Well-respected local photographer Pat O’Hare has spoken of his pride at winning the inaugural Hugh Russell Sports Photography Competition, which was organised by the Mary Peters Trust and the Irish News. Pat picked up his trophy earlier this month from Olympic champion Lady Mary Peters for a photograph called ‘SmASHing Time’, which pictured two camogs battling for the ball, as one of the sticks is broken during the clash.
Leitrim man Pat said: “It was an honour to receive the award, as it is in memory of the late Hugh Russell whom I met before, and who was very generous with his time when I was starting out as a photographer. I met Hugh a few times. He was a gentleman. He was always very helpful. He would give younger photographers advice.”
The competition was launched in September by the Mary Peters Trust and was open to amateur and professional photographers. The Trust wanted to honour the late champion boxer Hugh Russell, who was also an award-winning photographer with the Irish News. He was also a close friend of Lady Mary Peters.
Pat said: “I saw the competition in the Irish News; I thought that I would give that a go.” He selected the image of Liatroim Fontenoys’ Aimee McAleenan and Portaferry’s Aimee Mallon in the Down Senior League because of the dramatic image of the stick break as one player tries to block the other.
“I enjoy taking sport pictures. Sometimes you will go to a match and things will work out for you. Other matches you will find it difficult. That match I got lucky. I have taken stick break pictures before, but that was the best one I have taken because you saw both pieces of the stick and the sliotar very clearly in the frame. To get that all in the frame was great. Sometimes you get a stick break and it is not clear.”
Pat, who began his photography career with the Mourne Observer, said that the picture also told a story. “You could see the passion and the effort that the two players were putting in. The picture shows the commitment of the two girls. I felt that in camogie and hurling you can see the speed and effort they always put in; it is great to see that physicality.”
Judging for the competition took place in early November. The panel included Lady Peters and Irish News photographer Mal McCann, along with press photographers Kelvin Boyes and Stephen Davison. Former Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan and Jim Gracey, chair of the Mary Peters Trust, were also involved in the judging.
In awarding Pat O’Hare the top professional prize, the judges said his picture “captures the very essence of sporting drama and intensity of camogie. The timing is exceptional, freezing the split-second when the ash snaps under pressure, a moment that speaks volumes about the physicality and commitment in the game,” they said.
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