Hockey honours best

Manypeaks duo Reece Curwen and Renae Parsons have been judged the men and women’s A-grade best and fairest players respectively at the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association presentation evening on Saturday, September 14.

Curwen enjoyed a stellar season with Peaks in the men’s A-grade competition, polling six best-on-ground honours as he finished a clear winner of the award ahead of teammate David Pyle and North Albany’s Seaton Ridout.

After spending the last seven years playing first division hockey for Westside Wolves, Curwen returned to the family farm late last year and only missed two games this season.

The skilful midfielder finished with 28 votes to defeat Pyle (21 votes) and Ridout (16) while Spencer Park’s Leon Squibb (11) and Redbacks’ Ashley Eikelboom (10) rounded out the top five.

Curwen, who played juniors for Peaks, said the season had been an enjoyable one.

“I have enjoyed playing with the younger guys and helping them develop,” the 26-year-old said.

“I have really tried to teach the younger guys things and pass on some knowledge to them. Playing down here is a little bit different from Perth, but there is a lot of talent down here.”

Parsons claimed the women’s A-grade top honour for the second time after collecting 20 votes from her 16 games to hold off teammate Annie Judd (17 votes), Redbacks’ Beck Gallimore (14) and Tigers’ Georgie Powis (14).

The 29-year-old, who was runner-up in the award in 2009 and 2012, finished with four best-afield games, one more than Judd, and said an ongoing finger injury had made this season harder than most.

Spencer Park’s Duncan Olde and Mt Barker’s Nicholas Slade tied for the men’s B-grade fairest and best award.

Both polled 15 votes to defeat runner-up Bruce McDonald from North Albany on 14 and his Redbacks teammate Alan Carter on 12 votes.

In the women’s B-grade fairest and best count, Mt Barker’s Georgina Lilford was a runaway winner, as the teenager finished with 23 votes to beat last year’s winner Larissa Rechichi from Spencer Park on 18 votes.