Young's 2019 Sports Advisory Committee awards | Photos

Tori had a massive 12 months last year including claiming champion rider for 17 to 21 years at Battle of the Borders.

It resulted in automatic qualification into this year's Grand Nationals which have now been cancelled due to COVID-19.

Tori travelled every weekend in show season and competed at Sydney Royal Easter Show, Canberra Royal Show, agriculture shows and more.

The Sportsperson of the Year win was an emotional one for Tori whose horse Tilly sadly died this year.

Tilly, who competed as Daisy Patch Devine, partnered Tori including at Battle of the Borders, which Tori says was the highlight of her achievements in 2019.

Junior Sportsperson of the Year for 2019 has been awarded to promising swimmer Thomas Grainger.

Thomas participated in a range of championships including at state, country and regional level.

He finished fourth in the 50m backstroke at the Sydney Speedo Sprints.

One of his top achievements was breaking the long standing Young Swimming Club nine years 50m backstroke swimming record. The record had been standing since the 1980s. He also set new records at the Southern Inland Swimming Championships and school carnivals.

His personal bests include:

Thomas thanked his coaches throughout 2019 Kylie Rutter and Deanna McEvoy.

Long jumper George Fuller has taken out the Intermediate Sportsperson of the Year award.

George finished with a silver medal in the boys' under 16s long jump at the 2019 Australian All School Championships held in December at Perth.

He launched himself a whopping 6.69m which was only six centimetres short from the gold medal.

George also finished first for his age at country championships, competed at junior state championships and qualified for this year's nationals which were cancelled due to the coronavirus.

Veteran Sportsperson of the Year went to lawn bowler Harold Anderson.

Harold won the the Young Bowling Club 2019 men's major singles championship.

He defeated this year's champion Damien Miller.

Harold said it was a thrill to win again at 83 years of age.

"I've been bowling for about 50 years. I started bowling at Goulburn in 1971. I won everything you could win their at club level and district level," he said.

"I've had a good go at it, but I didn't think I could win again at 83 years of age, but I did."

Young Pony Club rider Ashleigh Bennett has taken out the International Sportperson of the Year award.

Ashleigh represented Australia at the Pony Club Nationals Showriding Tri Nations Cup last October at the Equestrian Centre in Sydney.

The Tri Nations Cup pits together a team of four riders from Australia, China and France, and is a showcase event at the bi-annual Pony Club Nationals.

Ashleigh's teammates were from Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

"You put in your nomination and they go through a selection process. You have to be of a certain standard. The more competitions you enter the more likely you are," Ashleigh said.

"It was a great experience."

The All-Rounder award this year couldn't be split between sisters Sienna and Georgia Wheeler. The multi-talented sports stars excelled in the previous 12 months across a range of sports particularly swimming, running and gymnastics.

Sienna and Georgia, who are students at Murringo Public School, competed at Regional Small Schools Championships for swimming, cross country and athletics events. Sienna was part of the Murringo relay team that competed at state and ran third. Both girls also were part of Robertson's Gymnastics teams which qualified for NSW Championships in November 2019.

Kelly Meddings and Jason Hall have been recognised with the Service to Sport award for 2019.

Kelly and Jason have both been highly involved in junior and senior cricket in Young and surrounds for a number of years. Both helped run junior and senior competitions for five years up until the 2019/2020 season. During that time they helped coordinate Master Blasters on Mondays, all abilities cricket, Saturday mornings for juniors and Saturday afternoons for seniors.

Two new synthetic pitches were put in at Sawpit Gully and Burrangong Oval, new cricket nets erected at Cranfield, and Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh visited Young during their time involved.

Kelly was involved in junior and senior cricket locally for about 10 years, however now works for Cricket NSW, while Jason continued to take the new ball in the town's first grade competition last season.

"Before last season we'd been involved five years as the junior and senior committee. It wasn't just us, we had a lot of good people around us who really helped us as well," Jason said.

Cheryl Matthews has taken out the Continuing Service to Sport award for her more than 30 years involvement with Young Pony Club and 10 years with Riding For Disabled.

Cheryl's association with pony club started as a rider 60 years ago.

She's been an instructor for 50 years and has helped with the development of a huge amount of local riders since moving to Young 31 years ago. Since her arrival in Young, Cheryl has helped organise the annual Young Pony Club Camp as part of the coordinating committee.

In 2010 she joined Young Riding for Disabled.

"When I finished teaching it was always something I wanted to do and I have done it since. I've tried to be involved in everything including catering because I was a home economics teacher. I put that to good use in retirement," Cheryl said.

"I love working with the children, and the actual aspects of teaching.

"I've been senior coach [of Young Pony Club] for probably 15 years. It's been fairly full on."

Cheryl said the award was a complete surprise.

"It's lovely and totally unexpected."

Young North Public School's aerobics team has defended their crown as the winner of the 2019 Team of the Year.

The team qualified for nationals after competing at state and preliminary events.

Coach Jess Temoananui said the girls trained every lunch time at school, and one afternoon each week after school.

"They train in flexibility, agility, strength, fitness and put it all together in a routine. They had to perform at a preliminary event, then they qualified for state and they won at state and qualified for nationals," Jess said.

"They work hard, they deserve this. I'm really proud of them."

The team consists of Jorjah Griffiths, Sophie Schulz, Gracie Moles, Ella Glassett, Mia Glassett, Audrey Daniels, Rasha Awik, Phoebe Fisher and Mahliyah Temoananui-Paora.

Juniors:

Intermediates:

Seniors:

Teams:

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