Image L-R Darren Bird (Coach of the Year), Harper Nelmes (Athlete of the Year), Addyson Kirby (Indigenous Athlete of the Year), Molly Smith (Para-Athlete of the Year), Brett O’Farrell (CEO)
The Hunter Academy of Sport (HAS) hosted its prestigious Viatek annual awards evening on Wednesday, 22nd October, at McDonald Jones Stadium, recognising outstanding achievements across a wide range of sports and disciplines. Athletes, coaches and volunteers were celebrated for their hard work, dedication and success throughout the year.
The pinnacle of the evening was the Athlete of the Year Awards, with Harper Nelmes from the Mountain Bike GE program taking home the title of Athlete of the Year for his outstanding performances. Molly Smith was named Para Athlete of the Year for her achievements in Goal Ball, while Addyson Kirby from the Basketball program was awarded the UAA Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander Athlete of the Year.
In addition to these athletes, key contributors to the Academy were honoured. Zara Campbell (Triathlon) was awarded the Athlete Leadership award for her leadership on and off the course. Darren Bird (Strength and Conditioning and Aussie Rules Football) received the Greater Bank Coach Leadership Award, recognising his significant impact in coaching and mentoring young athletes. Kirstie Fuller (Netball) was named Paul Trisley Administrator of the Year, while Chris Halpin (Softball) received the Greater Bank Volunteer Manager of the Year award for her dedicated service to the sport.
Full List of Award Winners:
- Athlete of the Year: Harper Nelmes (Mountain Bike GE)
- Para Athlete of the Year: Molly Smith (Goal Ball)
- UAA Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander Athlete Award: Addyson Kirby (Basketball)
- Athlete Leadership Award: Zara Campbell (Triathlon)
- Greater Bank Coach Leadership Award: Darren Bird (Strength and Conditioning and Aussie Rules Football)
- Paul Trisley Administrator of the Year: Kirstie Fuller (Netball)
- Greater Bank Volunteer Manager of the Year: Chris Halpin (Softball)
Sport Awards:
- Aussie Rules: Zac West (Athlete of the Year), Marli Brunkhorst (Rising Star)
- Basketball: Oscar Hurley and Addyson Kirby (Athletes of the Year), Mackinley Griffin and Ameka Melmeth (Rising Stars)
- Cycling: Hayley Dell (Athlete of the Year), Cain Platt (Rising Stars)
- Future Stars: Jack Smith (Athlete of the Year)
- Golf: Harry Leggat (Athlete of the Year), Cooper Ridgeway (Rising Star)
- High Performance: Santiago Rubio (Rising Star)
- UAA Hockey: Toby Allan and Ella Craven-sands, Hamish Anson-Smith and Amy Fry (Rising Star)
- UAA and Santos Indigenous Program: Dominic Zanardi (Rising Star)
- Mountain Bike GE: Harper Nelmes (Athlete of the Year), Taj Thornton and Finn Burginn (Rising Star)
- Mountain Bike XCO: Lincoln Johns (Athlete of the Year)
- Greater Bank Netball: Jade Stringer (Athlete of the Year), Eve Power (Rising Stars)
- Greater Bank Netball Umpires: Taia Shedden (Athlete of the Year), Tanisha Twitchin (Rising Star)
- Para Sports: Molly Smith (Athlete of the Year)
- Sailing: Hugh Howard (Athlete of the Year), Sophie Gladman (Rising Stars)
- Softball: Dante Coxon and Oliver Slee (Athlete of the Year), Chloe Farrar (Rising Stars)
- Surf Life Saving: Bronte Bowker (Rising Star)
- Triathlon: Zara Campbell (Athlete of the Year), Audrey Russell (Rising Star)
- Tennis: Lleythan Jenkinson (Rising Star)
- Volleyball: Jack Lannigan and Gemma Weeks (Athlete of the Year), Jadrian Mantilla and Uyanga Gankhuyag (Rising Star)
- Tennis: Jack Smith (Athlete of the Year)
Congratulations to all the winners, and a special thank you to the coaches, volunteers, and families who continue to support and inspire these talented young athletes. The Hunter Academy of Sport is proud to nurture and develop the region’s next generation of sporting stars.
A big thankyou to our event sponsor Viatek, and to our Platinum Partners Office of Sport, Your local club, Santos Hunter Gas Pipeline, UAA, Greater Bank, The University of Newcastle, Oddball Marketing, NBN Television, SCA, 2NURFM & Regional Academies of Sport.
