Forster claims second sportswoman of the year title; Crowe takes top junior award

THE accolades have continued to flow for world champion para-cyclist Alana Forster, crowned the Ballarat Sportswomen’s Association athlete of the year for 2025.

Forster, who last month claimed the Ballarat Sportsman’s Club award for athlete of the year, added to her silverware by earning the top honour at last week’s Ballarat SAA Associates’ awards dinner at the Ballarat Golf Club.

Star athlete Grace Crowe was honoured as the sportsgirl of the year.

Forster prevailed over a star-studded line-up of finalists – distance athlete Katherine Dowie, cricketer Sara Kennedy, lawn bowler Sophie Kurzman and race walker Alanna Peart.

Kennedy was the 2024 junior athlete of the year winner, while Peart and Dowie had also previously claimed the honour in 2029 and 2016 respectively.

The 39-year-old previously won the 2023 award.

A stellar 2025 campaign by Forster included dual goal at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Ronse, Belgium, in the women’s C5 time trial and road race.

The Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club rider was further crowned C5 national champion in the individual time trial at the 2025 Australian Road National Championships and won the prestigious Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) Para Athlete Award.

She was a bronze medallist the previous year at the Paris Paralympic Games.

Forster joins an illustrious group of multiple winners that includes Katrina Werry, Kathryn Mitchell, Shayne Reese, Emily Martin, Kellie Lucas, Allison Cook, Sharon Stewart, Leanne Johnson and Robyn Maher.

Ballarat SAA Associates committee member and past president Sandra Stone lauded Forster as an extremely worthy winner among a field of stars.

“She is such a great athlete and role model to others,” Stone said.

“Alana spoke brilliantly and was respectful to the other finalists and awards nominees. “She really encouraged the younger athletes to come through and make their mark.

 

“I for one was in awe of her message to the younger people that were there and the respect she showed.

“She’s still striving to do big things in cycling, which was amazing to hear.”

In another tight race, sprinter Crowe – Victoria’s reigning 60m champion – won the top junior honour ahead of fellow athlete Eleanor Downey, cricketer Charli McLennan and lawn bowler Addy Ryan.

A big 2025 for Crowe was highlighted by her achieving a qualifying mark for the World Youth Championships in the United States, to be held later this year, with a personal best time of 11.68 seconds in winning at last year’s All School’s Championships.

In doing so, she stamped herself as the fastest schoolgirl in the state.

Crowe was the only female athlete across the entire event to break 12 seconds over 100m.

Fellow athletics rising star Shakira Lual claimed the encouragement award.

The current Victorian 400m all-school’s champion, Lual started 2026 in a blaze of glory by winning the under-18s 400m at the Maryborough Gift on New Year’s Day.

Ballarat Sports Memorial Bowling Club’s Lynette Bryce was honoured as the sports administrator of the year.

Bryce has dedicated years of service to the sport through her roles as ladies president, treasurer, secretary and club bar manager.

Her win provided the most amusing moment of the awards night.

A member of the Ballarat Sportswomen’s Association committee, Bryce’s peers had kept her award win secret from for the last three months.

“She was sitting in the audience and when they started reading out the bio of the winner, she finally realised they were words pertinent to her and her hand went up on her head and she was shaking her head,” Stone said.

“She was looking around at everyone and was in absolute disbelief.

“When she finally got up on stage, she said the committee had a lot to answer for.

“The audience just erupted for her.”

Long-time netball mentor and BFNL administrator Prue Douglass won the Spirit of Sport award.

It was the latest in a long line of accolades for Douglass over the past seven months, which started with the BFNL’s under-17 league netball best and fairest award being named in her honour.

In December, she became the BFNL’s first ever female life member for her years of service and dedication.

This year’s event marked the 50th anniversary of the awards, with 200 people in attendance.

Stone hailed the occasion as brilliant.

“The feedback has been awesome – a lot of people remarked that they hoped we are here for another 50 years or longer,” she said.

“Lots of people from the past turned up, which brought with it a lot of rekindled acquaintances and friendships.

“The night was a great success.”