SPORTS STARS SHINE
Annual awards dinner honours best athletes
THE Darling Downs’ brightest sporting talent – past and present – were honoured at the gala Sports Darling Downs award night on Saturday.
More than 500 people attended the event including seven Olympic and Commonwealth Games athletes, numerous world champions and countless past award winners.
SDD president Mick Smith said the night’s new format was well received.
“Everyone enjoyed our On the Couch and Champions Bar interviews,” Mr Smith said.
“It’s not a format we could replicate every year, but with so many great athletes attending we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to speak with them and share their inspiring stories.”
STEADFAST dedication and passion paid dividends for Matt Denny at the weekend.
The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games men’s hammer throw silver medalist capped off a memorable 2018 season with another major accolade.
Denny was crowned 2018 Sports Darling Down Senior Sports Star of the Year ahead of a strong field which included fellow Games medalist Lara Nielsen.
In accepting his award Denny had high praise for the notfor-profit organisation.
“None of us are in it for the money,” Denny said.
“We’re in this because we love it, we love our sport and we love competing.
“The awesome thing about Sports Darling Downs is how their generosity and support can help fund athletes’ dreams.
“When you’re trying to balance life, work, paying your bills and trying to find a way to compete on top of all that – it (the support) makes a huge difference.
“A hundred dollars might be fuel for a week, $1000 might help towards competing overseas in a major competition, it all adds up.
“I can’t thank them and my family enough for their support.”
Denny attributed his 2018 success to a change in lifestyle and focus in 2017 and hopes to use that change to propel him forward this season.
“I made some pretty big changes in 2017,” he said.
“Working with my sport psych we focused on changing the way I look at things.
“It was about being more aware of what’s going on around me and being more vulnerable to the moment.
“You can’t pretend bad things aren’t happening around you – you have to accept and deal with those situations as best you can.
“I think it helped me get a really good rhythm in life and that helped my performances.”
Now the 22-year-old is simply focused on throwing as big as possible.
“My coach and I have a few goals for this year,” Denny said.
“The domestic season started two weeks ago and I opened with a throw of 64.09m.
“Right now my focus is on throwing as best as I can and we’ll decide what opportunities that opens up for me as the season progresses.”
In the junior category Evan McLean made a big splash in his rookie year winning the Junior Sports Star of the Year.
Captaining the Queensland water polo team to silver at the national championships, McLean capped his year off with Australian Schools Water Polo team selection.
Playing against England, Romania and New Zealand McLean was Australia’s Most Valuable Player in a campaign that included a hat-trick against New Zealand.
“Last year was the biggest sporting year of my life,” McLean said.
“I trained really hard, improved a lot and loved every minute of what I was doing.
“When I was sitting there in the (sports award) crowd watching all the names go across the screen I was nervous.
“I thought every junior nominee deserved to win – when they called my name my heart started beating really fast.
“The prize will be a massive help for me and my family this year.
“I can’t thank Sports Darling Downs enough.”
Ready to wear maroon again McLean said he is preparing for a massive 2019.
“I’ll be training a lot with the QAS preparing for the national league season with the Queensland team,” he said.
“It’s the biggest domestic competition in Australia and will be very tough.
“I’m really looking forward to it – long term I’d love to be part of the Olympic team.”