Ross Kendall
Gabriell Stanek (Alstonville High) and Ebonie Cooper (Ballina High) were local winners of NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association annual Blues awards.
At a presentation ceremony held in Sydney in early December, Gabriell’s skill in triathlon was recognised while Ebonie was a standout performer in athletics-para.
A ‘blue’ is the highest sports award handed out by the state sporting body.
In the North Coast Combined High Schools Sport Association (NCSSA) awards for 2016 the open boys touch Knockout team from Tweed River High won the School Sports Team of the Year.
Jessica Srisamruaybai, also from Tweed High, received a citation award from the NCSSA for lawn bowling.
Jarra Sherlock and Millicent McCourt from Byron High received citations for jiu-jitsu.
In the primary school awards local students were recognised for representing their sport with distinction.
These include: Claudia Annett (Terranora), swimming; George Cooper (Eltham), softball; Oliver Mason (Eltham), athletics; Cairn Larrescy (Tyalgum), athletics; Finlay Neylan (Ocean Shores), athletics; Charlie Ormiston (Ocean Shores), cross country-para; Timothy Yeung Packer (Byron Bay), tennis.
Recognition awards also went to: Cori Hardy (Byron Bay High), athletics and hockey; Zoe Hurley (Alstonville High), basketball; Jayden Lynch (Alstonville High), rugby union; Kate Marshall (Tweed River High), netball; Liam Scanes (Tweed River High), athletics and tennis; Hayden Tolard (Tweed River High), touch and rugby league; and Jakira Toniello (Lismore) cricket and softball.