Nowra Athletics Club held their 63rd Annual General Meeting on Saturday 24th June at Huskisson Community Hall.
The new Committee was nominated and welcomed.
The new committee will consist of:
Scott Johnson – President, Lisa Carroll – Secretary, Mark Thirwall – Treasurer, Darlene Musgrove – Publicity officer. General Committee: Terry Bailey, Peter Dooley, Gavin Dyball, Jacqui Peace, John Price, Perry Strand, Angela Bond, Glenn Sansom, Ming Leung, Annie Peace
The Committee would like to thank everyone who attended the AGM and Presentation. Attendance numbers were down from last year but we appreciate those who made the time in their busy lives to attend.
At the Presentation we awarded the top 3 place getters from the 2022 cross country season and we also awarded winners for each grade from the 2022-2023 Track and Field season.
The winner of the Cadbury Running Series Award (Summer Road Run Series award) was awarded to Terry Bailey.
To conclude the afternoon, it was an honour to announce the annual special awards. We had so many worthy nominees this year, choosing winners was not an easy feat! Congratulations to everyone who was nominated, and of course to our winners.
John Morris Encouragement Award – this is awarded each year to a junior Club member 15 years of age or under competing in Cross country in the 2 or 3km distance. It is for a member who competes regularly, tries hard and shows improvement.
Nominees Lana Crawford, Airlie Stevens & Noah Dyball.
Winner – Airlie Stevens
Airlie contested the 3kms last season, competing in 15 rounds from 18. Airlie worked hard every week she competed, and over the duration of the season, consistently improved her times, for example at Longreach Airlie took 3.60 minutes off her time from the start of the season and shaved 2.11 minutes off her course time at Huskisson. Airlie is a quiet achiever with a positive attitude, always trying hard and demonstrating dedication and commitment. Well done, Airlie!
Ian Henry Nowra Toyota Encouragement Award – this is awarded each year to a senior member competing in the medium or long-distance events at cross country who competes regularly, tries hard and shows improvement.
Nominees Donna Johnson, Dean Bryce, Angela Bond & Elisha Bell.
Winner – Dean Bryce
Dean competed in 17 rounds of cross country in 2022, contesting long course. Dean is always an enthusiastic participant and whilst he is characteristically ‘a joker’ he does take his running seriously. Dean significantly quickened his race pace over the season; a result of consistent hard work. He improved his time at Huskisson by a massive 9.12 minutes and at Longreach by 8.46 minutes. Dean is a long-term supporter of Nowra Athletics Club, always willing to lend a hand (and find a short cut) where he can. Congratulations Dean.
Neville Markham Distance Runner of the Year Award is presented each year in memory of Neville Markham who was an outstanding age group runner through the 1980’s and 1990’s for Nowra and very involved at a club level. This is for a club member who competes in a variety of long distance events through summer and winter and achieves a ‘notable’ result or results.
Nominees Dean Bryce, Scott Martin, Erich Moeller-Duhme, Angela Bond & Rebecca Cooper
Winner – Erich Moeller-Duhme
Erich Moeller-Duhme continues to excel in distance running at both Club events and wider afield. Erich competed in the Kiama Coastal Classic on June 26th 2022 and took gold in the 12kms event, 70+ age group in a time of 1:18:33. He competed in Queenstown, New Zealand in November 2022 and finished the half marathon race in 2hrs21mins25 which placed him 9th from 27 runners in the 70+ age group. Most notably, Erich competed at Bathurst in The World Athletics Cross Country Championships in February 2023 and placed 2nd in the men’s 75 years+ 4kms race. Erich also partnered up with master’s runner Heather Powrie in the 2x2km 70-79 years mixed relay and took the gold medal in a combined time of 24.27. Erich is a wonderful role model to runners young and not-so-young! Congratulations Erich!
Club Performance Award – In 2018 the Committee introduced a new award for Club Performance. This award is for a member who performs well at a Club level with regular participation, personal improvement and support of the Club. This person may not necessarily compete further afield but is a strong supporter of the local Club competition and always gives their best.
Nominees Erin Smart, Archie Higgins, Airlie Stevens, Evie Binney, Wyatt Binney & Tim Musson.
Winner – Erin Smart
It was another record-breaking season of track and field for Erin, setting 10 new Club records over the Summer 2022-2023 season. It began on November 9th, when Erin set a new 40-49 years 800m record with 2.33.65 and on the same night, set a new 200m record with 27.39. A week later, on November 16th, Erin set 3 new sprint records; clocking 13.36 in the 100m, 20.28 in the 150m and 1.02.65 in the 400m. On November 30th, Erin added the 600m to her list of records with 1.42.11. Then on December 7th, in the 60m, Erin chalked up another record, crossing in 8.09 as well as breaking her own 800m record, with a new time of 2.33.09. Before the season ended, Erin bettered 2 of her earlier records, achieving 13.23 in the 100m and 19.51 in the 150m on January 11th.
At a Club level, as well as at both State and National level, Erin is a star athlete!
Harry Scouller Award –this award was introduced in 2016 in honour of one of Nowra’s finest young athletes. Harry Scouller competed in cross country and events from 400m to 3000m and wore the green and gold of Australia in the 800m at the Oceania Championships in Cairns, which he won. Harry sadly passed away aged just 21-years-old, from an epileptic seizure. In honour of his amazing athletic career the Harry Scouller Award was introduced for talented/promising young track and field athletes. There were many talented junior athletes who qualified for Nationals this year and were justly nominated.
Nominees Asher Chapman, Cameron Baxter, Harrison Baxter, Emily McLaren, Akala Miller, Alisha Mustapic, Will Dyball, Lana Crawford, Nic McGill, Hamish McLaren & Amelia May.
Winner – Lana Crawford
At the NSW Junior Championships, Lana made her mark at her first State Juniors, snaring a bronze medal in the Under 13 1500m with a massive 14 second PB of 5.14.31. Lana was also 7th in the 800m with 2.40.31. Lana was our youngest representative at Australian Junior Championships held in Brisbane in April at just 11 years of age. Lana qualified for the U13 1500m and finished 8th in Australia in a time of 5:19.64. Lana had a consistent season of racing and Nationals was a fantastic end result of all her training and hard work.
Frank McCaffrey Award is presented in commemoration of the founder of the Nowra Athletics Club. Frank was instrumental in starting NAC in 1960 and was a driving force in the first few years and a regular visitor and supporter after leaving the Club. This award is for a great performance by an individual club member or club team during the previous 12 months of the athletic season and is awarded to someone whose achievements ‘stand out’ and to someone who is actively involved in supporting NAC.
Nominees Erin Smart, Erich Moeller-Duhme, Peter Dooley, Akala Miller, Will Dyball, Max Marshall & Amelia May.
Winner – Erin Smart
Erin was the winner of this prestigious award for the second year in a row as a result of her many stand out performances. Just like last year, it is difficult to condense Erin’s performances down to a few short paragraphs.
Erin Smart may have turned 40, but she can still mix it with the State’s best opens athletes. At NSW Open Championships, Erin finished 6th in her 400m heat, with 58.16, placing 18th overall from a field of 27. In the 200m, Erin ran a PB of 25.59 for 4th in her heat which placed her 24th from 45 athletes!
But it was at the Masters level where Erin really excelled! At the 2023 NSW Masters Championships in Campbelltown Erin took the win in each sprint event for the 40-44 years. In the 60m, Erin finished 1st in 8.13. In the 100m, Erin took the win in 12.63. In the 200m, once again Erin took pole podium position, clocking 25.81 and in the 400m, Erin claimed gold, with 58.24.
In the 2023 Australian Masters Athletics Championships Erin again claimed the National title in the women’s 40 years 60m, 100m, 200m, and 400m.
In the 60m Erin was 1st in her heat with 8.20 and went on to win the final in 8.02. In the 100m, Erin took the win in 12.73. In the 200m, Erin won her heat in 26.94 then went on to improve this time to 25.51 in the final, which was a new PB, as she claimed victory. Erin also took gold in the 400m, finishing in 58.17.
High Achievement Award –this award is for a club athlete who has achieved high results in state, national or international competition throughout the previous year.
High Achievement Award – Nominees Erich Moeller-Duhme, Erin Smart, Max Marshall, Amelia May.
Winner – Max Marshall
At NSW Country Championships Max took out both the U16 100m and 200m. At NSW Junior Championships, Max took the win in the U16 100m heat, snatching a new PB of 11.13, however he also picked up a hip flexor injury, which denied him the opportunity for further competition. Despite an interrupted season due to injury, Max went on to compete in the Australian Junior Track & Field Championships, in Brisbane. Max came away with 2 National silver medals and a team gold medal. In the U16 100m heat, Max sprinted his way to 2nd and a new PB of 11.07 to qualify for the final. Then in the final, Max backed up to claim the silver medal in 11.15. In the 200m, Max took out his heat in 22.42 before claiming another silver medal in the final. To cap off Max’s track season, he competed in the 4 x 100m relay where the team’s combined efforts earned them a gold medal with a time of 42.21, which was just 0.44 seconds off the record. What an amazing effort Max!
Club Person/Volunteer of the Year – for a member who volunteers and supports the club all year and goes ‘above and beyond’.
Winner – Scott McLaren
The Committee acknowledges the voluntary work Scott McLaren provides for the Club, contributing to track maintenance, assisting with timing and organisation of events, and organising of equipment. Scott is always willing to lend a hand where its needed and his assistance is very much appreciated.