The best in the Maitland sporting business will take centre stage on Friday night with the spotlight shining brightly on the achievements of 2014.
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From the Commonwealth Games to Hunter Stadium, from Menangle to Maitland Park and from green and gold to black and white – Maitland’s sporting folk have certainly made their mark during the last 12 months both home and abroad, at all levels of competition and across a diversity of disciplines.
The finalists in the Maitland Sportsperson of the Year awards, which celebrated its 50th anniversary 12 months ago, will be on show at Club Maitland City with 24 nominees representing at least 16 codes.
Athletics has the most votes with five, motor sport sits next on three while swimming, lawn bowls, hockey and rugby league have all registered multiple entries.
Martial arts, BMX, harness racing, Australian rules, cricket, surf life saving, water polo and golf are also in the mix.
Title holders Maddie Elliott (2012, 2013) and junior champion Matthew Pender both have the chance to defend their individual crowns.
Former winners of the main prize include Olympians Josh Ross (2005), Brendan Sexton (2007) and Simon Orchard (2008) as well as Stawell Gift winner Trisha Greaves (2009), Australian touch football representative Tony Howard (1991), tennis ace Jane Taylor (1984), sailor Reg Crick (1978) and inaugural recipient Marguerite Ruygrok.
The likes of swimmer John Callaghan (1968, 1969), cricketer Todd Campbell (1993), Australian Schoolboys rugby league representative Daniel Quinn (1995), BMX bandit Graeme Mudd (2007) and multi-sport talent Dylan Bennett (2010) have previously taken out the junior section.
The Maitland Team of the Year will also be announced, with current nominees trying to add their name to the honour roll, which already includes the Maitland Pickers, Mindaribba Warriors and Telarah Public School.
Other awards to be given out Friday night include the junior encouragement and people’s choice, which is based on votes submitted by Mercury readers.
All prizemoney is sponsored by PRD nationwide.
Guest speakers on the night will include the most capped A-League player and Maitland Magpies recruit Matt Thompson as well as local junior and Newcastle Knights forward Robbie Rochow.
Tickets are still available at the club.
Guests are asked to arrive from 6pm for a 6.30pm start.
SENIOR NOMINEES: Matthew Harris (athletics); Grant Bond and Glen Cox (speedway); Natasha Scott (lawn bowls); Lindsay Guy (martial arts); Gai Taylor (BMX); Glen Stolk (hockey); Kelly Richards (lawn bowls); Maddi Elliott (swimming); Shane Tritton and Lauren Panella (harness racing); Isaac Heeney (Australian rules); Toby Price (endurance motorcycle); and Mollie Gray (rugby union).
JUNIOR NOMINEES: Keegan Pickering (motorcycle); Patrick Magann (hockey and cricket); Sophie Hodgson (water polo); Isabella Ferencz (surf life saving); Angus Ernst (athletics); Brodie Jones (rugby league); Brock Lamb (rugby league); Matthew Rees (athletics); Matthew Pender (swimming); Clayton Small (golf); Jack and Tom Newman (athletics); and Katie Smee (athletics)
SENIOR TEAM NOMINEES: Greta Branxton Colts (rugby league); Hills Solicitors (netball); Maitland Magpies (football); and Northern Suburbs (cricket).
JUNIOR TEAM NOMINEES: ASC, St Joseph’s, Lochinvar (rugby league); Maitland pennants (golf); Maitland Saints girls (Australian rules); and Maitland under 12s/under 14s (netball).