January
The Junior Monthly Award Winner for January is Kiara Rochaix for Football.
Kiara spent the January school holidays touring the UK with the Australian School Girls Football Team. The team played the national teams of England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland as well as some youth development teams. This was Kiara’s second year in the national team which is an extraordinary achievement considering she is only now in Year 12.
The Senior Monthly Award Winner for January is Tirian McManus for Cycling.
In early January Tirian flew out to Germany to compete in the Berlin 6 Day series. It is rare to get an invitation to this elite event though Tirian and his team mate Joshua Harrison received an invitation through the Australian Institute of Sport as a result of their outstanding results at the Oceania and National Track Championships held in December. Tirian and Joshua did Australia proud winning some of the stages over the six day event in front of crowds of up to 30 000 people.
Tirian McManus with his team mate Joshua Harrison.
February
The Junior Monthly Award Winner for February is Maddie Barton for Hockey.
In February, Maddie was selected in the NSW U15 Hockey Squad. She played in one of the two NSW teams at the Australian U15 National Championships in April.
The duel senior Monthly Award Winners for February are Richard Volebreght for Cycling and Arabella McKenzie for Rugby Sevens.
On a misty, damp day in February, over 449 riders descended on Wingello State Forest for the Willo Enduro which is held in memory of late Highlander James Williamson. The Willo Enduro is the first of seven events to make up the Australian Marathon Series. Richard placed first in the 75km Masters event and won by a scorching seven minutes.
Duel winner Arabella McKenzie was named in the Australian Women’s Under 18 Rugby 7s squad. She honed her skills as playing tournaments throughout the state with the Vixens.
March
The dual Junior Monthly Award Winners for March are Riley King and Maizy Evans for Mountain Biking
Both Riley and Maizy attended the National Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships in March. Riley won both the U17 Cross Country Short Course and U17 Olympic Cross Country events.
His teammate Maizy, at just 12 years of age, competed in both the U15 Cross Country Short Course and the U15 Olympic event against girls up to 3 years older than her. She had to compete above her age level as there are no events for her age category so it’s a testament to her skill and fitness that she won both events and was awarded U15 Australian National Champion.
The Senior Monthly Award Winner for March is Meaghan Stanton for Mountain Bike Riding.
In March, Meaghan travelled to Canungra in Queensland to compete in the National Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships. She was crowned National Champion in the Olympic Cross Country event in the Masters 3 (40-44 years) women’s race also beating each competitor in the Masters 2 (35-39), the Masters 4 (45-49) and the Masters 5 (50-55) events.
April
The Junior Monthly Award Winner for April is Brielle Powell for Equestrian.
During April, Brielle had a very successful campaign at the Royal Easter Show winning three places in the Australian Stockhorse classes and was awarded the RM Williams trophy for most versatile Stock horse. She received Reserve Champion in the ridden welsh pony and, riding as a member of the Zone 10 Pony Club team, won a first place in the pairs and was awarded Supreme Champion U17 and Champion Rider 13 – Under 15 years.
The Senior Monthly Award Winner for April is Eligh Morris for Mountain Running.
In April, at only 17 years of age, Eligh placed second at the Australian Mountain Running Championships in the Junior Men’s division catering for men 16 to 20 years of age. This excellent result qualified him to compete at the World Mountain Running Championships in Italy last July.
Eligh Morris holding the flag for the Australian contingent in Italy.
May
The Junior Monthly Award Winner for May is Lauren Balla for Water Polo.
As a result of a huge summer season of water polo which saw Lauren play in both the local competition and for Cronulla, she was selected in the NSW U16 Water Polo Blues team which competed at the Sydney International Youth Festival. During the season, Lauren also impressed selectors at the NSW Club Championships as a member of the Cronulla U18 team which scored a bronze medal and the U16 team which placed fifth. At the Australian Club Championships Lauren played in the U18 team which won gold.
The Senior Monthly Award Winner for May is Henry Yuille for Rugby.
During May, Henry was selected in the NSW Country Cockatoos Rugby Union squad based on his performance at the Country Championships held in Port Macquarie in April
June
The Junior Monthly Award Winner for June is Dominic O’Shannessy for Cricket.
In June, Dominic was named in the Cricket Australia Rookie Program for the 2017/18 season. This came off the back of a strong performance at the NSW Under 16 Challenge and selection in the Cricket NSW U17 ACT/NSW Country Academy.
The Senior Monthly Award Winner for June is Darcy Cotton for Rugby Union.
As there was no U18 competition in the Illawarra last year, Darcy a former Bowral Blacks player needed to find a new club. Darcy chose the Penrith Emus and spent 8 – 12 hours each week travelling from his home in Bundanoon to train and play. In June, Darcy was selected in a squad of 50 players from 20 teams as the run on Fullback for the U18 City team. As a result of his performance over three games, Darcy was selected as run on fullback for the NSW U18 Rugby Union Team.
July
The Junior Monthly Award Winner for July is Bella Napthali for Vaulting
In July, Bella travelled to Germany to compete in the 10th Annual CVICHI Vaulting competition. After only two training sessions with her horse, Bella was fourth after the compulsory round. Following a brilliant freestyle round, Bella was awarded the gold medal in the Children’s 1st Star event.
The Senior Monthly Award Winner for July is Kevin Stafford for Lawn Bowls.
In July, Kevin was awarded Runner Up in the Zone 5 Lawn Bowls Association’s Presidents Reserves Singles. Zone 5 is enormous and stretches from Taralga to the Blue Mountains and Kevin spent five days competing over three weekends to secure his title.
August
The Junior Monthly Award Winner for August is Alliyah King-DeWhitt for Athletics.
In August, Alliyah was selected to compete in the long jump, 80 metre hurdles and the 100 and 200 metre sprints at the NSW State High School Athletics Championships. This selection came after she won Champion 12 year girl at the Moss Vale High School Athletics Carnival, then 12 year girl championship at the Zone championships and also the 12 year girl championship at the Regional level.
The Senior Monthly Award Winner for August is Jed Schofield for Hockey.
In August, Jed represented the NSW Country hockey team playing at the Australian Championships in Townsville. Jed injured his hand in the first game and missed a few games but, after being assured it wasn’t broken, played the remainder of the tournament. As a result of his amazing performance in these few games, Jed was announced in the Australian Country Hockey team for a tour of Singapore and Malaysia in April 2018. As an aside, his hand was in fact broken.
September
The Junior Monthly Award Winner for September is Sophie Baldwin for Equestrian.
Sophie spent quality time with her horse, Mirrabel Patterson, and her support crew travelling to Toowoomba in late September to represent New South Wales at the Australian Interschool Championships. Sophie won all three show jumping rounds and was awarded Champion Junior Rider for the 80cm competition. As a result of her winning three out of three rounds and not losing even one point, she was the highest point scorer of all the primary and secondary show jumping competitors and was awarded the perpetual Finch Farms Show Jumping Trophy. Also in September, Sophie was also a member of Gib Gate’s Junior 4 x100m relay team that placed 4th at the NSW PSSA Athletics Championships.
The Senior Monthly Award Winner for September is Daniel Rumsey for Swimming.
In September, Danny competed in the Australian Down Syndrome National Swimming Championships held in Geelong. He won five gold and one silver medal from eight events, and set two Australian, one Regional and two World records. This qualified him for selection in the team going to Canada next year for the 9th Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships. However, he has decided that it is time to hang up his goggles and retire from competition swimming. Danny has been swimming competitively for sixteen years.
October
The Junior Monthly Award Winner for October is Elizabeth Taylor for Equestrian.
At the NSW Show Horse Council Horse of the Year event in October, Elizabeth won the Open Small Hunter Galloway, Child Show Hunter Galloway and was awarded Junior Rider Under 12 years. These amazing results qualified her for the All States Show Horse Council in Melbourne.
The Senior Monthly Award Winner for October is Charlie Dummer for Cricket.
In October, Charlie was selected to play at the National Championships in Tasmania as a member of the ACT/NSW U19 cricket team.
November
The Junior Monthly Award Winner for November is Ciara (Kira) Longworth for Athletics.
To say that Ciara had a successful couple of days at the November Zone Little Athletics Carnival would be an understatement. She came 1st in the U17 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 3000m. Ciara broke the 200m Zone record and qualified for the Regional Carnival.
The Senior Monthly Award Winner for November is Grahame Benson for Archery.
In November, Grahame achieved outstanding success at the Eurobodalla Zone Field Event. The competition involved shooting three dimensional targets over varying distances and Grahame competed in and won the Men’s A Grade Freestyle Unlimited.
December
The Junior Monthly Award Winner for December is Lucy Nash for Hockey.
Lucy Nash, had an incredible end to an exceptional year of sport. The then Year 6 student competed at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide as part of the NSW PSSA (Primary School Sports Association) Hockey Team. The event was extremely successful for Lucy as the NSW hockey team came home with a silver medal and she was awarded Player of the Match for the first game of the tournament and voted by her coach as the most consistent player of the carnival. Also during December Lucy was awarded the Wingecarribee Sports Girl of the Year for her representation in, not only hockey, but also Athletics, Cross Country and Soccer. She was also awarded a prestigious South Coast Sporting Blue.
The Senior Monthly Award Winner for December is Melissa Perrine for Downhill Ski-ing.
In December, Melissa competed at the World Para Alpine Ski-ing World Cup in Austria and claimed first in the women’s slalom visually impaired event. Melissa has qualified for the Winter Olympics in South Korea.
