Top job by sport volunteers

It was only fitting that as the sports committee celebrated its 21st year of sports awards in town, they invited a local star who played the game of his career last year as guest speaker.

Davidson - who played 49 Super Rugby matches spanning three franchises including the Western Force, the NSW Waratahs and the Melbourne Rebels - last year was selected to captain the Combined NSW and Queensland Country side to face the British-Irish Lions during their Australian tour in June.

A moment that couldn’t have been more perfectly timed when the 30-year-old was considering retirement.

Davidson is son of Jamie and Liz Davidson of Tubbul, a former Young Public School student and had been playing rugby union since he was 12.

On Friday night, 170 guests – around 60 more than previous years - packed the Young Services Club auditorium for the annual awards.

Guests listened as Davidson took to the microphone, prior to the awards presentation, to speak of his playing days and insight into a sport he loves so much.

His speech ended with a little Q and A time, at which point one youngster called out to ask when he was returning to play for the Yabbies now that he was retired.

To the crowd’s delight - followed by applause - Davidson replied “I’m actually hoping to come back to play a few home games this year”.

“I’m looking forward to coming home now that things have settled down,” he said.

Davidson was given the honour of presenting the town’s most anticipated awards, beginning with the Junior Sportsperson of the Year.

Nominees included Lucy Hayes for swimming, Tahlia Wells (equestrian), Jordan Douglass (athletics), Coby Elliott (quarter midget racing), Malcolm Ward (soccer), Darcy Sibley (tent pegging), Mili Felix-Vonarx (tennis), Zoey Stollery (athletics), James Schiller (rugby league), Matt Cox (tennis) and B Raigon Forde (refereeing and rugby league).

Twelve-year-old Jacob Lucas - a local, regional, state and national rep in numerous sports – was the favourite to secure this title.

He has represented Young Public School at national level, claiming gold, silver and bronze medals, over the past three years in cross country.

He travelled to Tasmania for the championships in his final year of primary school and was named team captain and official flag bearer for NSW.

He also plays representative cricket at school, town and zone competitions.

Lucas was the captain of the school’s Riverina rugby league and the Cherrypickers Under 12s teams who were both undefeated last year.

He was also presented the Premiers Sporting Challenge School Medallion at the completion of his primary schooling.

The prestigious Senior Sportsperson of the Year award went to 18-year-old golfer Joel Shields, ahead of nominees Matt Schiller (clay target shooting), Kate Schiller (clay target shooting), Des Clarke (tent pegging), Kade Foreman (rugby league), Pat Schiller (rugby league), Kevin Goodman (cycling), Eden Stoddard (soccer), Doug Leabeater (croquet), Luke Branighan (rugby league) and Andrew Miller (golf).

Shields was selected to represent Australia at the 2013 Youth Olympics in Sydney, competing against players from New Zealand, England, China, Japan, Korea and Argentina.

He finished in the top 20.

He also finished 23rd in the Srixon International.

Shields had the opportunity to travel to England and the USA last year to further his golf career.

He is a member of the NSW state development squad and the Riverina Boys Golf Squad.

Rick Oliver was named Veterans Sportperson of the Year for winning the first Royal Melbourne Golf Club Senior Championships last January, where only the best 115 players in the country were chosen.

He has competed at national and international level, representing Australia in tournaments in New Zealand, Bangkok and Malaysia.

Oliver is currently ranked 15th in Australia in seniors golf.

Riding for the Disabled (RDA) participant Zoyie-Lee Newham was very surprised to receive her Special Needs Sportsperson for 2013 award.

The teenager has competed in the NSW RDA Carriage Driving Competition and placed first in the NSW RDA Precision Cone Driving course in the preliminary division.

Nominees for this award included Xavier Bonsembiante (athletics) and Matthew Spackman (athletics).

In a loud cheer from the front seats on the night, Young Public School’s Classic Shield Team jumped to their feet to collect their Team of the Year award.

The school took home the NSW Classic Shield in the NSW Schools State Rugby League Knockout competition for the first time in 28 years.

Team nominees included Young Bluetongues Touch Football team, Young Cherryatrics, Young High School Year 9-10 and Year 7-8 Touch teams, Under 7s and Under 11s Young Yabbies, Young Bowling Club Pairs team, Hennessy Catholic College Year 7-8 Rugby Union team, Young High School Girls Tennis team, Under 10s and Under 12s Junior Rugby League teams, Young Public School Cricket team, and Hannah Keevil and Jesse Cummins from Robertson’s Gymnastics.

Steve Connelly was awarded the 2013 Service to Sport award for his tireless involvement in junior cricket.

Connelly has been secretary for Young Junior Cricket for five years and has been coaching for seven.

He is the vice president, assistant secretary and coaching coordinator for the Lachlan Cricket Council.

He is also the web coordinator for the Young and Lachlan junior clubs, is the junior delegate for the Western Zone and has completed Level 2 coaching, enabling him to coach up to the state’s Under 19s.

Greg Maxwell - who has been involved in harness racing on an owner, breeder, trainer, driver and club level spanning 30 years - was awarded the 2013 Continuing Service to Sport.

He has been involved in the administration process of harness racing at local and state levels, and was instrumental in Young becoming a TAB club, securing an agreement with Sky Channel to televise racing in 1997.

Maxwell has also been volunteer treasurer for 25 years and has overseen many major upgrades to the local track, stables and grandstand at the Young Showground.