December 20, 2015 - January 9, 2016: Issue 245
2015 NSW Sports Awards See Best Sportspeople As Finalists: Pittwater Sailors and Surf Life Savers
Newport Taplin Team with Coaches Trent Herring and James Brooks - picture by Jamie Nilsson - SLS NSW
2015 NSW Sports Awards See Best Sportspeople As Finalists: Pittwater Sailors and Surf Life Savers
Sydney, Australia – 15 December, 2015 – Sport NSW has today announced the finalists for the NSW Sports Awards. Jessica Fox, Adam Goodes, and Steve Smith, to name but a few, are all up for the award that will be announced at a celebratory gala dinner at Curzon Hall, Marsfield, Sydney, 7pm on Thursday, 18 February 2016.
The NSW Sports Awards is an all-embracing event that acknowledges the variety of sporting activity and achievement across the state every year. NSW-based sporting organisations are asked to nominate athletes, coaches and leaders, as well as distinguished long serving sport volunteers to ensure the Sports Awards recognise all levels in sport.
For 21 years, NSW Sports Awards has recognised leading athletes, teams, coaches, administrators, volunteers and organisations in New South Wales and celebrated their outstanding achievements in high performance and community sport levels.
“This awards program is an integral event in the state’s sporting calendar, providing an opportunity for the New South Wales community to unite, celebrate and acknowledge those whose contribution is the lifeblood of our state’s sporting community,” says Sport NSW’s CEO Cheryl Battaerd.
The 2015 NSW Sports Awards Nomination Panel is made up of high profile judges who represent the sporting sector. Key players include ABC Grandstand Reporter, Shannon Byrne, Sports Development Executive Manager, Tony Houhlias from the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Sport NSW Director and Marketing and Digital Communications Consultant, Alison Nolan as well as Matthew Dunstan who is nationally recognised for his work in disAbility sport from a grass roots to high performance level.
While the 2014 NSW Sports Awards saw a record-breaking amount of nominations, 2015 has been bigger and better than ever with over 140 candidates.
“This is a true reflection of the great efforts of New South Wales’ professional and amateur athletes and officials,” says Battaerd.
This year, Sport NSW has introduced The Inclusion/Diversity Award for organisations who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the principles of inclusion and diversity in their sport or the sport industry as a whole. This Award is a celebration towards building a holistic and all-inclusive sporting community across the board.
The finalists for the NSW Athlete of the Year, all of whom have excelled both on a National and International level and reside in NSW, include the following: Jessica Fox—Canoeing, Adam Goodes—Australian Football, Kim Green—Netball, Shane Rose—Equestrian, Steve Smith—Cricket and Sam Stosur—Tennis.
Pittwater Finalists include: Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse and Newport Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) Male Taplin Team in the Team of the Year category, Daniel Fitzgibbon OAM and Leisl Tesch AM in the Team of the Year with a Disability, Trent Herring in the Coach of the Year, while under Event of the Year is listed a carnival many surf life savers participate in - 2015 Surf Life Saving NSW Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Championships.
Full list of finalists below.
2015 NSW Sports Awards Finalists
Athlete of the Year Sport
Jessica Fox Canoeing
Adam Goodes Australian Football
Kim Green Netball
Shane Rose Equestrian
Steve Smith Cricket
Sam Stosur Tennis
Young Athlete of the Year Sport
Mitchell Bailey Rifle Shooting
Caleb Ewan Cycling
Callum Mills Australian Football
Alex de Minaur Tennis
Saya Sakakibara BMX
Daniel Samsa Bocce
Masters Athlete of the Year Sport
Margi Bohm Canoeing
Matthew Glanville Cycling
Paul Lemmon Surf Life Saving
Clary Munns Masters Swimming
Wayne Pascoe Tennis
Athlete of the Year with a Disability Sport
Rae Anderson Athletics
Angie Ballard Wheelchair track and road
Maddison Elliot Swimming
Erik Horrie Rowing
Adam Kellerman Tennis
Sui Watts Horse Riding
Young Athlete of the Year with a Disability Sport
Erin Cleaver Athletics
Jessica Cronje Wheelchair Basketball
Mikaela Ellen Horse Riding
Maddison Elliott Swimming
Simone Kennedy Para Cycling
Tiffany Thomas-Kane Swimming
Team of the Year Sport
Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse Sailing
Newport Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) Male Taplin Team Surf Life Saving
NSW 19U Netball Team Netball
NSW Rugby 7’s Team Rugby Union
Terrigal High School Rugby League Team Rugby League
Women’s Bowls NSW 2015 Open Squad Bowls
Team of the Year (National Professional Leagues) Sport
Brydens Sydney Uni Flames Basketball
NSW LendLease Breakers Cricket
NSW Swifts Netball
Team of the Year with a Disability Sport
Daniel Fitzgibbon OAM and Leisl Tesch AM Sailing
Marie Little OAM Shield Team Netball
Men’s World Cup Team Wheelchair Tennis
NSW Powerchair Football
Riding for the Disabled Association of NSW State Dressage Team Horse Riding
Coach of the Year Sport
Michael Cheika Rugby Union
Jurica George Milic Bocce
Trent Herring Surf Life Saving
Louise Sauvage OAM Wheelchair Track and Road
Chava Sobrino Diving
Robert Wright Netball
Official of the Year Sport
Sharon Kelly Netball
Brodie Kenny Australian Football
Ray McDonagh Surf Life Saving
Kylie Seymour Hockey
Glenn Toland Tennis
Paul Wilson Cricket
Administrator of the Year Sport
Gillian Brooker Diving
David Cochrane Tennis
Darren Denneman Australian Football
Joanne Hawkins Surf Life Saving
Megan Simpson Netball
Volunteer Director of the Year Organisation
Chris Allen Golf
Wendy Archer AM Netball
Larry Maher Hockey
Trudy Vonhoff Tennis
Organisation of the Year
Cricket NSW
Equestrian NSW
Netball NSW
Tennis NSW
Rowing NSW
Women’s Bowls NSW
Inclusion/Diversity Award Organisation
Cricket NSW
Football4All—Football NSW
Ku-ring-gai Netball Association—Netball NSW
The Gymaroos
Trytons Rugby
Event of the Year Sport
2015 Australian Masters Rowing Championships Rowing
2015 Surf Life Saving NSW Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Championships Surf Life Saving
Australian Interschool Championships Equestrian
Central Coast 7’s Rugby Union
Netball World Cup Sydney 2015 (NWC2015) Netball
Women’s Bowls NSW State Carnival Bowls
Distinguished Long Service Award Sport/Organisation
Judy Bates Cycling
Margaret Beardslee Athletics
Wayne Broadbent Football
Phillipe Bronger Pistol
Helen Brownlee OAM Canoe & Kayak
Ivor Endicott-Davies Judo
Kerrie Eyding Pony Club
Ken Gardiner Athletics
Errol Hyde Wheelchair Sports NSW
Greg Mawson Rugby League
Bill McIIveen Football
John Skene OAM Swimming
Clifford Sproule Tennis
Leonie Whiteford Table Tennis
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NSW Sports Federation Inc. operates under the name of Sport NSW and is the active voice and peak body for sport in NSW. Sport NSW has been operating since 1991 with a membership representing over 15,000 community sport clubs and associations and 2.5 million participants, volunteers and workers in NSW sporting organisations.
To find out more, please visit: www.sportnsw.com.au