Alex honoured with Cobar Netball’s top award

Player, umpire, mentor, coach and committee member Alex Hernando was presented with Cobar Netball Association’s inaugural Larnie Keen Memorial Club Person of the Year Award by Larnie’s daughter Krystle Keen and granddaughter Indirose Saunders at the club’s presentations on Saturday night.

In a year that was like no other, Cobar Netball Association celebrated their end of season like no other with their 2020 presentations held outdoors at the Cobar Rugby Club on Saturday night.

Club vice president Haylee Prince (filling in for president Bethany Thomas) said the 2020 season still ran “pretty well” despite COVID restrictions.

The first award presented for the evening was the Larnie Keen Club Person of the Year which was presented by Larnie’s family in her memory.

Larnie was a long time supporter of the Cobar Netball Association and a Life Member of the club. Larnie lost her battle with cancer earlier this year.

With a long list of contributions to the club this season, including umpire’s convener, player, mentor, coach, junior competition helper and committee member, Alex Hernando was a very worthy first recipient of the award.

She was one of five nominees put forward for the inaugural club award.

The season’s Best and Fairest Players were: A Grade—Emily Gough from the Hot Shots team and in B Grade the award went to Jane Dickson from the Mid Strength Merinos.

The 2020 Players’ Player awards for each team were won by: Divas — Jennifer Shepherd; Real Steel – Haylee Prince; JKM Dynamic Fitness – Neve Carter; Gumnuts – Lexi Traynor; Pumpettes – Molly Carter; Mid Strength Merinos – Jane Dickson; Hot Shots – Stevie Long; and Sharpe Shooters – Britt Martin.

The A Grade Sportsmanship Award went to Molly Carter from the Pumpettes and Gumnuts’ Lexi Traynor won the B Grade Sportsmanship award.

After their grand final wins last week, the 2020 Premiers, Pumpettes for A Grade, and Sharpe Shooters (B Grade) were formally presented with their winners’ trophies as part of Saturday’s presentations.