Shooter crowned Sportstar

Champion shooter Steve Hurley added Albany’s highest individual sporting honour to an already long list of accolades when he claimed the Wellington and Reeves 2013 Albany Sportsperson of the Year Award last night.

After winning an unprecedented fifth senior category title earlier in the night, Hurley edged out the other winners to claim the overall Sportsperson of the Year crown.

Hurley joined equestrian competitor Emma Panizza as the second overall winner after she won the inaugural honour in 2012.

The 42-year-old enjoyed another standout year behind the gun, winning his sixth straight three-gun championship at the Australian Lever Action rifle championships in Alice Springs last October, dedicating the triumph to his late mother who passed away not long before the event.

Last night’s function at Albany Entertainment Centre was the 41st gala awards evening recognising the outstanding performance and the contribution by athletes to their chosen sport.

Rising cycling star Craig Wiggins was crowned the Junior Sportsperson of the Year over hockey gun and last year’s winner Rebecca Metcalfe, emerging female cricketer Samara Williams, State basketballer Joel Bellinger-Brown and emerging shooter Lachlan Butler.

Wiggins won two national titles at the Cycling Australia under-15 national road race championships including the junior men 10km time trial and 30km road race in a dominant 2013.

Veteran surfer Adrian Shepherd was announced as the Veteran Sportsperson of the Year in a breakthrough year for the local board-shaper who won his first ever State title when he claimed both the over-45 grand masters and over-50 legends divisions at the WA Pro-Am.

Albany’s sporting elite heard from former West Coast Eagles premiership captain and coach John Worsfold who was the guest speaker at the awards.

The Albany Advertiser is a sponsor of the Albany Sportsperson of the Year Awards.