City celebrates future stars and local Olympians at 2021 Ipswich Sport Awards
01 November 2021
Ipswich’s best athletes, coaches, officials, organisations, and volunteers joined together on Friday 29 October, to celebrate the achievements of Ipswich’s sporting community, with eight lucky winners taking home $2,000 each in prize money.
The 2021 Ipswich Sport Awards also acknowledged the achievements of Ipswich’s own Olympians and Paralympians who recently returned from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Mayor Teresa Harding said this year’s Ipswich Sport Awards was a return to pre COVID celebrations with more than 150 people in attendance.
“Ipswich is Queensland’s sporting heartland, and our dedicated sportspeople, clubs, coaches and volunteers are what makes Ipswich such a vibrant and dynamic city,” Mayor Harding said.
“This year’s event returned bigger and better than ever, with entries from across 25 different sports, ranging from swimming to bodybuilding and karting.
“Congratulations to the eight amazing award winners as well as the many nominees who are committed to ensuring our local sporting landscape is fun, inclusive and continues to grow.
“It was an honour to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our local Olympic and Paralympic athletes following their successes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Collectively, our local Olympians and Paralympians brought home two gold, one silver and three bronze medals and have inspired our next generation of sporting heroes for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee Chair Councillor Andrew Fechner said Ipswich has a bright sporting future.
“After seeing the extraordinary talent on Friday night, it’s clear the best is yet to come from many of these athletes,” Cr Fechner said.
“I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate all who were nominated for the Ipswich Sport Awards 2021.
“All nominees, finalists, and winners should be proud of their achievements, especially when sport continues to operate under COVID-19 health restrictions.”
Official of the Year – Winner:
Jordan Harton (Basketball)
Volunteer of the Year – Winner:
Scott Morrison (Football)
Coach of the Year – Winner:
Sara Rogers (Hockey)
Masters Sportsperson of the Year –Winner:
Lisa Blackburn (Bodybuilding)
Sporting Organisation of the Year – Winner:
Ipswich Kart Club
Team of the Year – Winner:
Ipswich Hockey Women’s Masters Team #1
Junior Sportsperson Award – Winner:
Ella Ramsay (Swimming)
Senior Sportsperson Award – Winner:
Jude Thomas (Long distance running)
Also recognised for their achievements at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were swimmers Mollie O’Callaghan and Leah Neale, tennis champion Ash Barty, weightlifter Erika Yamasaki, boxer Paulo Aokuso, para-canoeist Susan Seipel and para-archer Taymon Kenton-Smith.