Previous winner Kathryn Mitchell
THE 2012 Ballarat Sportswoman of the Year will be announced tonight.
Olympians Kathryn Mitchell and Tamsin Hinchley, and Shannyn Johnstone-Ward are the finalists for the award, to be presented by the Ballarat Sports Association of Australia Associates at Ballarat Lodge.
Mitchell is a previous Ballarat Sportswoman of the Year.
The javelin thrower joined the distinguished honour roll two years ago - taking out the 2010 award after finishing fifth in the Commonwealth Games.
It will be the 38th presentation of the award. Track and field athlete Sandra Griffin was the first winner in 1975.
Mitchell and beach volleyballer Hinchley competed in the London Olympics.
Mitchell capped off her Olympic campaign by reaching the final and finishing ninth.
Hinchley paired up with beach volleyball legend Natalie Cook for her third appearance in an Olympic Games.
She was an indoor volleyballer in Sydney in 2000 and made her beach volleyball debut beside Cook in Beijing.
Johnstone-Ward continued her international Kyokushin karate career with several overseas tournaments last year.
She took out the New Zealand national title and had seconds in the World Tournament in Japan – an event she won in 2008 – and South African national titles.
The Ballarat SAA associates will also name a 2012 Sportsgirl of the Year and sports administrator and encouragement awards recipients.
The Age sports journalist Sam Lane is guest speaker.
A DECADE OF WINNERS
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR:
2002 Emily Martin (rowing)
2003 Kellie Lucas (badminton),
2004 Shayne Reese (swimming),
2005 Emily Martin (rowing),
2006 Shayne Reese (swimming),
2007 Shayne Reese (swimming),
2008 Shayne Reese (swimming),
2009 Shayne Reese (swimming),
2010, Kathryn Mitchell (javelin),
2011 Briony Polkinghorne (indoor cricket)
SPORTSGIRL OF THE YEAR (first presented 1975)
2002 Holly Burton (swimming),
2003 Lauren Ford (high jump),
2004 Cianne Howden (taekwondo) and Michelle Carpenter (table tennis),
2005 Kaitlyn Ashmore (athletics),
2006 Kaitlyn Ashmore (athletics),
2007 Kaitlyn Ashmore (athletics),
2008 Rachel Tallent (racewalking),
2009 Tara Pilven (badminton),
2010 Molly Mathews (basketball),
2011 Zoe Hives (tennis).
david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au