Para-Canoe World Champion and gold medallist Dylan Littlehales has been named Central Coast Sportsperson of the Year at the Industree Group Stadium Central Coast Sports Awards, hosted by Sport Central Coast, at Mingara Recreation Club on November 23.
Littlehales, who was unable to attend the evening due to training commitments on the Gold Coast ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and accepted his award via video, capped off an amazing year which saw him claim gold and silver medals at the world championships in Duisburg, Germany, in August and claim the titles of world, Australian and NSW champion in the KL3 200 during the nomination period.
“I’d just like to say what a true honour this is to win Central Coast Sportsperson of the Year,” he said.
“This is the first time I’ve won it and to think … it took me becoming a world champion to win – it just shows the incredible calibre of athletes that we have coming through on the Central Coast.
“As this award becomes tougher and tougher to win, it only makes it more worthwhile for everyone to win in the future.”
Littlehales, who was also named Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, beat a star-studded field including Nicola Olyslagers (athletics), Pat Farmer (ultra marathon), Nicho Hynes (rugby league), Trevor Kan (martial arts) and Matt Graham (moguls) to claim the major award on an evening which celebrated the outstanding achievements of local athletes, teams, associations and volunteers who work tirelessly to provide sport and active recreation opportunities across the Central Coast.
More than 150 people were in attendance to see some of the Coast’s brightest stars receive their awards.
The Central Coast Mariners was named Team of the Year for claiming their first A-League premiership since 2013 with a memorable 6-1 defeat of Melbourne Victory.
Australian representative, gold medallist and Scratch Race World Champion Nicole Duncan won Junior Sportsperson of the Year.
Killarney Vale Bombers and AFLHCC representative player Eliza Hand was named Community Sportsperson of the Year.
Surf Life Saving Central Coast’s Paul Lemmon was named Masters Athlete of the Year, having claimed 14 gold medals at the Australian championships.
Frank Overton of Mingara Athletics and Felix Tebbutt of Peninsula Touch were named Coach of the Year and Young Coach/Official of the Year.
International and state touch football referee Kim Skelly of Peninsula Touch was named Official of the Year and Umina Surf Life Saving Club won Club or Association of the Year.
Bay to Bay hosted by the Terrigal Trotters was named Event or Initiative of the Year and Wyong District Hockey’s Tiff Graham was named Volunteer of the Year.
Sport Central Coast Deputy Chairman Ian Robilliard acknowledged the diverse range of nominees on display across the 12 categories for the sports awards and thanked the many volunteers and sponsors who help to make the awards a celebrated night on the Central Coast sporting calendar.
“We can’t function without the wonderful support we receive from our Board, sponsors and sport and active recreation community across the Central Coast,” he said.
“We saw a record number of nominations this year and we thank our judging panel who had the unenviable task of sorting through many phenomenal nominations.
“My final thanks go out to the sport and active recreation community of the Central Coast.
“It if wasn’t for you playing, coaching, officiating, volunteering, or supporting, our community would not have the opportunities we do to participate in local activities and programs.”