THE countdown to find out who will take out the 2013 Orange Credit Union Sports Awards is on.
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The list of finalists has been released and the Sportsperson of the Year, Junior Sportsperson of the Year and Team of the Year will all be announced at a presentation ceremony on Tuesday, August 5 at the Orange Civic Theatre.
The awards will celebrate Orange’s best and brightest athletes’ performances and achievements from 2013.
Jason Belmonte is no stranger to the Orange Credit Union Sports Awards having been a finalist countless times. He has also won multiple Sportsperson of the Year gongs and is up for the same award this year.
Belmonte won the PBA Lucas Oil Bear Open and the USBC Masters in 2013, and finished second at the PBA World Championships.
After representing Australia at the 2013 World Triathlon Age Group Championships, Tristan Harrison is also a finalist, as is pistol shooter Dean Brus, who won a silver medal in the International Team category at the WA1500 World Championships in Perth.
Fellow gunman David Oates is also up for the award, also representing Australia at the WA1500 World Championships. Oates won a gold medal in the International Team Pistol, and a silver in the Individual Revolver and was also named WA1500 Pistol Australia Champion.
After a stunning year Mitch Williamson got the nod after being elected to represent Australia at the XIII Oceania Athletics Championships, while golfer Robert Payne was selected in the Golf Austalia senior team for 2013 Sanctuary Cove Trophy and has been named a finalist as a result.
David Hayward is the final nominee, after captaining the Australian Deaf Tenpin Bowling Team at the Deaflympics in Bulgaria.
Of the Junior Sportsperson finalists, Madie Smith (hockey) and Charlotte Jasprizza (netball) are finalists again, backing up from last year’s nominations.
Last year’s Team of the Year joint winners, Orange City’s first grade rugby union team and the Orange open netball side are both finalists once again after stellar 2013 seasons.
Orange City won its second consecutive undefeated Blowes Clothing Cup title, while Orange won its 18th straight division one Central West State League title, the inaugural Inter Regional State League title and also finished third at the division two Netball NSW State Championships.