The Services Workies and Tamworth star beat out Workies team-mate and fellow hockey star Isaac Farmilo and swimming sensation Mikaela Short to take out the top award of the night.

It follows a 12 months that saw Hazell named in Hockey Australia’s Futures group for 2016, and play for NSW at the U18 National Indoor and Field Championships. He was also named player of the tournament, and was the leading goalscorer, at the State U18s Field Championships, and for his efforts was also adjudged the Young Sports Star of the Year (14-17yrs)

Rio Olympic bronze medallist Lachlan Tame was on hand to present Hazell with his award with the kayaker the special guest for the awards function, which was held at the Frog and Toad Function Centre.

Short’s exploits in the pool, which included winning silver in the 50m butterfly at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide and gold in the same event at the National and NSW All Schools, earned her the Junior Sports Star of the Year (U14) award for the second year running, while Farmilo won the Senior Sports Star of the Year award.

It was a big night for hockey with the Tamworth U13 girls side that were crowned joint state champions winning the Junior Team of the Year. The Young Team of the Year award went to the U17s Tamworth Netball side while the state-title winning Tamworth Over 50s mens oztag side was named the Senior Sports Team of the Year.

Coach of the 2016 Northern Inland Football State Champion U12 girls team, Marie Wise, won Junior Coach of the Year (for teams aged under 14) while Tamworth Basketball’s Matt Hobson won Young Coach of the Year (for teams 14 - 17 years) and Pirates coach Mat Kelly the Senior Coach of the Year.

Trevor Wilcox was acknowledged for his contribution to cricket and basketball with the Ken McKenzie Services to Sport Award. Tamworth Parkrun won the Club or Association Sports Development Award and Erin Osborne the International Achiever of the Year, while Simon Hood was awarded the prestigious Cara Hickson Award for Special Achievement in Sport.