ARMIDALE’S talented and committed athletes and sporting administrators figured prominently in the Armidale Dumaresq Council Australia Day Awards at Armidale Racecourse yesterday.
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Phil Wheaton was named Armidale Citizen of the Year for his untiring volunteer work over 40 years, primarily for the North Armidale Football Club, where the main field at their North Armidale complex is named in his honour.
Nathan Czinner, Colin Maciver, Jay Stone, Armidale District Cricket Association and the Armidale Parkrun all received awards at the official ceremony yesterday morning.
Later in the day, Phil Wheaton presented the connections of Walcha Cup Prelude winner, Miss Caitlyn, with the winning trophy.
Born and bred in Armidale Wheaton has volunteered his services for more than 40 years.
He was also instrumental in helping Armidale win the Keep Australia Beautiful Award in 2013.
Czinner received the Junior Sports Award after an excellent year in swimming, cross-country, touch football, rugby union, gymnastics, athletics, indoor hockey and hockey.
His highlight in 2014 was captaining the NSW PSSA boys’ hockey team to third place at the Australian Championships.
Veteran cyclist Colin Mciver won the Senior Sports Award after a busy year touring the country and riding major races.
In April last year, Maciver won the Men’s Masters 9 (70-74yr age group) State Hill Climb and the Over 65 category in the 110km Blayney to Bathurst.
In September he won the Men’s Masters Road race, Criterium and Individual Time Trial at the NSW Masters Road Race Championships in Griffith.
In October, Maciver won the MMAS9 category in the road race and individual time trial at the National Masters Road Race Champs held in Ballarat,Victoria and finished second in the criterium. He also won the Champion of Champions jersey for overall winner in each age group.
Athletics coach Jay Stone won the Contribution to Sport and Recreation Award.
The talented runner has continued to coach and encourage young athletes of all abilities and age to do their personal best in athletics.
He has done that for many years, devoting many hours for free.
Armidale District Cricket Association won the Sports Award for an organisation after a busy year where they held the NSW Over 60s cricket carnival, the NSW CHS Schoolgirls cricket carnival as well as the NSW versus Queensland over 60s matches and the Destination NSW Home Ground Cricket Tour in conjunction with the Cricket World Cup.
The Armidale Parkrun won the award for Contribution to Sport and Recreation Award for a Group or Organisation.
The Armidale Parkrun is a free, timed 5km running/walking event held every Saturday morning.
Since commencing July 19 last year there have been 19 events in which 752 people have participated.
Currently 892 people (both male and female aged from 5yrs to 80yrs) are registered for Armidale Parkrun.
Armidale Parkrun is run entirely by volunteers, in particular Dale Murray, who has spent many hours of his own time ensuring Parkrun was available in Armidale.
COMMUNITY EVENT OF THE YEAR
Tour de Rocks 2014
n The Tour de Rocks is truly a regional event, and in 2014 427 participants rode and drove 98,000 kms in 3 days and raised $286,000 for Cancer research.
n · 65 per cent of funds are raised through rider participants and 35% through fundraising events and corporate sponsorship.
n · 100 per centof the funds are applied to cancer research and cancer related projects 60 per cent of which is allocated to local projects with the regions that support Tour de Rocks.