MORE then 70 people turned up early on Tuesday morning this week for the presentation of the Wauchope Rotary and Wauchope Gazette Sports Person of the Year Awards.
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Lots of young people were present, reflecting the record number of junior entries for the awards, which are judged on sports performances and activity during 2014.
It was a great morning for local sport, said master of ceremonies Raelene Monkley, and demonstrated what a talented group of sporting individuals and teams are continuing to emerge from the Wauchope community.
Raelene pointed to Jundumarra Layton, winner of the Junior Sportsperson Award, as a particularly worthy recipient, due to his great sporting performances coupled with "awesome community service - giving back to the community at such an early age" in the form of his regular coaching and encouragement of a group of other young Indigenous boys to improve their fitness and self-discipline through boxing.
However all the sportspersons nominated for awards - young and old, individuals and teams - should feel very proud of their achievements and the recognition gained through being nominated, Raelene said.
She also praised the principal sponsors of the awards - Five Star Fitness, Wauchope Sports and Trophies and T-Wai Training - for their support.
Award winners were:
* Junior Sportsperson - Jundumarra Layton.
* Encouragement Award - Emily Wright.
* Junior Sports Team - Wauchope Public School Boys Touch Football Team.
* Senior Sportsperson - Joanne Mace.
* Senior Team - Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club Under 19 boat crew (the "Chubby Chasers")
* Services to Sport Award - Natasha Costigan.
Jundumarra Layton - Winner of the Junior Sportsperson Award sponsored by Wauchope Sports and Trophies, in his sport of boxing he won for his age/weight the Australian Champion of the Oceanic area.
He won gold at the Golden Gloves in Sydney. He is setting a good example to other young people in our community by showing them hard work and determination you can achieve your goals. He is assisting with boxing training other young boys in Wauchope. He would like to represent Australia at the Olympics.
Emily Wright, winner of the Young Sportsperson Encouragement Award sponsored by Trent Wai Training, is an all-rounder.
Emily achieved girl champion at Wauchope Primary School in both swimming and athletics and District champion in the 11 years girls for athletics.
She represented Lower North Coast in PSSA girls touch football and swimming. She is a member of the WPS netball team and was chosen to represent in HVNA U12s team. In 2014 she represented WPH in eight different sports, four at district level and three at zone. Emily would like to attend the Australian Institute of Sport.