THE list of finalists for the 2014 Orange Credit Union Sports Awards has been released, with 11 of last year’s short-list making the cut again - including all three of 2014’s award winners.

The awards will celebrate Orange’s best and brightest athletes’ performances and achievements from 2014, and will be held at Orange Civic Theatre on Monday, July 27.

Pistol shooter Dave Oates won last year’s Sportsperson of the Year award, and after representing Australia at the WA1500 German International Open could claim the trophy again, while Madie Smith, who won last year’s Junior Sportsperson award, is also a finalist for the top gong.

Smith is considered a real chance of winning thanks to her selection in the NSW Combined High Schools hockey team, and the NSW under 18 side, and being invited to the Hockey Australia Futures Camp again.

Dean Brus competed at the WA1500 German International Open alongside Oates and is a finalist again as well, as is Jason Belmonte, having secured a wealth of tenpin awards in 2014.

Duathlete Tristan Harrison also made the cut again after donning green and gold at the World Age Duathlon Championships, while his sister Stephanie is also nominated having competed for Australia as well.

Netball guns Charlotte Jasprizza - a nominee for the Junior Sportsperson of the Year award last year - and Mardi Aplin are also finalists after representing NSW under 19s and the Australian Netball League’s Canberra Darters respectively.

Of the Junior Sportsperson of the Year finalists, just Charlie Bubb (martial arts) and Lauren Kerwick (triathlon) are backing up from last year’s nominations. They’re joined by Jesse Keegan (squash), Billy Greatbatch (touch football), Stirling Farr (athletics), Phoebe Litchfield (athletics and cricket), Bailey Ferguson (hockey) and Eva Reith-Snare (hockey).

Orange Pistol Club’s WA1500 team won two medals at the German International Open to make the cut for the Team of the Year award, which it won last year - beating out the Orange Tigers’ Central West AFL top grade team, and Orange’s open netball side, which are both finalists again.

Orange’s boys’ under 14 and girls’ under 10 touch sides also made the cut, as did Orange’s women’s over 45 Masters hockey team.