
Goonellabah kayaker Joshua Lee has won the Athlete of the Year Award at the North Coast Academy of Sport’s awards night held at Coffs Harbour last weekend.
At just 15 years old Joshua was named in the Australian U/18 Whitewater Kayaking Team that will go to the World Championships in Bosnia next month.
He was chosen from the 220 athletes who have been involved in NCAS programs across 10 sports over the last 12 months.
John Kincade, executive director of NCAS, said that Joshua was an example of the outstanding sporting talent that exists in the region.
‘Joshua’s is an incredible story he only began paddling two years ago and has already established himself as one of the most promising talents in Australian canoeing.
‘NCAS has had an outstanding year with athletes excelling at all levels of competition,’ Kincade said.
The awards night was attended by over 150 guests including athletes, family members, coaches, managers, committee members and sponsors.
The NCAS is a non-government and not-for-profit organisation whose goal is to identify and develop talented junior athletes throughout the north coast region of NSW.
The NCAS runs programs to support elite athletes across 15 sports including women’s AFL, basketball, cycling, golf, netball, rowing, rugby 7s, surf life saving, tennis, and triathlon.


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