The finalists for the inaugural 2016 CBR Sport Awards have been announced. The winners in each category will be announced at a ceremony on 9 December at the National Arboretum.
The Canberra Milk Athlete of the Year – Men’s Sport, Capital Chemist Athlete of the Year - Women’s Sport and Para Sport as well as the Konica Minolta Team of the Year categories were judged on the best national and international performances and the significance of their achievements when compared with others.
The Outstanding Service to Sport Award acknowledges the vital role of coaches, officials, administrators and volunteers at both elite and community sport in paid and unpaid capacities.
The introduction of the People’s Sporting Champion saw significant community involvement with the Canberra community voting for their favourite sporting star during the 2016 calendar year. Voting results saw the top 10 athletes hold more than 50% of the total votes.
I will also have the honour of announcing the three Minister for Sport and Recreation Awards during the ceremony. They are the:
· Minister for Sport and Recreation’s Award for Inclusion
· Minister for Sport and Recreation’s Award for Innovation
· Minister for Sport and Recreation’s Award for Event Excellence
I would like to acknowledge what a challenging task it was the CBR Sport Awards Selection Committee, Chaired by Rob de Castella. Mr de Castella noted how fortunate we are to have such high calibre sports people representing this city.
“The Selection Committee had some tough decisions to make with many impressive applications received,” Mr de Castella said. “The quality of the nominations was exceedingly high and the number of sports represented was very diverse.”
The following category finalists (in no particular order) will be invited to the National Arboretum to attend the inaugural CBR Sport Awards Night on Friday 9 December. Tickets are available for purchase through the CBR Sport Awards website.
Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2016 inductees to the ActewAGL ACT Sport Hall of Fame.
Canberra Milk Athlete of the Year – Men’s Sport
· Tennis Nick Kyrgios
· Basketball Patty Mills
· Cycling Mathew Hayman
· Rugby League Josh Papalii
Capital Chemist Athlete of the Year – Women’s Sport
· Cycling - Track/Road Sue Powell
· Rowing Kim Brennan
· Cycling - Road Chloe Hosking
· Cycling – BMX Caroline Buchanan
Athlete of the Year – Para Sport
· Swimming Madeleine Scott
· Cycling - Track/Road Sue Powell
· Track & Field - Shot Put Louise Ellery
Konica Minolta Team of the Year
· Volleyball Canberra Heat - Men’s Team
· Football Canberra Olympic FC - NPL Team
· Rugby League Canberra Raiders – NRL Team
· Orienteering Canberra Cockatoos – Men’s Senior Team
Outstanding Service to Sport
· Athletics Steve Dodt
· Football Sal Giovinazzo
· Tennis Carolyn Paris
· Archery Kevin Watt
People’s Sporting Champion
In no particular order the top ten People’s Sporting Champions are:
· Ice Hockey James ‘Jimmy’ Byers
· Rugby League Jordan Rapana
· Cricket Nathan Lyon
· Rowing Kim Brennan
· Rugby League Josh Hodgson
· Rugby Union Christian Lealiifano
· Mountain Biking Rebecca Henderson
· Rugby League Jarrod Croker
· Figure Skating Tanisha Jory
· Rugby League Blake Austin
Minister for Sport and Recreation – Awards
Minister for Sport and Recreation’s Award for Inclusion
· Little Athletics ACT
· Woden Valley Gymnastics
· Capital Football Connect
· Touch Football ACT
Minister for Sport and Recreation’s Award for Innovation
· Tennis ACT
· Ginninderra Athletics Club
· Touch Football ACT
· CBR Brave
Minister for Sport and Recreation’s Award for Event Excellence
· Canberra Cavalry
· Tennis ACT
· Canberra Off - Road Cyclists
· Ginninderra Rats Basketball Club
