Annual Awards 2022

2021 Frank Smith Memorial Sportsperson of the Year

Lexi Phillips - Cycling

The major award, the Frank Smith Memorial Trophy for Sportsperson of 2022 was won by outstanding young cyclist Lexi Phillips.

In the very competitive sport of cycling, Lexie Phillips continued to excel in 2022, successfully competing in major events across NSW.

Lexie competed in the 2022 Australian Cycling Masters and Junior Road National Championships at Wollongong. To reach this stage Lexie had achieved a lot of success at country and NSW level riding for the Wagga Cycling Club at country and NSW titles. She is part of the Southern NSW Sports Academy Program.

Winning three gold medals in events at both Tamworth and Sydney highlights her ability. After collecting the Gold Medal in the Sprint and Elimination races in Tamworth Lexie won her third straight Gold Medal at the NSW Keirin Championships held at the Tempe Velodrome in Sydney.

Lexie continues to have success at a very high level this year as well and finished with a bronze medal in the Australian National Championships in the Sprint event to highlight her potential.

2022 Junior Sportsperson

Kristian Miller - Athletics and Swimming

Kristian Miller represented NSW at National Titles in both swimming and athletics in multi-class events in 2022.

In athletics, Kristian represented Cootamundra High School and Riverina at both the Combined High Schools and NSW All Schools Athletics Carnival held in Sydney.

The talented athlete qualified for the All Schools carnival where he competed in five events in the 12-15 years multi class group and won two gold and three silver medals, ranking him as one of the most successful athletes from Cootamundra High School in their long and distinguished sports history.

In December Kristian travelled to Adelaide for the National Schools Carnival and competed in both track and field events getting podium finishes.

In swimming, Kristian swims for the Cootamundra Swimming and Life Saving Club and represents his school where he has achieved excellent results, qualifying for seven events at the National Championships in the Australian Multi Class Swimming Meet in Adelaide.

These achievements are testament to Kristian’s ability and training.

Kristian with his medals at the NSW All Schools Athletics carnival in Sydney

2022 Rising Star Award

Josh Harris - Rugby League, swimming and athletics

Playing for the Cootamundra Junior Rugby League Club under 14’s Josh has excelled in all aspects of the game.

He scored 238 points for the Bulldogs in their undefeated season in Group 9 Northern, won the Rick Keast Medal for best on ground in the grand final and was a consistent performer each week.

He represented Group 9 Northern, was selected in the Canberra Raiders Academy squad and was contracted to train with the Raider’s under 17’s Harold Matthews squad at age 14.

In swimming, Josh trains with the Performance Swim Squad as a member of the Cootamundra Swimming and Lifesaving club.
At the NSW State Age Championships Josh had top 10 finishes in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke.

He qualified for the NSW Country Championships, the NSW Junior State Age Championships and Nationals for 2023 from his efforts in the pool in 2022.

In athletics Josh has represented his school in the Canberra Goulburn Diocese cross country and was the Sacred Heart School athletes and Canberra Goulburn Diocese athletics age champion.

A true all-rounder, Josh now attends St. Gregory’s College in Sydney and has a bright future ahead of him.

2022 Sporting team of the Year

Cootamundra Swimming and Life Saving Club

As seen by the number of individual awards given to young swimmers it is no surprise that the Swimming Club has won the Team of the Year for 2022.

A core of swimmers have trained hard under club coach Adam Gammon and reaped the rewards with a number of impressive results during 2022 (and 2023).

The impressive form of these elite swimmers has transferred through the whole club and young swimmers are regularly training and swimming at local district carnivals with successful outcomes.

The management of the local pool by the L&R Group has also contributed significantly to the swimming club and having an indoor pool for training in winter is a real bonus.

Special mention must go to Adam Gammon, a junior swimming star and Sportsperson of the Year recipient on two occasions.

Adam is the coach of the Club and his involvement has seen the swimmers improve greatly reaching National and State qualifying times.

They all train hard during the year and Adam’s past experiences and swimming knowledge is a great asset for the local club. The group of swimmers have excelled in 2022.

Cootamundra Swimming and Lifesaving Club

2022 Junior Team of the Year

Cootamundra Bears Junior Rugby Union Club

After a very successful season the Cootamundra Bears contested four games in the Southern Inland Junior Rugby Union grand final day held at Grenfell.

The club had an outstanding day winning three premierships and finishing runners-up in one match.

In the U10 Touch 7’s competition, two Cootamundra contested the final with Coota Red winning 15-10 over Coota Black in a true local derby.

Later in the day both the under 10’s and under 12’s tackle sides won their games.

The under 10’s defeated Wagga Green 5-0 in a nail biter whilst the under 12’s had a strong win over the Wagga Crows 24-7, reflecting their skills and teamwork they developed during the season.

The under 16’s girls Touch 7s team went down narrowly 15-10 to Young White in a great game.

That is a top result for the Coota Bears rugby club and shows the strength of junior rugby in the town.

Congratulations to all players, coaches, committee and volunteers on a tremendous season in 2022.

The club continues to grow in player numbers in both boys and girls and a strong committee has seen the club gain success.

 

2022 Local Athlete

Josh Purtell - Soccer and cricket

Josh Purtell reached a huge milestone whilst turning out for the Cootamundra Strikers against Leeton United in June, playing his 200th game alongside team mate Brenton Forsyth, who also reached that milestone.

Josh has been a huge asset to the Strikers, coming through the junior ranks, into the Youth League where he played in a grand final and then into the senior ranks and has become a highly valued senior member of the club.

Josh is a leader amongst the playing squad and has had a brief stint at coaching at the top level. He has played almost every position in his football career from goal keeper to forward and competes to the highest level whilst in his Strikers colours.
In cricket Josh recently captained the Cootamundra Ex-Services Club Bulls to victory in the Delta Agribusiness Cup.

He has been a consistent performer with the bat for many seasons in both club and representative cricket for many seasons and his ability and attitude made him a logical choice to become a captain.

Josh also received the Sports Award for Cootamundra on Australia Day.

Other individual sportspeople receiving recognition

Halle Johnson, Sam Manwaring, Ashlee Peacey, Jake Winsor, Grace Derrick (all swimming)

Cash Fitzgerald (athletics)

Oscar Roberts (cricket and AFL)

Brock Holder (biathlon)

Sam Gash (rugby league)

 

Max Rudd Trophy – Service to Sport

Janette Harris – Junior Golf

Janette Harris has been a constant figure at the Cootamundra Golf Course conducting junior coaching programs for around two decades.

Many of the town’s successful golfers started their love of the sport through the efforts of Janette and Des Rowe (who has been previously recognised by the Foundation for his commitment to sport in the town).

Janette’s work has provided a pathway for young golfers to first of all gain the basic skills of the game, learn golf etiquette and enjoy playing the sport.

The best accolade for Janette’s work is that the children keep coming back!

Janette has a firm but friendly manner, gives encouragement to the players and ensures they understand their responsibilities whilst practising and playing on the golf course.

The golf club has benefitted from her involvement as many of these youngsters go on to become members of the golfing fraternity at the senior level and represent the club in pennants, championship and trophy events.

On Australia Day in 2020, Janette received a Certificate of Appreciation for her work with junior golf, recognising her role in Cootamundra’s sporting community.

2022 Sports Administrator Award

Tamara Fallon – Junior Soccer Club

As an administrator of one of Cootamundra’s most popular junior sports, Tamara Fallon has taken on many key roles in the club over the past seven years.

Currently she is the secretary, a huge role which she carries out with efficiency and reliability.

The changes in junior sport during this time have been huge and Tamara has ensured all aspects of club management have kept pace with these changes.

During her time she has covered roles such as secretary, treasurer, canteen supervisor, team manager and worker!

At a higher level, Tamara has been on the South West Slopes Junior Soccer committee for a number of years helping in the organising of the local competitions involving teams from Harden, Temora, Gundagai and Cootamundra.

Dealing with many people of all ages at a very popular junior sporting club can be challenging but Tamara’s helpful and positive nature is a real bonus to the club.

Tamara has received glowing endorsement from junior soccer past-president Jason Sloan and current president Justin Knewstub.
She received the president’s trophy from Justin last year for her tireless work with junior soccer.

Tamara’s commitment to her role in the club is unwavering and her work for the junior soccer club has ensured the sport of soccer continues to provide a wonderful option for Cootamundra’s boys and girls.