Alice Arnott and Isaac Farmilo took the top gongs of Northern Daily Leader female and male Athletes of the Year for their talents with the stick.

Mike Rabbitt ran the show as MC, along with special guest, Australian softballer Natalie Titcum.

Both athletes went on to big representative duties last season and both wore the green and gold of Australia.

Arnott had somewhat of a breakthrough season this year, culminating in her playing an integral role in the Australian All Schools undefeated seven-game tour of South Africa.

Arnott also managed success at a local level, leading the way for Olympians to win their first title since 1986.

The striker was selected in a myriad of representative sides as the season went on, including the U16 NSW All Schools, the U17s NSW Country and the U18s NSW sides.

The Calrossy Year 11 student’s rise through both the levels and age groups is a testament to her commitment and ability.

“I didn’t even expect to be nominated,” Arnott said.

“It is great to see that all my hard work paid off.”

While Arnott will have to concentrate on some HSC study next year, she is also aiming to keep pushing the representative envelope.

The Australian All Schools U17s are off to the Netherlands this year, with Arnott now one of the seniors in the playing group.

“I really want to do well in Europe,” she said.

“I love to win and love to compete.”

Arnott said that NIAS creates a platform between playing locally for representative sides and playing for NSW.

“It is a big step up and the program really helps with that.”

It was Arnott’s final year in the program and she wanted to thank all the coaches and support staff.

Farmilo has also achieved some great results and has one more year in the program to do it again.

Also a striker, Farmilo was named in the Australian Futures Hockey squad and the Australian Youth Olympic team, as well as a host of other sides.

That youth team also had an undefeated tour of Vanuatu where Farmilo was named MVP.

“They weren’t hard games over there but they were fun,” Farmilo said.

Next season, Farmilo is aiming for the NSW U21s, as well as the same sides he made this year.

The young star said it was an honour to win the award and relished walking in the same footsteps of Sam Lyles who won the same award for hockey a few years ago. 

The Col Burt Memorial Coach of the Year went to Brock Sampson for his work in the golf program, while Ian Woodley took out Volunteer of the Year in another nod to the hockey scene.

Armidale mountain biker Katherine Hosking and Tamworth water polo and swim star Jayden Gimbergh won the NIAS Chairman’s Award.

Hammer thrower Nick Price won the Communicator Award from the Lone Star program.

While there were plenty of other awards and special mentions, the academy also welcomed its second executive officer in as many years.

Jason Lincoln replaced Di Hallam at the top a fortnight ago and told the packed Blazes auditorium that he was excited to be taking the academy into the future.

“To witness so many young athletes get recognised for some fantastic achievements was great,” Lincoln said.

“It will be an honour to continue the legacy left by some great people.”

Lincoln is a former TAS staff member and First XV coach and manager who is relocating to Tamworth for the role.

There was no rest for a lot of the stars and coaches at the awards who were up bright and  early for the NIAS induction day yesterday.

This season’s intake saw a record 176 athletes inducted across 10 programs, with AFL to be added shortly.