Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Local Sporting Stars Announced

MEDIA RELEASE

29 August 2017

A powerlifting world champion and a gridiron Australian representative are in the running to become Blacktown City’s 2017 Sports Person of the Year.

The monthly sports award winners were celebrated at an award presentation in Dawson Mall, Mt Druitt, on Thursday, August 24. 

“The monthly sports awards are a great opportunity to shine a light on tremendous individual achievements, and recognise the effort and time Blacktown City people put into their sport”, said Blacktown City Sport and Recreation Advisory Committee Chairman, Councillor Brad Bunting.

Each month’s winners become nominees in Blacktown City’s Sports Awards, to be announced in February 2018.

Winners will be chosen across nine categories, including Sports Person of the Year and Sports Coach of the Year.

“Congratulations to all the winners for the past three months,” Cr Bunting said.

“I look forward to seeing them at the Blacktown City’s Sports Awards Gala night next year.”

Sports Stars of the Month

June Sports Persons of the Month

Bethany Parker – powerliftingBethany is the current under 84kg Sub Junior Powerlifting world Champion, after competing in the World Powerlifting Championships in 2016. She broke her own world records in New Zealand in 2016 when she competed at the Oceania Powerlifting Championships. She then went on to compete at the Pacific Invitational Competition in Darling Harbour on 30 April where she broke her own squat world record lifting 182.5kg. Bethany was ranked number 8 female power-lifter in Australia at 18 years old.

Caitlin Christie – acrobatic gymnastics Caitlin competed in the Australian Gymnastics Championships in June as part of a team with fellow gymnasts Varnie Raman and Nadia Bailey.  Together they were crowned the Australian Champions, following up their achievement as the winners of the NSW State Championships in April.

Jacson Ngige – Gridiron Gridiron player Jacson will compete in the 2017 IFAF Oceania Qualification Tournament, to be held in Queensland in August. He qualified for the team after competing in the national tournament where he played for the NSW team. 

Alisha Singh – swimming Alisha is the Seven Hills Public School swimming champion and has qualified for zone swimming.

July Sports Persons of the Month

Gordon Allan – para-cycling Lalor Park teenager Gordon competed at the 2017 Cycling NSW Para-Cycling Track Championships in December, clinching gold in the 1km Men’s C2 time trial and gold in the 3km individual pursuit. 

Peter Elliott – race walkingPeter won bronze at the Australian Race Walking Championships in the under 12s division. He was also part of the NSW team that won gold in the championship’s team event. Earlier this year, he finished first in the NSW Short Walk Championships in the under 10 boys and third at the Little Athletics NSW Track and Field Championships.

Anna Norton – soccerAnna represented NSW in soccer at the FFA National Youth Championships in July. At just 13 years of age, she was selected for the under 15s state team as a goal keeper. She trains four times a week with her club, Football NSW Institute.

July Sports Team of the Month – Caitlin Christie, Varnie Raman and Nadia Bailey The gymnasts were crowned the NSW State Champions in April 2017 after only five months training together. The girls then headed off to Melbourne to represent NSW and compete at the Australian Gymnastics Championships in June 2017 where they won gold in three of their routines.

August Team of the Month
Lourdes Football Club The Lourdes under 16s Division 1 team won the FNSW Deploy State Cup competition in July.

 Blacktown City Sport and Recreation Advisory Committee Chairman, Councillor Brad Bunting, with gymnasts Caitlin Christie, Varnie Raman and Nadia Bailey