2020 Westpac Swimmer of the Year Awards

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the 2020 Westpac Swimmer of the Year Awards.

After much anticipation, the Awards have arrived despite the current restrictions that have been enforced through COVID-19. As stated in previous communications, our sport must recognise the great achievements our Swimmers, Coaches, Clubs and Volunteers over the past season.

It is the aim of these Awards is to recognise the stellar achievements by Swimming WA members throughout 2019/20, and what a wonderful season it was!

In August, Brianna Throssell (UWA West Coast, c: Michael Palfery) was the sole WA representative in Gwangju at the FINA World Championships, playing a pivotal role in the Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay which broke the World Record. Throssell also won Gold in the 4x100m Freestyle relay and two Silvers in the 4x100m Women’s Medley Relay and the 4x100m Mixed Medley Relay. Additionally, Throssell appeared in the final of the 50m and 100m Butterfly.

Ben Popham (Arena, c: Simon Redmond) and Jeremy McClure (South Shore, c: Chris Twomey) represented Australia at the World Para Swimming Championships in London, where Popham claimed Silver in the S8 100m Freestyle and Bronze in the S8 50m Freestyle and 4x100m Relay. Popham also featured in the S8 400m Freestyle, finishing 5^th in a tough race.

McClure also represented Australia in the finals, finishing 6^th in the S11 100m Backstroke, and combining with the Australian team to finish 6^th in the 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay.

The FINA Junior World Championships followed shortly after, where four (4) Western Australia’s were selected to compete. UWA West Coast’s, Joshua Edwards-Smith (UWA West Coast, c: Michael Shaw), enjoyed a busy schedule at the Championships, competing across six events. Joshua Yong (UWA West Coast, c: Michael Palfery), Alyssa Burgess (Arena, c: Simon Redmond) and Kalani Ireland (Perth City, c: Matt Magee) all competed valiantly with Yong and Ireland qualifying for semi-finals. 

In October, the Hancock Prospecting Australian Short Course Swimming Championships took place in Melbourne and saw some outstanding results from Ashton Brinkworth (UWA West Coast, c: Michael Palfery), Ben Roberts (Breakers, c: Bud McAllister), Zac Incerti (UWA West Coast, c: Michael Palfery), Kieren Pollard (North Coast, c: Ian Mills), Nic Brown (UWA West Coast, c: Michael Palfery), and Jackson Govers (St Hilda’s, c: Deb Jones).

December saw the SunSmart State Age Swimming Championships, which were highlighted by multiple Australian Para Swimming records being broken by 16-year-old S11 swimmer Tegan Reder from the Victoria Park Swimming Club.

In January, the Open Water Swimming Nationals were held at Brighton Beach in South Australia. Such is the strength of open water swimming in this State, that there were many medal-winning performances from the WA athletes.

The year also saw two stars of Open Water Swimming in Nicholas Rollo and Jack Wilson selected for the Australian Open Water Olympic Selection Team. Congratulations to both athletes.

This year the 11 Rounds of the Swimming WA Open Water Swimming Series saw over 5,400 participants competing in the best Open Water Swimming Series in the country.

Over 1500 swimmers participated in Swimming WA’s Development Programmes; Junior Dolphins, Splash and Dash and Summer League. Carnivals took place across the State from Broome to Esperance, producing a cohort of future champions.

It’s an exciting time for Western Australian swimming, and as we lead into the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, once more our sport will be attractive to the “next generation” of youngsters, and we will be ready to accept them into our Clubs.

Finally, Swimming WA would like to thank all of the hard-working volunteers within the sport. Despite recent turbulence, Swimming in Western Australia is set to thrive after years of perseverance and determination from volunteers across the state.

We look forward to delving deeper into the success of the 2019/20 season, as the 2020 Westpac Swimmer of the Year Awards are officially open.

Congratulations to the following award winners;

Sir Frank Beaurepaire Trophy

The Old Court Cup

The Hall of Fame Alumni Trophy

Swimming WA Life Members’ Trophy         

The Eamon Sullivan Trophy

The Jack Howson Trophy

The Jennifer Reilly Trophy

The Frank Osman Memorial Shield

Max Gerber Multi-Class Championship Trophy

Roy Hammond Trophy

Winner: Brianna Throssell, UWA West Coast

Hicks Ive Trophy

Winner: Ashton Brinkworth, UWA West Coast

BG Agencies Cup

Winner: St Hilda’s (Sena Cooper, Talara-Jade Dixon, Vienne Seneque, Grace Hull)

Peter Evans & Neil Brooks Cup

Winner: UWA West Coast (Joshua Edwards-Smith, Alex Milligan, Grant Irvine, Ashton Brinkworth)

Metropolitan Long Course Club Shield

Winner: UWA West Coast

Country Long Course Club Shield

Winner: Bunbury

Metropolitan Short Course Club Shield

Winner: UWA West Coast

Country Short Course Club Shield

Winner: Peel Aquatic

Further awards will be announced throughout the week. Stay tuned via Swimming WA Facebook and Social Media.