Prestigious gongs honour top achievers

A cricket club, swimming club, rugby union player, swimmer, karate kid, softball player and track champion are among the winners of this year’s City of Rockingham Sports Star Awards.

The awards were announced on Friday, September 30 at the Gary Holland Community Centre and recognised the sporting excellence and achievements of local community members.

Now in its 20th year, the Sports Star Awards continue to grow in capacity as one of the premiere sport awards events on the Rockingham calendar.

With more than 150 guests in attendance, including 33 finalists from all walks of life, the event acknowledges those who have individually, or as part of their clubs, shown outstanding achievements in their chosen sport.

City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels congratulated the winners on their outstanding performance both on and off the field over the previous 12 months.

“It has been fantastic to see such a high standard of athletes being nominated for the Sports Star Awards this year,” he said.

“Every year, the level of talent we have in Rockingham continues to amaze me, and I feel proud to be part of such a talented community.

“The City takes great pride in recognising and rewarding the achievements of local sporting individuals and teams.

“Over the past 20 years of the Rockingham Sports Star Awards, we have seen world, national, State, regional and local competition level champions come through these doors, showing the calibre of our homegrown talent.

“The judging for these awards is getting tougher each year and our 2016 nominations uphold the tradition of outstanding performances, sportsmanship and volunteering.”

This year’s prize pool consisted of a total of $20,000, including cash prizes, shopping centre vouchers and personal fitness packages.

The City acknowledged the sponsors of the 2016 Sports Star Awards for their commitment and support of and our local sporting community: TheSound Telegraph , Rockingham Centre, The Athletes Foot Rockingham, Baldivis Health and Fitness, Rockingham F45 Training, Aqua Jetty and Retravision.

Club of the year: Secret Harbour Dockers Cricket Club

Team of the year: Rockingham Stingrays National Swim Team 2016

Senior sportsperson: Holly Barratt (Swimming)

Junior sportsperson: Liam Van Der Heyden (Rugby Union)

Sportsperson with Disability: Gabriel Coombes (Karate)

Volunteer of the year: Sally Blechynden (Softball)

John Brown Memorial Award: Sophie White (Athletics)