World Cup hockey hero wins regional sport award

Hockey stalwart Keith Ellis has claimed the top senior prize at this year’s New England Sports Awards last week.

Keith was presented with the 2AD New England Trophies Senior Sports Star Award, after playing in the Australian team that triumphed at this year’s Over 75 men’s World Cup.

 A relative latecomer to national representative duties, Keith made his Australian team debut at the age of 35 but has since represented his country around 180 times.

“It’s thought there is no other athlete from Armidale that has represented his country as many times as Keith,” Armidale Regional Sports Council representative Councillor Brad Widders said.

His successes this year also included winning a national title with the NSW Over 75 men’s team.

Between his many representative duties, Keith still lines up for his beloved SerVies team in the third grade.

The 2018 Sports Award winners and finalists were celebrated at an awards ceremony at the Armidale City Bowling Club on 15 November.

Six-year-old golfer Isaac Riches received the FM 100.3 New England Toyota Junior Sports Star of the Year award.

Isaac placed among the frontrunners at this year’s world junior titles, despite being one of the youngest competitors.

“His final standing would suggest he is currently the best six-year-old golfer in the world,” Cr Widders said.

Isaac finished with a score of three under par at the end of the three-round tournament. He qualified for the worlds by placing fifth at the national championships, where he was the youngest entrant.

Lawn bowls duo Fred Cameron and Kyle Goodwin earned the Armidale Regional Sports Council best Overall Senior team Award for 2018 by winning the State President’s Lawn Bowls Pairs Title.

The Overall Junior Team title for 2018 went to the Hockey New England Under 18 Boys Indoor Hockey squad, which claimed the Division 1 State Championship. The side included Armidale region players Jake and Cody McCann, Sterling George, Darby Chalmers, Sam Wright and Nathan Czinner, and was coached by Paul Eichorn.

The night’s honours included Contribution to Sport awards, presented to district netball stalwart Sophie Hanson, rugby league official Jenny McFayden, Gaye Sheenan for 13 years’ service to Special Olympics and John Schuman for a total of more than 36 years’ service to gymnastics, golf, hockey and snooker.

Other awards:

JUNIOR TEAMS

Armidale Regional Sports Council Best Local Team Achievement Award TAS No1 Netball Team - ADNA Division 2 undefeated premier

Armidale Regional Sports Council best Regional Team Achievement Award Duval High School Under 14 Futsal Soccer Squad - Regional champion

Armidale Regional Sports Council Best State Team Achievement Award Ben Venue Girls Hockey PSSA Squad - Joint State Champion

SENIOR TEAMS

Armidale Regional Sports Council Best Local Team Achievement Award City Men’s First Grade Hockey Squad - HNE Premier

Armidale Regional Sports Council Best Regional Team Achievement Award Uralla Women’s League Tag Squad - Group 19 Rugby League Second Division Premier

Armidale Regional Sports Council Best State Team Achievement Award Hockey New England Over 45 Men’s Masters Squad - Division 2 State Champion

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL

FM 100.3 New England Toyota Best Local Junior Achievement Billy Youman (scored 52 points in one game of rugby league, including 17 out of 18 goals)

FM 100.3 New England Toyota Best Regional Junior Achievement Jackson Gwynne (selected in Under 19 NSW Country cricket squad and Central North Open squad for NSW Country titles)

FM 100.3 New England Toyota Junior Sports Stars Finalists Nathan Czinner (Hockey) Megan Frost (Futsal Soccer) William Wood (Horse Sports) Hayley Whitehill (Dancing) Harrison Miller (Archery) Isaac Riches (Golf) Michael Harris (Mountain Biking) Braydon Cameron  (Cricket) Josh Dawson (Shooting) Olivia Joyce (Netball) Hayley Lennon (Hockey)

SENIOR INDIVIDUAL

2AD New England Trophies Best Local Senior Achievement Kyle Goodwin (Lawn Bowls - won all four majors at Walcha Bowling Club - singles, pairs, triples and fours. The first a player has won all four titles at the club in one season)

2AD New England Trophies Best Regional Senior Achievement David Munday (won his division in Grafton to Inverell Cycling Classic)

2AD New England Trophies Senior Sports Star Finalists Brian Lockyer (Lawn Bowls) David Eldridge (Brazilian Jui Jutsu) Holly Harris  (Mountain Biking) David Harris (Mountain Biking) Sue Ellen Simpson (Shooting) Roberta Thompson (Athletics and Rowing) Cyndy Slade (Hockey) Jay Stone (Athletics) Keith Ellis (Hockey)

AWARD SPONSORS

Newcastle Permanent Armidale Regional Sports Council 2AD FM 100.3 New England Trophies New England Toyota REX

Published on 20 Nov 2018