New sports awards celebrate Murray Bridge’s stars for the first time

A cricketer, a netballer, two basketballers and a two-club legend have been recognised at the first edition of a new awards ceremony in 2021.

New sports awards celebrate Murray Bridge’s stars for the first time

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Jared Marston, Ian Bates, Olivia Bolt, Kurt Bustamante and Roxy Tyler become the first winners at the Murray Bridge Sports Awards. Image: Peri Strathearn.

If sport is just another name for community, as former footy league president Terry Connolly would say, then these five men and women are all of us.

They are the winners of the first-ever Murray Bridge sports awards, presented at a cocktail event at the Bridges Event Centre on Wednesday night.

Instead of giving out sporting awards on Australia Day, as in the past, the stand-alone ceremony ensured Murray Bridge’s sports stars were properly celebrated, Mayor Brenton Lewis said.

That was important when sport was so central to country people’s identities.

Perhaps that was why the sports volunteer of the year award – not the junior or senior sportsperson of the year – was the most anticipated of the night.

Here’s who won what.

Ian Bates urges more locals to volunteer with their favourite sporting club. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Sports volunteer of the year

Monarto Cricket Club and Mypolonga Football Club life member Ian “Normie” Bates took out the night’s top award, recognising his decades of dedication to both sports.

As well as being Monarto’s president, he coaches under-15 cricketers at club and association level, has coached junior footy, has spent a total of 35 years on the committees of both his clubs, and can also be found umpiring, cooking the barbecue or working in the canteen – all after a playing career which made him a life member of the River Murray Football League.

The other finalists were:

  • Peter Newell, a 40-year member of Murray Bridge Rowing Club who stewarded it through the development of the new regional rowing centre
  • Michelle Afford, the Jervois Netball Club president who found them a new competition during last year’s COVID shutdown, and a hard court tennis association life member
  • John Bartel, the track maintenence man with the Go Kart Club of SA who this year had an annual race meeting named in his honour
Jared Marston, who said there was nothing he’d rather do than play cricket for six months each year, accepts his award from Brenton Lewis. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Sportsman of the year

An emotional Jared Marston took home the sportsman of the year award for his cricketing exploits at Mypolonga.

As well as captaining their A-grade premiership side last summer, he has represented the Murray Towns in the Meyer Shield, the Fleurieu and Districts in the SA Country Cup and the SA Outbacks at a national level.

Runner-up in the category was state, SA Super League and Murray Bridge RSL lawn bowler Noel Kneebone.

Emcee and Paralympian Katrina Webb asks Olivia Bolt about her achievements. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Sportswoman of the year

There were some serious contenders in this category but, just like on the netball court, there was no beating Olivia Bolt.

The only netballer to play in each of Imperials’ consecutive grand final wins over the past eight years, she’s a life member, premiership-winning captain, eight-time club best and fairest and seven-time River Murray rep at the SA Country Championships, not to mention a former Murray Bridge lawn tennis singles champion.

Unlucky to miss out were:

  • Courtney Manning, the Lower Murray Hardcourt Tennis Association’s best female player and River Murray Netball Association’s B grade best and fairest
  • Laurette Norton, the top-ranked table tennis player in country SA and a premiership-winning darts player
Kurt Bustamante accepts his award from Brenton Lewis. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Young sportsman of the year

This award went to basketballer Kurt Bustamante, Murray Bridge’s only player on an SA Country team which played in Darwin this year and a Saints and Murray Bridge association MVP.

Runner-up was Imperials’ Blake Langton, the River Murray Football League’s best under-16 player.

Roxanna Tyler accepts her award from Brenton Lewis. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Young sportswoman of the year

Roxanna Tyler received this award after her silver medal-winning adventure with an SA Country basketball team at the same Darwin tournament.

She has been an MVP not only with Galaxy and the Murray Bridge Basketball Association, but also Jervois and the River Murray Netball Association.

Five-time Murray Bridge Golf Club women’s champion – at the age of 17 – Armani Marsters was the runner-up.

Among the finalists at the awards are Armani Marsters, Noel Kneebone, Ian Bates, Jared Marston, Peter Newell, John Bartel, Roxanna Tyler, Blake Langton, Laurette Norton, Kurt Bustamante, Michelle Afford and Olivia Bolt. Photo: Peri Strathearn.