Toby Price has capped off the most remarkable 12 months of his career by being named the 2014 Maitland Sportsperson of the Year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Less than a year after breaking his neck, the Aberglasslyn endurance motorcycle rider got back on the bike and won two Australian desert races, a national off-road championship, a world title representing his country overseas and received an invitation to take part in the internationally renowned Dakar Rally.
“It was definitely one to remember that’s for sure,” Price said.
“After breaking my neck I didn’t even know if I would of walk again let alone ride again, so to compete at that level and claim those titles has been very satisfying.”
The announcement was made at Friday night’s awards ceremony, which was held at Club Maitland City in front of 150 guests.
Price was unable to attend because of prior commitments, which involved testing in the desert near Mildura for the upcoming season, but his parents John and Pauline accepted the award on his behalf.
Price spoke to the Mercury yesterday between practice sessions.
“I certainly didn’t expect it,” Price said.
“There are so many good sportspeople around Maitland so it is an absolute honour to win this award.
“It is very cool and I’m over the moon.”
Price beat a stellar line-up of nominees to the 2014 Maitland Sportsperson of the Year award, including two-time defending champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Maddi Elliott, after an incredible 12 months on two wheels.
Last year Price won the Finke and Hattah desert double, the Australian Off-Road Championship and the E3 class at the International 6-Day Enduro while wearing the green and gold sporting colours of his country in Argentina.
Price was also asked to ride for KTM at the world’s toughest endurance race the Dakar Rally.
And all of this came after getting back on the bike in early 2014 and racing for the first time since a race fall the April before threatened to bring an end to it all.
“It definitely hasn’t been an easy road,” Price said.
“There is a lot of work that has gone on behind the scenes to get here, but it’s very satisfying that it has all paid off.”
Price hopes to repeat his previous efforts in 2015 and eventually become the first Australian to take out the Dakar Rally.
Price was one of many athletes acknowledged at Friday might’s awards ceremony.
West Maitland rugby league junior Brock Lamb was named the 2014 Maitland Junior Sportsperson of the Year after representing the Australian Schoolboys in the halves, winning a national title and re-signing with the Newcastle Knights.
Weston javelin thrower Matthew Rees picked up the Encouragement Award after representing Australia and finishing fourth at the Youth Olympics in China.
The People’s Choice awards, based on popular vote cast by Mercury readers, went to Commonwealth Games gold medal winning swimmer Maddi Elliott and Australian junior water polo representative Sophie Hodgson.
The Maitland Team of the Year gong was taken out by the Maitland Magpies following a minor-major premiership season which earned promotion back to the Northern NSW top flight football competition after a 12-year hiatus in First Division.
The Maitland Junior Team of the Year went to the rugby league squad from All Saints College, St Joseph’s Campus, Lochinvar, which became the first to clean sweep the Knights Knockout competition by claiming all four titles in the one year from under 13s to under 16s.
PRD nationwide sponsored the prizemoney for all winners.
Neil Seymour of Rutherford scored the Mercury People’s Choice reader’s prize, a 60 inch LED LCD HD smart TV from Brad Sangster at The Good Guys East Maitland, after being drawn out from almost 1000 entries.
Check out the Mercury during the week for more coverage of the 2014 Maitland Sportsperson of the Year awards.
