Ballarat Sportmen's Club Sportsperson of the Year

It was a great night for several Ballarat High School students and staff alumni at the recent Ballarat Sportsmen Clubs Sportsperson of the Year dinner held at the Ballarat Golf Club.

Past student, Alanna Peart (Class of 2021) was nominated for the 2022 Ballarat Sportsperson of the Year but unfortunately wasn’t successful in winning this time round. Alana was nominated for her numerous and outstanding achievements both nationally and internationally in the sport of racewalking. Alana is a past winner of the Wunhym Junior Sportsperson of the Year.

On the night Alanna was awarded the Hollioake Medallion in recognition of her excellence as part of two Australian youth race walking teams in 2022 - silver with the Australian team at the World Athletics Racewalking Team Championships U20 10km in Oman, and 7th in 10,000m at the World Under 20 Track and Field Championships with the Australian team in Cali Colombia last year.

Past Student, Josh Jolly (accepted an apprenticeship in 2022) was the joint winner of the Wunhym Junior Sports Person of Year. Josh was nominated for his outstanding achievements nationally and internationally in the sport of BMX. Josh is one of the best in the world for his age group in the sport and continues to dominate the national circuit here in Australia. Josh has also been thoroughly enjoying his apprenticeship with Dennis Shaw’s Cycling Shop and is looking forward to heading to America to continue to hone his craft as he moves into the senior sections of his sport. Unfortunately, Josh couldn’t attend on the night.

Past staff member and current casual relief teacher Lindsay Burgoyne was awarded the Widmer Award, which acknowledges outstanding contributions from a coach to assist in development and growth of sport in the wider community. Lindsay has been a long-term athletics coach in the Ballarat area, focusing on throwing disciplines (javelin & discus). Lindsay has mentored countless athletes over his long duration in the sport, including many national level athletes and Ballarat’s own Olympic and Commonwealth Games representative Kathryn Mitchell.

Congratulations to all the above individuals for their tremendous contribution to sport in Ballarat!