Tourism, Culture and Recreation
April 2, 2007 

The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

Winners Announced for Sport Newfoundland and Labrador Annual Awards

The Sport Newfoundland and Labrador Annual Awards Banquet took place on Saturday evening, March 31 in St. John�s. The seven award categories recognized the best athletic achievements in Newfoundland and Labrador during 2006.  Nominations for these awards are accepted only from the provincial sport organizations who are members of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador.  The provincial Selection Committee comprises of various sports media in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The winner of the Margaret Davis Memorial Award 2006 Junior Female Athlete of the Year is Katarina Mirabelle Roxon of Kippens.  Katarina set four senior national records in long course swimming in the 50M Breast Stroke, the 100M Breast Stroke, the 200M Breast Stroke, and the 1,500M Freestyle.  She also set three senior national records in short course swimming in the 50M Breast Stroke, the 100M Breast Stroke, and the 200M Breast Stroke.  At the 2006 Canadian SWAD CAN-AM Open Swimming Championships in London, Ontario, Katarina received a bronze medal in the 50M Breast Stroke, a gold medal in the 1,500M Freestyle, and a silver medal in both the 100M Breast Stroke and the 50M Butterfly.  She also received a gold medal in the 100M Breast Stroke and a silver medal in the 400M Individual Medley at the 2006 USA Paralympics Summer CAN-AM Swimming Champs in San Antonia, Texas.  At the 2006 IPC World Swimming Championships in Durban, South Africa, Katarina placed fifth in the 100M Breast Stroke.  Katarina is ranked eighth in the world in the 100M Breast Stroke. Katarina was nominated by Swimming Newfoundland and Labrador.

The winner of the Joe Mullins Memorial Award 2006 Junior Male Athlete of the Year is Joey Russell of Labrador City.  Joey was 2006 Skate Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Junior Men�s Champion.  He was a member of the 2006 Skate Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Senior A Team and the 2006 Skate Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Canadians Team.  Joey set two new provincial records at the 2006 JGP Budapest competition and the 2006 Canadian Championships.  At the national level, Joey was 2006 Canadian Junior Men�s Champion.  He was also a member of the 2006 Canadian Junior Team.  Joey placed second in the Senior Men at the 2006 Octoberfest in Barrie, Ontario.  He placed sixth in the senior men at the 2006 Thornhill Summerskate Competition in Thornhill, Ontario.  On the international scene, Joey placed fourth at the 2006 International Skating Union Junior Grand Prix in Budapest, Hungary and eleventh at the 2006 International Skating Union Junior Grand Prix in Oslo, Norway.  Locally, Joey was awarded Labrador City Junior Male Athlete of the Year.

The winner of the Graham Snow Memorial Award 2006 Executive of the Year is Judy Pittman of St. Lawrence.  Judy served as president of the St. Lawrence Soccer Association.  In that capacity, she was responsible for coordinating $40,000 in fundraising for the Challenge Cup team to travel to British Columbia.  She was also responsible for coordinating $20,000 in fundraising for the masters team to travel to Prince Edward Island. At the provincial level, her responsibilities included the Challenge Cup (Provincial Champs 2007), the Intermediate (BPSA Champs 2006), the Minor (Provincial U-16B Championships), and coordinating the hosting of the Provincial U-14A.  Judy travelled to the Senior Men�s Club Nationals as team representative and coordinated all aspects of the St. Lawrence Laurentians travel to the nationals.

The winner of the John Drinkwater Memorial Award 2006 Coach of the Year is Dr. Patrick Parfrey, O.C. of St. John�s.  Pat coached the Swilers club who won the Goodyear Cup at the senior �A� level, making them provincial champions.  The team went on to place second in the Aliant Cup at the Atlantic Canadian Club Championships.  Pat was head coach of the provincial U18 team that finished fourth at Easterns and fifth at the Nationals.  He was also head coach of the Rugby Canada Super League team, �The Rock�, winning the eastern division title and subsequently the Super League (National) final for the second time in successive years.  Nationally, Pat Parfrey developed two senior national men�s team representatives in the 2006 season through the quality of his coaching at the Super League Level.

The winner of the Ed Browne Memorial Award 2006 Team of the Year is the Brad Gushue Curling Team, comprising Brad Gushue, Mark Nicholls, Jamie Korab and Mike Adam.  The Gushue Curling Team was Olympic gold medalist at the Winter Games in Torino, Italy, giving Canada its first-ever Olympic gold medal in men�s curling.  They were champions at the Swiss Cup Basel in Basel, Switzerland, finalists at the 2006 Tim Horton Invitational in Brantford, Ontario, and quarter-finalists at the Bear Mountain Classic in Victoria, British Columbia.  Team Gushue was named World Curling Tour Team of the Year and Canadian Press Team of the Year.

The winner of the Elizabeth Swan Memorial Award 2006 Senior Female Athlete of the Year is Laura Breen, of St. John�s. Laura has in a very short period of time established herself as a premier female soccer player in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Her play in the Provincial Jubilee Shield and the Atlantic Universities League resulted in all-star nomination in both leagues.  In the Provincial Jubilee Shield, Laura led her team to a first place finish in league play.  She won the Jubilee Shield scoring title and was named Jubilee Shield Most Valuable Player.  On the national scene, Laura led her Memorial University Team in scoring and led the team to the Semi-Finals in Atlantic University play.  Her outstanding play was recognized with a First Team All-Star nomination in the Atlantic Conference and a Second Team Canadian University All-Star selection.  Laura recently won the St. John�s Female Athlete of the Year award for 2006.

The winner of the Ferd Hayward Memorial Award 2006 Senior Male Athlete of the Year is Brad Gushue, of St. John�s.  Brad was the 25-year-old skip who led Canada to its first-ever Olympic gold medal in men's curling in Torino, Italy.  While Brad was skip, his team also earned Team of the Year honours during the World Curling Tour, was named Canadian Press Team of the Year, were champions at the Swiss Cup Basel in Basel, Switzerland, were finalists at the 2006 Tim Horton Invitational in Brantford, Ontario, and were quarter-finalists at the Bear Mountain Classic in Victoria, British Columbia.  At the provincial level, Brad�s team was a semi-finalist at the Don Bartlett Curling Classic in Gander.

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Media contact:
Troy Croft
Executive Director
Sport Newfoundland and Labrador
709-576-4932

troy@sportnl.ca

2007 04 02                                                        12:15 p.m.

 

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