MEMBERS of the Ballarat Sportsmen\u2019s Association of Australia held their annual junior encouragement awards last week at the Ballarat Golf Club.<\/p>\n
More than 130 people attended the dinner which highlighted up-and-coming young athletes who are achieving outstanding results in their chosen sporting field.<\/p>\n
The sportspeople celebrated were ten-year-old go-karter Archie Bristow, 14-year-old swimmer Bettina Ambrose, 15-year-old athletics star Mackayla Culvenor, 15-year-old cricketer Charli McLennan, 17-year-old triathlete Oscar Wootton, and 17-year-old tennis player Jarrod Joyce.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Ballarat Branch of the Sportsmen\u2019s Association of Australia continues to support junior sport in Ballarat and the surrounding region,\u201d Ballarat SAA secretary David Poulton said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn November of each year, a junior encouragement award dinner is organised where the achievements of a number of junior sportspersons are recognised.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur life member, Alf Clark, is responsible for overseeing the selection of recipients. As in recent years, the task has become more difficult as the number of nominees from a wide variety of sports continues to grow.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose attending the dinner last Wednesday were overwhelmed with not only the achievements of the young people but the commitment required to compete, train and still attend school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Poulton said the commitment and sacrifices made by the athletes\u2019 parents, carers, and families to support the endeavours of their young person was also to be commended.<\/p>\n
Australian Olympic swimmer Shayne Reese was the awards night\u2019s guest speaker, and she shared her experience of being a young professional athlete.<\/p>\n
Each encouragement awardee received a plaque from the Ballarat SAA, and a SportsPower voucher.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MEMBERS of the Ballarat Sportsmen\u2019s Association of Australia held their annual junior encouragement awards last week at the Ballarat Golf Club. More than 130 people attended the dinner which highlighted up-and-coming young athletes who are achieving outstanding results in their chosen sporting field. The sportspeople celebrated were ten-year-old go-karter Archie Bristow, 14-year-old swimmer Bettina Ambrose, […]<\/p>\n