Hawker Wimmera’s sporting star
Horsham’s clay-shooting star Ash Hawker has claimed the top gong at the return of the region’s sporting-award ceremony last week.
Hawker, the reigning trench-shooting world champion, won his first Wimmera Sports Star of the Year award on Friday evening – the award’s first recipient since COVID-19 restrictions paused the near four-decade long recognition.
Wimmera Sports Assembly has hosted the Wimmera Sports Star of the Year annually since 1985, with the award for 2022 sporting success the first event since the 2019-year award in early 2020.
Hawker claimed the event’s prestigious award for his 2022 sporting achievements, which included a FITASC Universal Trench World Championship title he won at Umbriaverde Shooting Range in Italy, in August.
Hawker said it was great to now be considered among a long list of Wimmera sports legends, however, more importantly, it was a chance to put shooting ‘on the map’.
“Being recognised for my world championship locally is great, but it is amazing to showcase shooting as a sport to young future talent in the region,” he said.
“It shows juniors they can achieve big in sports that are not just football and netball.”
Hawker said he would compete at the 2023 National Trap Championships at Wagga Wagga in March, before he travels to South Africa with the Australian men’s shooting team for South Africa’s national championship.
Karla Arthur, Jock Baker, Logan Casey and Tony Cacaviello were also nominated for the sports star of the year award for their 2022 sporting efforts, while 2019 sports star of the year winner Kelly Miller was inducted into the award’s hall of fame.
Wimmera Sports Assembly recognised the achievements of several other Wimmera athletes with a batch of categorised awards.
Other award winners included – Ian Niblett Scholarship Fund: Paige Hemley, Volleyball Horsham. Grassroots award: Shaun Bruce, Sydney Kings basketballer. Valued volunteer of the year: Andrew Sostheim, Wimmera River parkrun. Skillinvest junior: Tom Urquhart, swimming. Studio Sukha women in sport: Morgan Lane, pony club. Wilson Bolton and Co coach award: Amanda Wik, aerobics. Wimmera Trophies and Gifts club of the year: Joint winners Natimuk
and District Field and Game Club and Natimuk and District Gymnastic Club. Total Computer Technology team of the year: Holy Trinity Lutheran College, Horsham, Energetix sports aerobics team. Axis Employment all-abilities athlete: Local, Sam Hudson; national, Josh Barry. Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative Koori award: Jandamurra Lauricella, basketball.
Nutrien Ag Solutions veteran: Ken Bald, croquet. 3WM Tom Gawith sportsmanship award: Russell Holmes, Wimmera Whippets. Bentley Group unsung hero: Scott Benbow, Horsham Hornets. Wimmera Design and Print official: Shaun Bray. Quinn and Co sporting school award: Holy Trinity Lutheran College, Horsham.