Amy Wills was named the 2011 Maitland Sportsperson of the Year on Friday night but she simply didn’t believe it.
Wills was holidaying with friends between her arduous competition schedule when the phone call came through, moments after the announcement had been made at Maitland City Bowls, Sports and Recreation Club.
But it took a bit of reassurance to convince the 30-year-old Morpeth woman that her feats on the indoor cricket court last year had earned her Maitland’s highest individual sporting honour.
“I didn’t believe it when my sister rang me,” Wills said.
“But then Mum got on the phone and told me as well and I knew she couldn’t lie to me.
“I just didn’t think I would win after looking at all the other athletes and the previous winners.
“So there was a bit of shock and a bit of disbelief, but it was a real honour to win this award.”
Wills and Gillieston Heights swimmer Maddi Elliott made it a double for the girls in 2011 when the 13-year-old was named Maitland Junior Sportsperson of the Year.
Wills joins Commonwealth Games representatives Marguerite Ruygrok (1963), Simon Orchard (2008) and Pirrenee Steinert (2010) on the honour roll after a career best 12 months.
She won her third World Cup with the Australian women’s indoor cricket team in October and was named player of the final following a triumphant decider against hosts South Africa.
This came on the back of a successful individual campaign at the national championships held in Perth last August,
where she was awarded player of the tournament.
“It was a good year for me,” Wills said.
“I have been to nationals a lot as a player and I was player of the final at the 2004 World Cup, but in 2011 it all came together.”
Wills said it was a privilege to win the Maitland Sportsperson of the Year award having grown up in the area.
“It means a lot,” she said.
“Locally we have got a lot of talent and to be recognised among so many high achievers is very special.
“I’m proud to represent this area.”
Indoor cricket has taken Wills around Australia and across the world for more than a decade after taking up the sport at school.
She hopes the win might entice more girls to take up the sport she loves so much.
“I have been playing indoor cricket for 14 years and I love it,” she said.
“It’s a quick, sharp game in a limited area so there is a lot of strategy involved.
“I love the social aspect and have developed a lot of friendships over the years – and it has given me the opportunity to travel to some interesting places around the world.
“Hopefully [winning this award] might encourage more girls to play cricket.”
Wills said she will have a year off opens in 2012 and focus on making the Australian women’s 30s team for the World Masters in Sri Lanka next year.
The winner’s cheque for Wills was worth $1000 courtesy of Dowling Real Estate Maitland.
There was $500 on offer from Dowling for the
junior champion and it was Maddi Elliott who claimed the prize.
At just 12 years of age Elliott, who has cerebral palsy, achieved a world number one ranking for 50m backstroke in the S8 class in 2011.
This was on top of two more world number one rankings in short course, a host of Australian records in both open and aged categories and a swag of medals at all levels of competition she contested last year.
Elliott has also been identified as a possible member of the Australian swimming team to compete at the Paralympic Games in London later this year.
Bayley Ritchie’s big year across the codes was recognised on Friday night with the junior encouragement award.
In 2011, Ritchie made NSW Primary School Sports Association teams in four sports – Australian football, athletics, rugby league and touch football.
It is a feat almost unheard of and the Thornton lad collected $200 for his efforts courtesy of Dowling.
Ritchie also contributed to the winner of the 2011 Maitland Junior Team of the Year – Thornton Public School.
The rugby league squad took out the Pickers Cup, Jarrod Mullen Cup and Knights Knockout in the same calendar year.
The senior team of the year went to the Maitland Pickers following their back-to-back minor-major premiership in the Newcastle Rugby League first grade competition.
The successful teams received $500 each from Dowling.
And in the people’s choice categories, Matthew Harris (athletics) and Georgia Little (football) were the senior and junior winners respectively and banked $200 each from Dowling.
* See tomorrow’s Maitland Mercury for photos and more details on the winners from each category in the 2011 Maitland Sportsperson of the Year awards.
And see Wednesday’s Maitland Mercury for social photos from Friday night’s awards.
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