NSW Sport Awards: 7 NSW Members Named Finalists

31 October 2022

NSW Sport Awards: 7 NSW Members Named Finalists

A record seven NSW athletes, volunteers and coaches have been named finalists in the prestigious 2022 NSW Sport NSW Awards announced today.

The NSW members named were World champion athletes Eleanor Patterson and Janelle Delaney, World champion coach Alex Stewart, Commonwealth champion athlete Evan O’Hanlon, Commonwealth Games athletes Sarah Clifton-Bligh and Indi Cooper and World leading technical official Kirsten Crocker.

Our members are in esteemed company with some of the other finalists Socceroo coach Graham Arnold, Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins and 8-time World Surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore.

The 2022 NSW Sports Awards are NSW’s highest sports honours and the 12 category winners will be revealed at the prestigious rebel sport NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony at the International Convention Centre Sydney - ICC Sydney in Darling Harbour on Monday, November 28. Tickets to the Champions of Sport Ceremony are available to the public by visiting https://www.sportnsw.com.au/events/160364/

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Named in one of the most competitive categories, Athlete of the Year, is Eleanor Patterson, who won gold in the high jump at the world championships in Oregon. With nearly 200 countries competing at the elite level in athletics, Eleanor’s inclusion is very well justified. The winner will be well deserved as the other finalists includes 8-time World Surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore who has become the most successful women's surfer of all time, Jessica Fox who is a 4-time winner of the award and regarded as the greatest canoe slalom paddler in history. Another finalist is the Australian Test captain Pat Cummins.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Eleanor Patterson’s coach, Alex Stewart, a previous finalist, is named again in 2022. Alex faces Socceroos coach Graham Arnold who guided the National team to the 2022 World Cup. Another finalist is Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, Jess Fox’s mother and coach, has also been a previous finalist. Alex is certain to be the mix to win this award.

MASTERS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

World Masters 50-year 400m champion Janelle Delaney has a very strong chance in this category. She also won gold as a member of two Australian relay teams in Finland. The nomination for the award highlighted the world championships including athletes from 90 countries. Janelle is announced alongside swimming world masters champion Tony Goodwin, former (2018) world archer indoor champion Elizabeth Hole, Australian surf lifesaving team captain Hannah Minogue who has won international races and finally 25th ranked Tennis Masters mixed team member Wayne Pascoe. Swimmer Tony Goodwin would be Janelle’s toughest competition with hopefully the more competitive sport of athletes getting the nod.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY

Commonwealth Games T38 100m gold medallist, Evan O’Hanlon is a finalist in the Athlete of the Year with a Disability category. Evan faces tough competition from Ben Tudhope, Winter paralympic medallist, Hawaii Ironman competitor Lauren Parker and Timothy Hodge who broke a world record at the World Para Swimming Championships.

OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

Kirsten Crocker had an enormous year as one of NSW’s two international technical officials, along with Janet Nixon, to be appointed to the 2022 World Championships and Commonwealth Games. Kirsten is one of just 23 appointed to the International Race-Walking Judges Panel for the period 2019 to 2022. Kirsten is in a competitive field for this award against Commonwealth Games officials Claire Polosak (cricket) and Bronwen Adams (netball), along with Tokyo Olympic basketball referee Scott Beker and Tokyo Paralympics technical official Laura White (canoeing).

YOUNG ATHLETE OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY

Two NSW teenagers, Sarah Clifton-Bligh and Indi Cooper, selected for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, are named finalists in the Young Athlete of the Year with a Disability category. Sarah placed fifth in the T33 100m in 22.71, while Indi was eighth in the T38 100m with a time of 13.88, after clocking 13.77 in the heat. One of their toughest competition for the award will be swimmer Jasmine Greenwood who won gold at the Commonwealth Games.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Finalists coach Alex Stewart and high jumper Eleanor Patterson (image courtesy of Athletics Australia)