Talented duo in awards race again

A RISING star in swimming and a multiple bodybuilding champion have been adjudged joint winners for May in the 60th running of Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year awards.

Henry Allan and James Hume excelled in the swimming pool and on the bodybuilding stage to be the Sports Star race for the second year in a row.

A haul of five gold medals capped outstanding feats by Allan at the Swimming Australia Age Championships in Brisbane.

Among the many highs for the Bendigo East swimmer were setting national records for the 16-year class in the 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke.

The teenager motored into the top 10 of Australia’s fastest times for 100m backstroke as he struck gold in 53.73.

Allan also lowered his own 16-years national record for the third time in five months.

It was another record-breaking swim in the 50m backstroke as he ruled the pool in 24.88 seconds.

Allan also earned gold in the 200m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle.

The John Jordan-coached swimmer is putting in plenty of work toward representing Australia at the World Junior Swimming Championships to be held in Otopeni, Romania in late August.

 

On the natural bodybuilding front, James Hume was crowned Pro Mr Oceania for men’s physique at the Oceania Pro/Am Nationals in Sydney.

Victory capped the many hours spent training at Silverback Strength in Bendigo as well as dieting.

Hume, 23, is a multiple Mr Australia titleholder in the classic men’s physique category on the National Bodybuilding Australia scene.

After a series of head knocks brought an end to his playing days in hockey and rugby union Hume took up weight training and then competitive bodybuilding.

Tally of titles is now more than 30.

Latest recipient in the Sports Star of the Year scholarship pool is wheelchair basketballer Harriet Caldwell.

It’s been a big year for Caldwell who competed at the Junior National Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Brisbane.

The teenager is now on court for Victoria Wonders in the Wheelchair Basketball Australia National Women’s League.

Wonders went into last weekend’s play in second place on a three-nil record.