The Benny’s: recognising WA sporting achievements

The Benny’s: recognising WA sporting achievements

The Oscars have been on Monday, which implies awards season in Hollywood is now over.

But there may be one closing awards present: The second annual Benny’s, recognising wonderful performances within the WA sporting realm.

Granted, this award’s present has a considerably inferior funds, so there might be no Ryan Gosling in a pink swimsuit main a rousing singalong to tender masculinity; Nic Naitanui was requested to host, however he was out of my value vary.

Your native paper, everytime you need it.

Best actor (finest male particular person athlete) – Matthew Ebden

Rohan Bopanna, left, of India and Matthew Ebden of Australia pose with their trophy after defeating Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy in the men's doubles final at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Camera IconMatthew Ebden with doubles accomplice Rohan Bopanna. Credit: Andy Wong/AP

Ebden is a staff participant in a person sport, however whereas it might be a technicality, the tennis ace continued his late-career bloom into among the finest doubles gamers on this planet. The northern suburbs product received his maiden Australian Open alongside Rohan Bopanna, and with it seized the world primary rating for the primary time in his profession.

Also nominated: Kurtis Marschall, Min Woo Lee, Jack Della Maddalena

Best actress (finest feminine particular person athlete) – Nina Kennedy

Nina Kennedy reacts after breaking her national record.
Camera IconNina Kennedy reacts after breaking her nationwide report. Credit: Fred Etter/Athletics Australia

Winning a world championship and setting a brand new Australian report within the course of must do the trick. A yr after successful Commonwealth gold and a World Championship bronze, Kennedy cemented her spot as among the finest pole vaulters on this planet with an outstanding efficiency on the 2023 World Championships. The Bunbury product jumped 4.9m to maintain tempo with Katie Moon and with neither of them capable of be separated on countback, the pair shared the purpose medal. After the frustration of Tokyo, Paris is the world quantity two’s finest likelihood at Olympic gold.

Also nominated: Minjee Lee, Storm Hunter.

Best supporting actor (finest male athlete in a staff sport): Bryce Cotton.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 19: Bryce Cotton of the Wildcats (R) poses with Andrew Gaze after being named the Andrew Gaze NBL MVP presented by Hungry Jack's during the 2024 NBL MVP Awards Night at CIEL The Venue on February 19, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for NBL)
Camera IconBryce Cotton with Andrew Gaze and the MVP trophy. Credit: Graham Denholm/Getty Images for NBL

Appreciate Cotton’s greatness when you can. It is superb to assume the Wildcats star needed to confront questions round his kind at the beginning of the season after scoring lower than 12 factors in 4 of his opening seven video games of the season. But from there, he went on a tear, reeling off match-winning performances with ease as he sauntered in the direction of a fourth MVP award, entrenching him as one of many NBL’s all-time greats.

Also nominated: Caleb Serong, Oscar Allen, Mitch Marsh.

Best supporting actress (finest feminine athlete in a staff sport)

Sydney, NSW, Australia,  Sam Kerr (20 Australia) scores for the Matilda's FIFA Womens World Cup 2023 Semi Final match Australia v England at Stadium Australia (Accor Stadium) 16 August 2023, Sydney, Australia.  (Keith McInnes/SPP) (Photo by Keith McInnes/SPP/Sipa USA)
Camera IconSydney, NSW, Australia, Sam Kerr (20 Australia) scores for the Matilda’s FIFA Womens World Cup 2023 Semi Final match Australia v England at Stadium Australia (Accor Stadium) 16 August 2023, Sydney, Australia. (Keith McInnes/SPP) (Photo by Keith McInnes/SPP/Sipa USA) Credit: Sports Press Photo/Sipa USA

Might simply must rename this the Sam Kerr trophy. Overcoming an injured calf, she gave Matildas followers – and certainly, the Australian sporting public at giant – a reminiscence they are going to always remember together with her unbelievable solo purpose within the Women’s World Cup semifinal. Kerr’s kind for Chelsea helped the Blues to a different WSL/FA Cup double, and sealed her second spot in voting for essentially the most prestigious particular person honour within the recreation, the Ballon d’Or.

Also nominated: Emma O’Driscoll, Courtney Bruce.

Best costume design (finest equipment/jersey) – Perth Scorchers’ Aboriginal shirt

Sophie Devine, captain of the Perth Scorchers, pictured in the club's Aboriginal playing shirt.
Camera IconSophie Devine, captain of the Perth Scorchers, pictured within the membership’s Aboriginal enjoying shirt. Credit: Danella Bevis/The West Australian

I’ve mentioned it earlier than, and I’ll say it once more: I’m nonetheless but to search out an Aboriginal-inspired jersey I don’t like. Most of them are superior, and the Scorchers’ newest providing is not any totally different. The black prime half of the shirt offers strategy to an explosion of color and element, with a swan representing the Boorloo (Perth) space and contours and circles bringing to life the Derbal Yerrigan (Swan River).

Also nominated: Western Force residence jersey, West Coast and Fremantle First Nations jerseys.

Best director (coach) – Paul Burgess

.  Australia s Paul Burgess talking to his coach in the stands in the Men s Pole Vault Qualification at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  Photographed Wednesday  20th  August 2008, by Mal Fairclough  The West Australian . . SPECIAL 00000000
Camera IconPaul Burgess throughout his athletics profession. Credit: Mal Fairclough MXF/WA News

Burgess may be the most effective coach most individuals have by no means heard of. Australia’s foremost pole vault whisperer, Burgess coaches Nina Kennedy and Kurtis Marschall out of the WA Athletics Stadium and WAIS. Under his tutelage over the previous yr, Kennedy has consolidated her spot as among the finest vaulters on this planet, whereas Marschall loved a breakout season, rising to as excessive as fourth within the males’s world rankings and claiming a bronze medal on the world championships.

Also nominated: Adam Voges, John Rillie.

Best image (finest second) – Mitch Marsh wins the Allan Border Medal

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 31: Mitch Marsh poses with the Allan Border Medal during the 2024 Cricket Australia Awards at Crown Palladium on January 31, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)
Camera IconMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 31: Mitch Marsh poses with the Allan Border Medal in the course of the 2024 Cricket Australia Awards at Crown Palladium on January 31, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images for Cricket Australia) Credit: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images for Cricket Austral

It was a consequence nobody would have thought potential this time final yr – hell, even earlier than the Ashes it seemed one million to 1. But Mitch Marsh’s comeback, and subsequent transformation into public darling, was accomplished when he took residence Australian cricket’s grandest particular person honour. In a speech which resonated with cricket followers across the nation, Marsh’s confession he’s “a bit fat at times and I love a beer” whereas choking again tears will stay lengthy within the reminiscence.

Also nominated: Bryce Cotton’s fourth MVP.

Outstanding efficiency by a forged (finest staff) – WA males’s cricket staff

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 25: Western Australia celebrate with the trophy after winning the March One Day Cup Final match between New South Wales Blues and Western Australia at Cricket Central on February 25, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Camera IconSYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 25: Western Australia have fun with the trophy after successful the March One Day Cup Final match between New South Wales Blues and Western Australia at Cricket Central on February 25, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images) Credit: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

It felt like a down season for the lads’s cricket staff – however that’s purely testomony to their sustained excellence over latest years. Adam Voges’ males could not have accomplished their Big Bash League title, however they did win their third successive Marsh One-Day Cup closing and have loved one other sturdy Sheffield Shield season.

Also nominated: Perth Wildcats, Perth Lynx, Perth Heat

Source: www.perthnow.com.au