Wheelchair Sports NSW
2010 NSW SPORTS FEDERATION
SPORTS AWARDS
On Wednesday night the NSW sporting community came together to celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions in sport in NSW. The 2010 NSW Sports Federation Annual Sports Awards winners were announced at a prestigious Gala Dinner on 16th February 2011 at Waterview in Bicentennial Park in Sydney. The black-tie dinner attended by close to 500 guests, attracted a who's who of sport and was MC'd by ABC Sport Presenter Peter Wilkins.Recognition was given in 18 award categories acknowledging grassroots to world sport. Four-time World Surfing Championships Stephanie Gilmore and 2010 World Sailor of the Year Tom Slingsby both took home the coveted NSW Athlete of the Year.
NSW Sports Federation Chief Executive Officer, Debbie Kemp said "The calibre of this year's finalists was outstanding which shows the depth of talent and commitment in NSW sport."
2010 NSW Sports Federation Annual Sports Awards winners:
NSW Athlete of the Year
Stephanie Gilmore, Surfing
Stephanie claimed her fourth consecutive ASP World Title crown in Puerto Rico in November. She won four out of the eight tour events. Stephanie also won the 2010 Vans Triple Crown Championship. This victory marks her third consecutive Triple Crown of Surfing title and tops off a phenomenal year. Earlier in the year, Stephanie won the “Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year” at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2010 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Tom Slingsby, Sailing
Tom was awarded the 2010 ISAF World Sailor of the Year, becoming the first Australian to win the prestigious award. He was rewarded for his stellar year in which he won four World Cup events in four entries. Tom also won two World Championships in two different boats in two weeks, the Laser Men’s One Person Dinghy 2010 World title (his third title) and the Etchells World title. Tom has returned to the top of the world rankings in the Laser class.
NSW Athlete with a Disability
Peter Leek OAM, Swimming
Competing in the S8 category at the 2010 IPC World Championships, Peter won four individual Gold medals and two Gold medals in relay events. He also won Silver in the men’s 100m backstroke. On top of this he claimed two World Records in the 100m Butterfly and 100mFreestyle at the Championships. Peter was named in the Commonwealth Games Team for Delhi but had to pull out due to illness.
NSW Team Athlete of the Year
Lauren Jackson, Basketball
out due to Lauren had another stellar season where she won the WNBA Championship with Seattle Storm and was named the WNBA MVP, WNBA Finals MVP and All-WNBA First Team. Lauren averaged 20.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and had 1.2 blocks per game in the WNBA, which is the world’s premier basketball league for women. Lauren was a member of the Australian Opals at the 2010 World Championships. She also won Australia’s WNBL 2009/10 Championship with the Canberra Capitals and was named MVP in the Grand Final.
NSW Team Athlete with a Disability
Ryley Batt, Wheelchair Rugby
Ryley has continued his individual and team successes winning the US Quad Rugby Association Division 1 Nationals with San Diego Sharp Edge and claiming the MVP award. He was named tournament MVP at the 2010 Canada Cup where the Australian Steelers won the tournament. Ryley was also the standout performer at the 2010 Wheelchair Rugby World Championships. The Australian Steelers finished with a Silver medal and Ryley claimed the MVP. He was the key player for the NSW Gladiators who defended their fifth consecutive National Wheelchair Rugby League title and was named the League MVP.
NSW Team of the Year
St George Illawarra Dragons, Rugby League
The St George Illawarra Dragons, coached by Wayne Bennett, won the 2010 NRL Grand Final. In their 12th season as a merged club, the Dragons defeated the Sydney Roosters 32-8 in the Grand Final. The 2010 NRL Premiership was the Dragons’ first premiership win in 31 years. They finished 1st after the regular season, with 17 wins and seven losses. In the finals the Dragons defeated the Sea Eagles in week one, the Wests Tigers in week three and the Roosters in the Grand Final.
NSW Team with a Disability
Sydney University Flames, Wheelchair Basketball
Formerly known as the Hills Hornets, the Sydney University Flames won their ninth consecutive Women’s National League title. The squad includes two-time Paralympian Sarah Stewart, five-time Paralympian Leisl Tesch and Beijing Paralympian Katie Hill. Other team members include Caitlin de Wit, Stephanie Van Leeuwen and Jessica Pellow. Sarah, Liesl and Katie are members of the Gliders, the Australian National Wheelchair Basketball team who in 2010 won Bronze at the Paralympic World Cup and placed fourth at the 2010 World Championships.
NSW Young Athlete of the Year
Melissa Wu, Diving
Melissa won Gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games with Alex Croak in the 10m synchronised event and Silver in the 10m platform. She also claimed Silver and Bronze in the 10m synchro and 10m at the FINA World Cup in China. She won a further 5 Bronze medals at FINA Prix events in Canada and Russia, and at FINA World Cup Series events in Mexico. Melissa finished 2010 with a world ranking of number three in 10m synchro and six in 10m platform.
NSW Young Athlete with a Disability
Jacqueline Freney, Swimming
Jacqueline had another successful year, winning two Silver medals in the S8 class at the 2010 IPC World Swimming Championships. She also claimed two Gold in the Multiclass at the Telstra Australia Swimming Championships and two Gold, two Silver and two Bronze medals at the 2010 Multiclass Age Championships. In 2010, Jacqueline held a World Number three ranking in the S8 classification in three freestyle events - 50m, 100m and 400m.
NSW Masters Athlete of the Year
Marie Kay, Athletics
At the World Indoor Championships in Kamloops Canada, Marie won the pentathlon with a World Record of 4906 points and victory in all five events. She also won the 200m, 400m, long jump, high jump plus team Silver in the W40 4 x 200m relay. Marie also competed at the World Masters Athletics (WMA) Regional Oceania Championships, winning seven Gold medals. Her performances included three Oceania and two National Records. Marie was named by the WMA and the IAAF as World Masters Athlete of the Year 2010.
NSW Coach of the Year
Chava Sobrino, Diving
Chava coached Matthew Mitcham, Alexander Croak and Melissa Wu. All three held top 10 world rankings in 2010. Matthew won Gold at the 2010 FINA World Cup and four Silver medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, maintaining his world number one ranking since winning the men’s platform Olympic Gold medal in Beijing. The Commonwealth Games saw Chava’s group of athletes winning one Gold, five Silver and two two Bronze - an outstanding result heading towards London 2012.
NSW Official of the Year
Sharon Kelly, Netball
Sharon’s reign as Australia’s best umpire continued in 2010 when she was presented with Netball Australia’s Lorraine Lea Linen Umpire of the Year Award, her sixth consecutive Umpire of the Year award. Sharon is one of the top umpires internationally. She was selected to umpire the 2010 Commonwealth Games Bronze medal game and semi final – the highest possible level she could umpire due to Australia playing in the Gold medal game. On National level, Sharon umpired throughout the ANZ Championship season and was selected to officiate the Grand Final and Semi Final.
NSW Young Official of the Year
Jemma Carlton, Netball
Jemma was rewarded for a terrific year when she received her All Australia umpiring badge in September; Netball umpiring’s highest honour in Australia. It was awarded to her after she officiated the Australian Netball League Grand Final. She was selected to umpire the Grand Final following her performance during the semi-finals. In October, Jemma then went on to umpire at the 21/U National Netball Championships.
Rebecca Keirs, Basketball
Rebecca has had a stellar 2010. She umpired the U16 Men’s Gold Medal Games for both the Junior Basketball Classic and the U16 Australian Junior National Championships. Rebecca represented Basketball NSW at the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup and was awarded the Gold Medal Men’s Under 18 game. She also umpired at the Basketball NSW State and Youth League Finals including the Gold Medal Div 1 Youth League Men’s Grand Final.
NSW Event of the Year
ANZ Championship Preliminary Final (Netball)
Netball NSW hosted the 2010 ANZ Championship Preliminary Final while simultaneously hosting the largest female sporting event in the Southern hemisphere – the State Age Championships, three days held across four venues in the Hunter. The weekend was billed as “festival of netball”, bringing together 4000 of the State’s up and coming stars, and providing them with the opportunity to see the NSW Swifts playing New Zealand’s Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. The State Age was scheduled to finish early so 12-15 year old netballers from as far as Bega, Byron Bay and Dubbo were able to watch their Swifts heroes. The match sold out in eight minutes to a 5,500 capacity crowd at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.
NSW Administrator of the Year
Peter Van Wegen, Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation
Under Peter’s leadership the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation achieved significant success in 2010. Highlights included a complete overhaul and development of the junior pathway in NSW. A new Golf for Schools model was developed with over 250 teachers trained to deliver golf to 25,000 school children. Membership numbers increased by over 100%, and an industry leading website and a tournament Management System were implemented. Peter also directed and assisted Golf Australia with the development of the National Junior Program – My Golf Program.
NSW Organisation of the Year
Cricket NSW
During 2009/10 Cricket NSW (CNSW) increased participation numbers by 17,500 (10%) and also achieved the best coach to player ratio of any State. 11 women were also put through a Cricket Australia Level 2 Coaching Accreditation Course designed specifically for coaching female athletes. CNSW continues to develop a Twenty20 competition for junior clubs, with modified rules to ensure maximum participation with an increased number of 106 teams competing. 56,000 fans attended the two KFC Twenty20 Big Bash matches at ANZ Stadium, with a domestic record number of 29,743 attending the match against Queensland. 18 men and 8 women represented Australia at senior and junior levels. Opened in 2009, the new state of the art precinct at Blacktown Olympic Park in Sydney’s West has seen increased use of the facilities in 2010.
NSW Volunteer Award
Lisa Lee, Judo NSW
Lisa was the Judo NSW Tournament Director and volunteer at more than 15 tournaments at Sydney Olympic Park and Blacktown PCYC. Competitors numbers ranged from 50 to more than 200 at each tournament. Lisa was the Tournament Director at the 2010 NSW International Open which hosted 350 domestic and international competitors. Her tournament accountabilities included venue selection, promotion, venue set-up, volunteer management for draws, fight progression, scorekeepers and timers. Lisa was also the NSW Team Manager, and the team attended the 2010 National Titles in Brisbane with 130 NSW competitors.
NSW Sports Media Award
NBN Newcastle, Surf Life Saving
NBN TV has produced significant media coverage of Surf Life Saving activities in NSW. Partnering with Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) they promoted the NSW SLS Championships at Swansea Belmont for the third year. News and sport stories during the Championships were compiled and aired locally and across the State. NBN provided SLSNSW with free advertising in the lead up to the NSW Country and State Championships for the last two years, and covered the final round of the IRB Premiership series and NSW IRB Championships. NBN also supports SLS Clubs in the region with fundraising appeals, promotion of community and sporting events and publicising the great work of volunteer lifesavers.
Distinguished Long Service Award (for over 30 years of service)
Denis Boyd Judo
Aleksandar Sasha Dimitric Handball
Anne Doring Netball
Michael Godfrey-Roberts Wheelchair Sports
Peter Hall Swimming
Dr Harry Harinath OAM Cricket
Ken Harvey Basketball/Wheelchair Sports
Vince Laws Football
Shirley Read OAM Gymnastics
Lynne Townsend Softball
John Watson Surf Life Saving
Ian White Athletics
Susan Wilson Golf
NSW Sports Federation Chief Executive Officer, Debbie Kemp said "The calibre of this year's finalists was outstanding which shows the depth of talent and commitment in NSW sport."
2010 NSW Sports Federation Annual Sports Awards winners:
NSW Athlete of the Year
Stephanie Gilmore, Surfing
Stephanie claimed her fourth consecutive ASP World Title crown in Puerto Rico in November. She won four out of the eight tour events. Stephanie also won the 2010 Vans Triple Crown Championship. This victory marks her third consecutive Triple Crown of Surfing title and tops off a phenomenal year. Earlier in the year, Stephanie won the “Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year” at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2010 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Tom Slingsby, Sailing
Tom was awarded the 2010 ISAF World Sailor of the Year, becoming the first Australian to win the prestigious award. He was rewarded for his stellar year in which he won four World Cup events in four entries. Tom also won two World Championships in two different boats in two weeks, the Laser Men’s One Person Dinghy 2010 World title (his third title) and the Etchells World title. Tom has returned to the top of the world rankings in the Laser class.
NSW Athlete with a Disability
Peter Leek OAM, Swimming
Competing in the S8 category at the 2010 IPC World Championships, Peter won four individual Gold medals and two Gold medals in relay events. He also won Silver in the men’s 100m backstroke. On top of this he claimed two World Records in the 100m Butterfly and 100mFreestyle at the Championships. Peter was named in the Commonwealth Games Team for Delhi but had to pull out due to illness.
NSW Team Athlete of the Year
Lauren Jackson, Basketball
out due to Lauren had another stellar season where she won the WNBA Championship with Seattle Storm and was named the WNBA MVP, WNBA Finals MVP and All-WNBA First Team. Lauren averaged 20.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and had 1.2 blocks per game in the WNBA, which is the world’s premier basketball league for women. Lauren was a member of the Australian Opals at the 2010 World Championships. She also won Australia’s WNBL 2009/10 Championship with the Canberra Capitals and was named MVP in the Grand Final.
NSW Team Athlete with a Disability
Ryley Batt, Wheelchair Rugby
Ryley has continued his individual and team successes winning the US Quad Rugby Association Division 1 Nationals with San Diego Sharp Edge and claiming the MVP award. He was named tournament MVP at the 2010 Canada Cup where the Australian Steelers won the tournament. Ryley was also the standout performer at the 2010 Wheelchair Rugby World Championships. The Australian Steelers finished with a Silver medal and Ryley claimed the MVP. He was the key player for the NSW Gladiators who defended their fifth consecutive National Wheelchair Rugby League title and was named the League MVP.
NSW Team of the Year
St George Illawarra Dragons, Rugby League
The St George Illawarra Dragons, coached by Wayne Bennett, won the 2010 NRL Grand Final. In their 12th season as a merged club, the Dragons defeated the Sydney Roosters 32-8 in the Grand Final. The 2010 NRL Premiership was the Dragons’ first premiership win in 31 years. They finished 1st after the regular season, with 17 wins and seven losses. In the finals the Dragons defeated the Sea Eagles in week one, the Wests Tigers in week three and the Roosters in the Grand Final.
NSW Team with a Disability
Sydney University Flames, Wheelchair Basketball
Formerly known as the Hills Hornets, the Sydney University Flames won their ninth consecutive Women’s National League title. The squad includes two-time Paralympian Sarah Stewart, five-time Paralympian Leisl Tesch and Beijing Paralympian Katie Hill. Other team members include Caitlin de Wit, Stephanie Van Leeuwen and Jessica Pellow. Sarah, Liesl and Katie are members of the Gliders, the Australian National Wheelchair Basketball team who in 2010 won Bronze at the Paralympic World Cup and placed fourth at the 2010 World Championships.
NSW Young Athlete of the Year
Melissa Wu, Diving
Melissa won Gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games with Alex Croak in the 10m synchronised event and Silver in the 10m platform. She also claimed Silver and Bronze in the 10m synchro and 10m at the FINA World Cup in China. She won a further 5 Bronze medals at FINA Prix events in Canada and Russia, and at FINA World Cup Series events in Mexico. Melissa finished 2010 with a world ranking of number three in 10m synchro and six in 10m platform.
NSW Young Athlete with a Disability
Jacqueline Freney, Swimming
Jacqueline had another successful year, winning two Silver medals in the S8 class at the 2010 IPC World Swimming Championships. She also claimed two Gold in the Multiclass at the Telstra Australia Swimming Championships and two Gold, two Silver and two Bronze medals at the 2010 Multiclass Age Championships. In 2010, Jacqueline held a World Number three ranking in the S8 classification in three freestyle events - 50m, 100m and 400m.
NSW Masters Athlete of the Year
Marie Kay, Athletics
At the World Indoor Championships in Kamloops Canada, Marie won the pentathlon with a World Record of 4906 points and victory in all five events. She also won the 200m, 400m, long jump, high jump plus team Silver in the W40 4 x 200m relay. Marie also competed at the World Masters Athletics (WMA) Regional Oceania Championships, winning seven Gold medals. Her performances included three Oceania and two National Records. Marie was named by the WMA and the IAAF as World Masters Athlete of the Year 2010.
NSW Coach of the Year
Chava Sobrino, Diving
Chava coached Matthew Mitcham, Alexander Croak and Melissa Wu. All three held top 10 world rankings in 2010. Matthew won Gold at the 2010 FINA World Cup and four Silver medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, maintaining his world number one ranking since winning the men’s platform Olympic Gold medal in Beijing. The Commonwealth Games saw Chava’s group of athletes winning one Gold, five Silver and two two Bronze - an outstanding result heading towards London 2012.
NSW Official of the Year
Sharon Kelly, Netball
Sharon’s reign as Australia’s best umpire continued in 2010 when she was presented with Netball Australia’s Lorraine Lea Linen Umpire of the Year Award, her sixth consecutive Umpire of the Year award. Sharon is one of the top umpires internationally. She was selected to umpire the 2010 Commonwealth Games Bronze medal game and semi final – the highest possible level she could umpire due to Australia playing in the Gold medal game. On National level, Sharon umpired throughout the ANZ Championship season and was selected to officiate the Grand Final and Semi Final.
NSW Young Official of the Year
Jemma Carlton, Netball
Jemma was rewarded for a terrific year when she received her All Australia umpiring badge in September; Netball umpiring’s highest honour in Australia. It was awarded to her after she officiated the Australian Netball League Grand Final. She was selected to umpire the Grand Final following her performance during the semi-finals. In October, Jemma then went on to umpire at the 21/U National Netball Championships.
Rebecca Keirs, Basketball
Rebecca has had a stellar 2010. She umpired the U16 Men’s Gold Medal Games for both the Junior Basketball Classic and the U16 Australian Junior National Championships. Rebecca represented Basketball NSW at the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup and was awarded the Gold Medal Men’s Under 18 game. She also umpired at the Basketball NSW State and Youth League Finals including the Gold Medal Div 1 Youth League Men’s Grand Final.
NSW Event of the Year
ANZ Championship Preliminary Final (Netball)
Netball NSW hosted the 2010 ANZ Championship Preliminary Final while simultaneously hosting the largest female sporting event in the Southern hemisphere – the State Age Championships, three days held across four venues in the Hunter. The weekend was billed as “festival of netball”, bringing together 4000 of the State’s up and coming stars, and providing them with the opportunity to see the NSW Swifts playing New Zealand’s Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. The State Age was scheduled to finish early so 12-15 year old netballers from as far as Bega, Byron Bay and Dubbo were able to watch their Swifts heroes. The match sold out in eight minutes to a 5,500 capacity crowd at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.
NSW Administrator of the Year
Peter Van Wegen, Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation
Under Peter’s leadership the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation achieved significant success in 2010. Highlights included a complete overhaul and development of the junior pathway in NSW. A new Golf for Schools model was developed with over 250 teachers trained to deliver golf to 25,000 school children. Membership numbers increased by over 100%, and an industry leading website and a tournament Management System were implemented. Peter also directed and assisted Golf Australia with the development of the National Junior Program – My Golf Program.
NSW Organisation of the Year
Cricket NSW
During 2009/10 Cricket NSW (CNSW) increased participation numbers by 17,500 (10%) and also achieved the best coach to player ratio of any State. 11 women were also put through a Cricket Australia Level 2 Coaching Accreditation Course designed specifically for coaching female athletes. CNSW continues to develop a Twenty20 competition for junior clubs, with modified rules to ensure maximum participation with an increased number of 106 teams competing. 56,000 fans attended the two KFC Twenty20 Big Bash matches at ANZ Stadium, with a domestic record number of 29,743 attending the match against Queensland. 18 men and 8 women represented Australia at senior and junior levels. Opened in 2009, the new state of the art precinct at Blacktown Olympic Park in Sydney’s West has seen increased use of the facilities in 2010.
NSW Volunteer Award
Lisa Lee, Judo NSW
Lisa was the Judo NSW Tournament Director and volunteer at more than 15 tournaments at Sydney Olympic Park and Blacktown PCYC. Competitors numbers ranged from 50 to more than 200 at each tournament. Lisa was the Tournament Director at the 2010 NSW International Open which hosted 350 domestic and international competitors. Her tournament accountabilities included venue selection, promotion, venue set-up, volunteer management for draws, fight progression, scorekeepers and timers. Lisa was also the NSW Team Manager, and the team attended the 2010 National Titles in Brisbane with 130 NSW competitors.
NSW Sports Media Award
NBN Newcastle, Surf Life Saving
NBN TV has produced significant media coverage of Surf Life Saving activities in NSW. Partnering with Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) they promoted the NSW SLS Championships at Swansea Belmont for the third year. News and sport stories during the Championships were compiled and aired locally and across the State. NBN provided SLSNSW with free advertising in the lead up to the NSW Country and State Championships for the last two years, and covered the final round of the IRB Premiership series and NSW IRB Championships. NBN also supports SLS Clubs in the region with fundraising appeals, promotion of community and sporting events and publicising the great work of volunteer lifesavers.
Distinguished Long Service Award (for over 30 years of service)
Denis Boyd Judo
Aleksandar Sasha Dimitric Handball
Anne Doring Netball
Michael Godfrey-Roberts Wheelchair Sports
Peter Hall Swimming
Dr Harry Harinath OAM Cricket
Ken Harvey Basketball/Wheelchair Sports
Vince Laws Football
Shirley Read OAM Gymnastics
Lynne Townsend Softball
John Watson Surf Life Saving
Ian White Athletics
Susan Wilson Golf
