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2009 Annual Awards Night

 

The third Hockey NSW Annual Awards Night was held at Bankstown Sports Club on Saturday 14 November and saw the gathering of hockey players of past and present, officials, umpires, volunteers and supporters of the game.  Special guests included Hockeyroo Emily Hurtz and former Hockeyroo Rebecca Sanders, Hockey Australia Board Member and former NSW and Australian representative Clare Prideaux and a number of NSW past and present athletes.

NSW Arrows Coach Brenda Baker took out the Judy Laing Medal for Coach of the Year, having lead the NSW Arrows to an undefeated nine game premiership in the 2009 AHL. Arrows star Alison Bruce, who made her debut for the Hockeyroos 2009 took out the Liane Tooth Medal for Senior Female Field Player of the Year after her strong performances in the green and gold in 2009.

NSW Waratah and Kookaburra Mark Paterson took out the Senior Male Field Player of the Year Award, the award was accepted by Mark's father as he is currently in Perth training with the Australian squad.

Honoured on the night was retired Hockeyroo and NSW Arrows star Rebecca Sanders. Sanders who has played nine consecutive AHL seasons for the Arrows and was co-vice captain of this year's winning side decided at 27 years of age to enjoy some travelling and pursue a career. Hockey NSW paid tribute to Beck after her 106 game international career and a Commonwealth Games Gold medal and wish her well for the future.

Inducted in to the Hockey NSW Hall of Fame were past NSW and Australian players Olga Corrigan (Newcastle), Joy Payne (Orange), Stephen Davies (Parkes) and John McCormack (Crookwell) who each have a very long and impressive list of achievements and playing appearances for both NSW and Australia. Hockey NSW were delighted to have Corrigan and McCormack join the night and both took great surprise at the honour bestowed upon them - a secret well kept by their family and friends.

The night was led by Master of Ceremonies Bronwen Watson - a World Champion rower in the lightweight quad sculls who led a special guest interview panel with Australian Junior World Cup athletes Jade Warrender, Emily Hurtz and Harriet Moore.

Warrender, who earlier in the night took out the Dianne Gorman Medal for Junior Female Field Player of the Year at just 17 years of age told her aspiration to make the Hockeyroos for the 2012 London Olympics.

"I'm definitely aiming for London and I'm going to give it everything I've got."

An Orange hockey representative, Warrender has had a successful year as a member of the NSW U21 team who placed second at nationals where she was selected in the Jillaroos squad with players up to four years her senior.

Emily Hurtz also told the gathering some of the lighter sides to being a member of a national sporting team and the passionate hockey crowds she has experienced in countries like Argentina.

Harriet Moore, NSW and Australian Junior goal keeper gave an insight in to the game of hockey from underneath all that protective equipment.

"I think I'm the smarter one, because I wear padding to protect me whereas everyone else has no protection."

In total 17 awards were presented on the night including, junior and indoor players of the year, umpires of the year, coach and official of the year and a Hockey NSW Service Award for a long serving volunteer.

 

Award Winners (see descriptions of each award winner here)

Junior Female Umpire of the Year - "The Lisa Roach Medal" - Michelle Pecar

Junior Male Umpire of the Year - "The David Gentles Medal" - Nicholas Hosking

Senior Female Umpire of the Year - "The Carol Morris Medal" - Lisa Roach

Senior Male Umpire of the Year - "The Lynn La Mothe Medal" - David Gentles

Official of the Year - "The Mavis Randle and Stan Imer Medal" - Ros Morante

Junior Female Indoor Player of the Year - "The Alex Lupton Medal" - Kirsten Pearce

Junior Male Indoor Player of the Year - "The Mike Ogilvie and Ern Orth Medal" - Nardi Commerford

Senior Female Indoor Player of the Year - "The Gaye (Kolsky) Tarrant Medal" - Louise Mauran

Senior Male Indoor Player of the Year - "The John Scott Medal" - Michael Hogan

Junior Female Field Player of the Year - "The Dianne Gorman Medal" - Jade Warrender

Junior Male Field Player of the Year - "The Ron Riley Medal" - Matthew Willis

Coach of the Year - "The Judy Laing Medal" - Brenda Baker

Senior Female Field Player of the Year - "The Liane Tooth Medal" - Alison Bruce

Senior Male Player of the Year - "The Keith Leeson Medal" - Mark Paterson  

Hockey NSW Service Award - Valerie Kirkwood - Illawarra Women's Hockey Association

Win long Trophy for Champions Girls Association - Sydney Junior Hockey Association

Noel Eastham Trophy for Champion Boys Association - Illawarra Men's Hockey Association

 

Hockey NSW wish to congratulate all award winners and wish to thank everyone for their support in the year 2009.

To read full descriptions of each award winners achievements in 2009, please click here.

 

Hockey NSW Hall of Fame Inductees

Joy Payne

Olga Corrigan

Stephen Davies

John McCormack

For more info on the Hall of Fame, see the Hall of Fame page here.