JOY Harrison shot the lights out at the Armidale Sports Awards last night, taking out the top gong of Best Senior Sports person for her achievements in shooting this year.
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The Australian rimfire representative was there on the night to pick up the award, along with her husband John, who was also recognised on the night for his shooting success.
Joy represented Australia at the World Rimfire Championships in France, helping the nine-shooter team to an overall fourth place in heavy competition.
Joy was selected for her country after winning the NSW title in Silverdale last October.
She broke two long-standing Australian records on the way and now holds the 50m rimfire aggregate record and the 50-100m combined aggregate record.
A fortnight ago she represented her country again in the Pacific Rim Benchrest titles, taking a gold and two silvers.
In the junior division, a very close race saw Nathan Czinner take the award after being recognised in as many as nine different sports this year.
Golfer Tim Murray won the award for best local achievement after winning the club championships three times straight.
He also won the Armidale Open, with no other player ever winning both in the same year before.
Dora Maloney won the regional sports star award after she picked up the regional singles bowls tournament, and played in the final 16 of the state.
The junior sports star of the year was Nathan Czinner – picking the winner was easy but picking for which sport proved tougher.
The 12-year-old superstar has been recognised this year for as many as nine different sports.
Czinner was a Little A’s champion and won a NSW title with the Polding hockey team, before representing his state in both indoor and field hockey, picking up the Australian Medal on the way for exemplifying the ideals of the game.
He also excelled in swimming, cross country, touch football, rugby union and gymnastics.
Brother Brennan also excelled at gymnastics and was nominated for the same award after coming second in the vault at the nationals and helping NSW to an overall second.
Hillgrove cricketer Lochlan Elks picked up the local award while softballer Jess Prince took home the regional award.
Prince has represented North West for a record seven years straight at the State Carnival.
The Uralla Tigers league tag side went home with the best senior team gong after winning the Group 19 premiership for the second year in a row.
The girls only dropped two games all season before beating Goondiwindi in the final.
The junior team of the year went to the Armidale City Public PSSA boys’ basketball side who were state champions.
The school beat over 150 others to take out the annual knockout in emphatic fashion.
There were also plenty of other awards given out and the top ten finalists in each category were also recognised.
Special guest Youcef Abdi had the crowd captivated with his life story from growing up in Algeria, escaping, and going on to live in and represent Australia in athletics.
A special award was given to Fran Armitage for services to sport.
Unfortunately she could not attend as she is fighting a battle with cancer.
Armitage was recognised for her work with Sudanese refugees and introducing them back into sport.
She is responsible for the three Maluach brothers rise to basketball prominence including the oldest receiving a scholarship to a private school through the sport.
Bernie Hine was recognised for his efforts refereeing and keeping Group 19 in order, and Greg Frost’s 35 years of service to the Armidale Motorcycle Club was also applauded.