Sporting Highlights *NEW TO 2009*

Academy receives boost from State
Central Coast Academy of Sport (CCAS) Managing Director, Ian Robilliard and several CCAS scholarship athletes were among the guests at Parliament House in Sydney in early March, to hear the news that the State Government will be extending its additional funding to the Regional Academies of Sport in NSW for another four years.

The additional funding, worth $500,000 per year – on top of the $1 million that the NSW Government contributes each year – will be shared between each of the ten independent Regional Academies of Sport around the state. “This is fantastic news,” said Mr Robilliard, following the announcement. “The Central Coast Academy of Sport works extremely hard to provide high-level support to local athletes, coaches and sports administrators so that they can continue to train, play and officiate within our region.

The continuation of the additional funding shows that our Government supports what we do, and it will help to ensure that we are able to continue providing those high-level services,” said Mr Robilliard.

Coast Paralympic skier claims world title
Terrigal Paralympic skier, Shannon Dallas performed magnificently at the 2009 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championship in Korea, winning a gold medal. Dallas dominated the field in the men’s sit ski super giant slalom to claim the world title on 24 February.

Head coach of Australia’s Winter Paralympic team, Steve Graham was thrilled by the wins – particularly with Dallas’s strong performance. “A result like that for Shannon was just excellent. To win by more than one second showed that he was the man today,” said Mr Graham

Dallas is on a great run after winning gold in the super combination shootout last month at the IPC Alpine World Cup in Sestriere, Italy. Following the world championships, Dallas will set his sights on qualifying for the Australian team at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Riley wins fourth consecutive state title
Central Coast Academy of Sport Future Stars athlete and barefoot waterskier, Riley McKay, has confirmed her spot as a champion of the future after winning another NSW state title. This latest win gives 10-year-old Riley four consecutive state titles. Riley will make history if she is able to defend her state title in 2010, being the first skier to claim five NSW state titles in the sub-junior girls division.

Channel swim for Shelley Clark
Australian open water star, Shelley Clark, has been invited to contest the Great Channel Swim – a race across the English Channel in August. She is among eight men and six women invited to contest a swim that was first raced over 50 years ago. Clark, who lives at Niagara Park, has swum all around the world and is regarded as one of marathon swimming’s true champions.

Council’s sporting grants
The Central Coast Regional Organisation of Councils (CCROC) has provided $6,000 in grants for local athletes to participate at international sporting events. The Blue Thunder of Down Under softball team of Lake Haven will collect a $5,000 grant to attend the World Vintage Softball Tournament in Hawaii this April.

Woy Woy resident Troy Chapman will receive $1,000 to compete in the Shotokan Karate International Federation World Championships held in Greece in July. 28-year-old Chapman has been selected to compete at the World Championships in the under 75kg weight class, having competed at State, National and International levels over the last three years in the same weight category.

Back Send us your comments