senior 3 when called. She is a fantastic sweeper. At the same time she has been most recently battling a cancer diagnosis, treatment, chemotherapy, etc and has still played throughout this difficult journey.

Chrissie supports all the club matches, including the Juniors from the sidelines as well as the Men's 1s and 2s.

She is also involved in social hockey with a Ladies team called Wicked as her love of hockey knows no boundaries.

Hockey is Chrissie's happy place. She is tenacious on the pitch, directing the defence as well as weaving in and out through the opposition to clear the ball. Newry Olympic Hockey Club is privileged and honoured to have such a wonderful member and player and are immensely proud to support her in this prestigious nomination.

Wishing you good luck on the 26th night Chrissie, from everyone at the club!