Sarah’s surprise success

GERRINGONG"S Sarah Broadhead was a winner at the Gilmore Sports Awards on Saturday night, after not being sure she was even nominated.

Sarah"s invitation to the region two (Kiama and Berry) awards ceremony for under 12 and 13-15 years" girls did not arrive in the mail and it took a phone call from Sarah"s mother, Janelle, to verify the 11-year-old was nominated.

Sarah"s win came as a mixed blessing as one of her fellow nominees was her sister, Samantha Broadhead.

"It"s a mixed blessing but we"re very proud of both of them," Sarah"s mother, Janelle Broadhead, said.

Sarah was nominated for her exploits in athletics, cross country, hockey, softball and cricket. The quietly-spoken Gerringong Pubic School student nominated walking as her favourite sport.

Sarah was the Mid South Coast 1100m walk and NSW Country Short Walks champion in 2006.

She was also named Illawarra Blue Stars Athletic Clubs" Female Juvenile Athlete of the Year.

Kiama High School"s Amelia Hallagan won the 13-15 girls" award for her exploits in swimming, cross-country and netball

In swimming, Amelia won gold at the 2006 NSW Combined High Schools (CHS) championships in the 100m breaststroke and in the open relay, along with silver in the 15 years" girls" 4x50m freestyle relay.

She also won gold at the NSW All-Schools" in the 50m breaststroke and in the open medley.

Jamberoo Hockey Club"s under 15-1s took out the 13-15 years" team award after winning the 2006 South Coast Women"s competition. The team includes Aimee Barnard, Kalindi Commerfod, Nicky Kresevic, Hannah McInerney, Shelby Makim, Laura Nealon, Sarah Patterson, Jennifer Priest, Madeline Short, Amy Walsh, Sarah Walsh, Ashley Young and Claudia Young.

Jamberoo Primary School"s hockey team won the under 12 years' team"s award after a powerhouse season that saw them finish fourth in the NSW PSSA knockout.

Coach Kay Brennan said the team had secured the school"s best result in a state knockout in any code.

"Jamberoo is a school of 150 students and we were playing schools twice and triple our side," Ms Brennan said.

The team included Ellie Ames, Gabbie Brennan, Allison Cofield, Sarah Gilmore, Alice Hewitt, Lanae Robinson, Laura Rutledge-Robb, Rachel Sparkes, Shannon Sparkes, Sally Walker, Simone Ward and Claudia Young.