Sens honoured with award named for friend

PARALYMPIC representative Noel Sens has received the Bendigo Sports Star’s Faith Leech Achievement award in recognition of his storied career in cycling.

Sens who represented Australia in the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and won European Championship gold is now a junior coach in the Bendigo region.

The award pays tribute to a sporting identity or group and recognises their achievements and service. It bears the name of local swimming legend, Faith Leech.

Sens said he was shocked by the award win, but receiving it means even more than just recognition.

“It feels good, it’s overwhelming,” he said. “The lady that it’s named after was my bloody friend you know.

“She was friends with my dad and my wife and my brother-in-law, she was a real family friend.

“I am just completely honoured, I didn’t think this was going to happen.”

Sens said he was happy to keep doing what he is doing, and he isn’t fussed with receiving any more honours for his work.

“I’ll just keep coaching kids, Bendigo is a great growth development area and I just want to keep doing that,” he said.

“I don’t care about the fruit, I just like watching people come into the sport and loving it.

“Whenever [up and coming cyclist] Blake Agnoletto wins an award, he thanks Noel Sens. I don’t even want that, but it is fantastic and that’s enough for me.”