Orange Ex-Services’ Club had a record number of nominations for their annual Sports Awards, with many worthy entries vying to be recognised for outstanding achievements in their chosen field.

The Sports Awards were held at the Country Club this year, with all the sporting and social clubs represented.

As well as their own golf, bowls and tennis facilities — other sporting and social associations under the Orange Ex-Services’ Club include hockey, soccer, swimming, Card and Glee clubs

The following people were acknowledged for the dedication and achievements in their clubs:

Harrison Puxty (soccer), Phoebe Johnston (tennis), Reiss Robinson (bowls), Lee Picket (ladies golf), Lee Stinson (bowls), Leanne Kennewell (hockey),  Harold (Jim) Finn (bowls), Yvonne Johnston (Glee), Dale Lee (soccer), Elizabeth Stair (ladies golf), Chrissie Kjoller (tennis) and Matthew Kennedy (swimming).

But amongst all the worthy nominees this year, the three major awards went to truly outstanding sportspeople in their categories.

 Junior Sportsperson of the Year — Olsen Kennedy of the Polar Bears Swimming Club

 Olsen has been a member of the Polar Bears for the past four years and has participated in swim-a-thons, swimming over 200 laps to raise funds for various charities.

His huge achievements in 2019 include: Senior Boys Champion in 100m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 50m freestyle breaststroke and butterfly and second in 50m backstroke.

Olsen qualified for the Western Area Schools swimming carnival, achieving 2nd in Butterfly, 3rd in 50m and 100m freestyle.

He also participated in the Head of Independent Co-Educational Schools championships at Homebush, coming 1st in 50m Butterfly, whilst achieving a 10 second personal best time and he also came 2nd in 50M freestyle (missing out on 1st by .21 of a second!); 2nd in 50M breaststroke; 3rd in 100M freestyle and 50M backstroke and also participated in the Senior Relay team which came 4th.  At this meet, Olson gained personal bests in every race.

 Senior Sportsperson of the Year — Roy Roweth of the OESC Tennis Club

 Roy has been a member of the Orange Ex-Services’ Tennis Club since 1972 and a committee member since 1976. He was elected Vice President in 1986, a position he held until 2012.

Roy has worked tirelessly on the committee, maintaining the Tennis Club’s 10 clay courts, bagging, rolling and marking each court for many years, right up until the time they were converted to a synthetic surface.

Awarded a Life Membership of the tennis club, he was recently recognised by having a court named after he and his wife Thelma.

For many years, Roy has represented the Orange Ex-Services’ Tennis Club at Country Week, which is a state-wide competition, held at White City in Sydney. He has played in the Mid-State Television Tournaments, which were televised from the Orange Ex-Services’ Tennis complex.

Roy has also represented the Tennis Club in many inter-town matches, thoroughly enjoying every one of them. He never misses playing in the annual Club Championships, entering the Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. He came Runners-up with his grandson in the Consolation Men’s Doubles and Runners-up with his granddaughter in the Consolation Mixed Doubles.

At 80 years young, he entered the Seniors Over 35’s Tournament in September this year, playing in the A Grade Men’s Doubles with his son and the B Grade Mixed Doubles with his daughter.

Roy says, “It’s the love of the sport and the love of his Club that keeps him going and staying active over all these years.”

Club Person of the Year Award — Daryl Kennewell

The coveted Club Person of the Year Award awardee was Daryl Kennewell of the OESC Hockey Club.

Not only has Daryl cared and supported his young family throughout 2019, but he stepped up and took on the role of OESC Hockey Club President after it was brought to his attention that the Club was having difficulties with numbers and was in jeopardy of folding.

Daryl has worked tirelessly to recruit new and old members to the Hockey Club. He could be sighted at the Orange Hockey Complex throughout each week, supporting the Club’s teams and continuing to encourage and support players throughout the season.

Daryl supported the Hockey Club’s Executives and was at the forefront of fundraising and building the club’s sponsorships.

As a valued player with the Club, he consistently played both Division 1 Men’s as well as being provided an exemption to play each week in the Division 2 Men’s Competition.

He could also be found at the hockey fields with a whistle in his mouth, some weeks umpiring three matches back-to-back before running on the turf in a men’s game.

Daryl’s love of sport is not only obvious in the amount of time and energy he has put into leading OESC Hockey, but he has also held the position of Vice President of Orange Hockey Incorporated along with having to delegate umpires to all matches both men’s and women’s throughout the season.

During 2019 Daryl has shown great leadership and guidance to all who have come in contact or had questions about hockey. He has always been willing to give a hand or help out where needed.

Congratulation to all the worthy winners!