An archery coach has been awarded a British Empire Medal for his work supporting the growth of junior and para archery in Northern Ireland.
Marty McCullough started archery with his son 10 year ago at his local club before progressing into coaching.
He completed his Level 2 Development Coach course and began coaching a group of compound archers who progressed from the National Talent Development Programme to the Northern Ireland Performance Academy. Marty was then invited to the Performance Archery Centre at Lilleshall to work with Performance Coach Stuart Taylor.
As well as coaching pathway athletes, Marty started the Northern Ireland schools archery project with Archery GB's Regional Development officer for NI, Lisa Wheeler.
The project works with primary, secondary and special schools to set up school clubs and Archery Activity Partnerships. Marty is also a coach developer who helps develop school instructors. Some of the pupils who started at junior school clubs have progressed into the talent programme and competed at the NI Indoor Championships.
On the para side of the sport, Marty has worked with Archery GB on the development of a Northern Ireland Para programme and through Musgrave Park hospital, Belfast he has worked with amputees and people with spinal and brain injuries to use archery for rehabilitating people with life changing injuries.
Marty has a personal connection with the hospital as his wife Julie received treatment there when she become an amputee five and a half years ago due to complications from leukaemia.
Marty said: "I built a relationship with her physios and was invited to a multisport day to introduce people to archery.
"The project is in the early stages but it's exciting as everyone who is involved wants to grow it and help people through recreation, rehab and identifying those golden nuggets who may have the motivation and drive to achieve as para athletes."
Marty said he was surprised and shocked to receive news about his BEM nomination and he was looking forward to attending the presentation ceremony with Julie.
Congratulations Marty and thank you for everything you do to grow the sport of archery in Northern Ireland.
