Basketballer Georgia Amoore has been honoured with the 2017 Ballarat Sports Girl of the Year award.
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She was added to the honour roll by the Sportsmen’s Association of Australian Ballarat associates branch on Thursday night.
Racewalking sisters Alanna and Jemma Peart, and lawn bowler Sophie Kurzman were other finalists.
Anna Leighton and Helen Kirkpatrick were other award winners at the dinner. attended by almost 250 people.
A Special Olympics and para athlete swimmer, Leighton received the Blackbourn encouragement award and Kirkpatrick the sports administrator of the year for her contribution to equestrian sports, including the pony club movement.
Amoore, who attends Ballarat Clarendon College and plays with Exies Acmy in the Ballarat, capped off a big year by being part of the Australian team to capture the Asian Under-16 Cup title – qualifying the Sapphires for the 2018 world under-17 championship.
Her pathway to national selection included playing with Ballarat Rush in the South East Australian Basketball League, helping Vic Country to the Australian under-18 championship, attending a national development camp at the Australian Institute of Sport and being part of the future Opals program.
Leighton competed at club, state and national level last year.
These included the national age long course championships in Brisbane, where she reached five finals with a best finish of third in the 50m backstroke.
Leighton, who joined Special Olympics Ballarat in 2014 and is a Ballarat Gold club member, also swam at the national short course titles in Adelaide, progressing into three finals.
She is now preparing to represent Victoria at the Special Olympics National Games in April and a return to the national age championships.
Kirkpatrick has spent a lifetime involved with the equestrian community, including time with Ballarat Pony Club in various roles and as a district commissioner.
She has bred Arabian horses and been a Western District Arab Riders and Breeders Association committee member,.
Kirkpatrick and her daughter joined Ballarat Pony Club in 2004 and she has has also helped run events for Raglan Pony Club and the Beaufort Show with a focus on encouraging participation and developing community spirit..