THE first monthly winners for the 2012Leader-Tynan Honda Sportstar of the Year awards have been chosen.
Leader readers are encouraged to nominate someone in the categories, including athletes with a disability, master, junior and senior and various team awards.
SENIORS
¦ Brooke and Stacey McManus represented different softball nations in Canberra. Brooke, 18, made her debut for New Zealand while sister Stacey, 22, played for Australia as the Heathcote siblings played against each other. Stacey finished with bragging rights with a 3-0 whitewash of victories.
¦ Scott Arnold, of Cronulla, celebrated his first professional golfing success after winning the Victorian Open. The former world No.1 amateur had to bide his time for a win since turning professional in mid-2009.
¦ Kaarle McCulloch, of Gymea Bay, won a gold and three silver medals at the national track cycling championships in Adelaide. McCulloch, of Gymea Bay, won the 500m women's sprint.
¦ Moises Henriques won man of the match honours in the inaugural Twenty20 Big Bash League final. The St George all-rounder opened for Sydney Sixers and scored 70 runs from just 41 balls to lead the Sixers to victory against Perth.
¦ Mitch Parkes won five gold medals at the recent 2012 Australian Pool Life Saving Championships in Adelaide including the open line throw event in 9.53 seconds. The Port Hacking Lifeguard Club member also won two silver medals and one bronze medal during the competition.
¦ Chris Allum won six individual and team events including his pet surf race event, and the 50 metre swim with fins. It was the 12th time he has represented NSW in a championship.
JUNIORS
¦ Sheridan Smith, 12, produced outstanding results at the recent NSW age championships. Smith won gold in the 200m butterfly, silver in the 200m individual medley, bronze in the 200m backstroke and finished as a top 10 finalist in her other three events.
¦ Jess Greenstein, representing NSW, beat injury to win gold and silver at the 2012 National Youth Archery Championships in Armidale. Greenstein, 17, of Grays Point, sprained her ankle during a training run early on the opening day which caused her to miss the official practice but she still competed in four events, junior (under 20s) and recurve (Olympic class) divisions, with her right foot heavily strapped. In the clout event she won gold and took silver in the field event.
¦ Joel Walker won three gold medals at the recent NSW age swimming championships. He won the 13-years 5000m open water title and added the 200m and the 400m individual medley titles.
¦ Kelsey Feros, of Sylvania Waters, won the Australian title in the 16-19 years water ski marathon. Feros, 17, was second in the open women's class speed event.
MASTERS
¦ Michael Maroney, 42, won the Nowra sprint triathlon and the National Sprint Triathlon Championship in the 45-49 age groups.
Nominations: theleader.com.au.
The annual Leader-Tynan Honda Sportstar of the Year Awards gala dinner will be on Friday, March 30. Some of St George and Sutherland Shire's biggest sporting names will attend.
