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The 2017 Triathlon WA Triathlete of the Year Awards were held on Saturday 17 June at Crown Casino with a crowd of almost 200 triathletes, friends and family there to celebrate the successes of the season.
It was another great year of performances by WA athletes on a state, national and international level, both in junior and open/age group ranks. We had 4 World Champions, including Kate Bevilaqua’s win at the Ultraman World Champions, and 3 Olympic representatives with Ryan Bailie, Brant Garvey and Frank Stapleton. On a national level, we had 22 National Champions, Shane Burnett recipient of the Rob George Technical Award and Carol Hughes (nee Pickard) was inducted as a Legend of the Sport. To see the full list, click here.
The Youth, Junior & Under 23 program was redefined this season, to become more inclusive of a wide range of talented athletes in the state. WA as a state performed exceptionally well at the Australian National Series and Australian Schools Championships across the Under 23, Junior & Youth formats. This culminated with Liam McCoach taking out the Australian Youth Junior Series, with a number of podium finishes in all age categories. McCoach was rewarded for his exceptional year with being named the Development Program Athlete of the Year. For full results click here.
The success of our junior athletes was also reflected in the Coach of the Year, which was awarded to Stuart Durham. Stuart has dedicated the last 20 years to coaching triathlon over many formats but is particularly passionate about Junior Development. This year he coached a number of athletes to podium places on a national level and was a finalist in the Australian Coach of the Year 2016/17.
In the Club awards, Esperance Triathlon Club defended their title in the Club Event Series, edging out UWA over the 8 event series, that were well supported by all clubs. Break Your Limits took out the Champion Club Award from Exceed, thanks to their roster of exceptional young athletes who dominated the State Junior Series.
Sue Scott was a surprised recipient of the 2017 Steve Barrie Technical Official of the Year Award. Lured to the event under false pretences, she presented with the award for her outstanding contribution as a technical official both locally and nationally since she started in 2011.
In the Individual Performance of the Year Award for Male and Female, Kate Bevilaqua was recognised for her outstanding performance in the Ultraman World Championships, taking the women’s world championships and being 6th overall. Ryan Bailie was male winner for the second year in a row, having taken 10th place at the Rio Olympic Games, 5th in the ITU Grand Final in Cozumel and finishing 6th overall in the World Triathlon Series, as the highest ranking Australian.
Ryan then took out the prestigious Open Male Triathlete of the Year award, having returned to Perth early in the season to complete in 2 State Championship races. He took the award from Oli Stenning(2nd), Jonathon Sammut(3rd), Guy Crawford(4th) and Matt Duncan(5th). An emotional Kerry Morris capped off a massive year to take the Open Women’s Triathlete of the Year, from last years winner, Katey Gibb, Felicity Sheedy-Ryan in 3rd, Kirby Diaz in 4th and Rosie Farrell in 5th. For a full listing of the all Junior and Age Group winner, click here. For a summary of the other awards, see below.
2017 Award Winners:
Development program Athlete of the Year – Liam McCoach
Steve Barrie Technical Official of the Year – Sue Scott
Coach of the Year Award – Stuart Durham
Club Event Series Winner – Esperance Triathlon Club
Champion Club Award – Break Your Limits
Individual Performance of the Year, Male – Ryan Bailie
Individual Performance of the Year, Female – Kate Bevilaqua
Technical Official Service to Sport ;
- 20 Years –
- Rob Wiles
- 10 Years –
- Bruce Layman
- Gaye McKean
- Jarrad Oliffe
- Felicity Tyrell-Prince
- Ivan Wiltshire
- 5 Years -
- Geoff Robb
- Mark Robb
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