 |
11:05 AM Sat 28 Feb 2009 GMT
 | | 'Malcolm Page, Victor Kovalenko & Nathan Wilmot Photo: Yachting NSW'
|
The 2008 NSW Sports Federation Annual Sports Awards were held at the Waterview Convention Centre in Bicentennial Park and hosted by the ABC Media Commentator and author Peter Wilkins.
The NSW Sports Federation Awards are given to those who have had outstanding achievements in their sporting and administrative career over the past 12 months. The event attracted many gold medalists from Beijing, world champions, record holders, as well as the sports hardworking administrators and volunteers.
Yachting NSW were ecstatic to have so many of their nominations named as finalists, especially in an Olympic Year, where not only athletes have the opportunity to achieve extraordinary results, but officials and administrators alike.
Yachting was well represented, being named as finalists in seven categories:
Jim Orrell (NSW Volunteer Award)
John Hurley (NSW Administrator of the Year)
OAMPS Sydney International Regatta (Event of the Year)
Brett Beyer (NSW Master Athlete of the Year)
Gabrielle King (NSW Young Athlete of the Year)
Victor Kovalenko (NSW Coach of the Year)
Nathan Wilmot OAM and Malcolm Page OAM (NSW Team of the Year)
Squaring off against champion athletes, Nathan and Malcolm took out the award for the Team of the Year for the second year in a row, while Coach Victor Kovalenko won Coach of the Year.
In his acceptance speech MC Peter Wilkins asked Victor what he looks for in an athlete, to which Victor replied with the humorous tort 'I look for a sparkle in the athletes eyes' which brought the house down and was only topped when Nathan and Malcolm accepted their award, replying to Peter Wilkins question as to what a pre race 'pep talk' from Victor involved. Malcolm replied very quickly that 'Victor often asked if they had their eye drops to make their eyes sparkle.'
Gabrielle King, although well deserving, was edged out by dual international Cricket/Football player Ellyse Perry. Adrian Steer CEO Yachting NSW said; 'it is a testament to the calibre of finalists, to win a category such as Young Athlete of the Year, representing Australia in two national teams, something previously unheard of.' Adrian went on to say that 'although all of Yachting's finalists were not winners on the evening, it was fantastic to see how strong the sport is by having so many finalists, nearly one in each category. Of course Yachting NSW would like to have won the award for Event of the Year of which the 2008 OAMPS Sydney International Regatta was in the running for, but it just gives us the opportunity to apply again after a bigger and better year next year'.
Yachting NSW Race Officer Committee member and Middle Harbour Yacht Club stalwart, John Hurley, was unlucky to be beaten in the Administrator of the Year category. Although well known to all, John was unrecognizable in his black tie dress, as no one had previously seen him out of his on race officer attire.
Congratulations to all those nominated as finalists and especially to those who won their respective award, your efforts have certainly be recognised by the sporting fraternity.
We would like to also extend our congratulations to Debbie Kemp and her team at NSW Sports Federation for a fantastic and enjoyable evening. Well done! We look forward to next year.
by Yachting NSW
|
|
Sailing
