Vote now for your local equestrian sporting heroes

The finalists for the 2018 Sportscover Clubbies Awards are online now! Don't miss our Equestrian finalists!

Four months ago Inside Sport called on Aussie sports fans to send us their stories about the unsung heroes of grassroots sport. The result has been phenomenal.

This year’s Sportscover Clubbies Awards are the biggest and most competitive yet – more than 1100 nominations, across 60 sports, from every state and mainland territory. 

The Inside Sport judging panel sifted through each heartfelt entry showcasing these local legends and finally narrowed the field to a shortlist of finalists. Even so, a whopping 40 plus sports made the cut! And Equestrian is well represented!

Don't miss our two Equestrian Australia members !

BEST MASTERS PERFORMANCE - Sandra Atkins, 76-year-old Equestrian Australia Membe passionate about Showjumping and Indoor rowing!

"At 76 years of age, Sandra Atkins was an inspiration to all at the 2017 Masters Games in Tasmanian. One sport wasn't enough for 76-year-old horse rider Sandra Atkins – she decided to do two, taking up indoor rowing for the first time in her life, and winning gold medals in both. Three hip replacements and two knee replacements aside, the Deloraine woman limped into the local gym on a walking stick a few months ago and said she wanted to row at the Australian Masters Games. She'd already entered the show jumping and was just scrolling down through the dozens of sports and saw indoor rowing and started training twice a week with a Deloraine personal trainer in the lead-up to the competition. She looked up the Masters Games website to see what time the winner in her age group had got the last time and that was her goal. Atkins’ first hip replacement was about 10 years ago, but she ended up with a dePuy hip, which started disintegrating a few years later and so had the hip replaced for a second time about six years ago. She then had her other hip and knee replaced. Her final knee replacement was in September last year. Because a lot of muscle had been removed from her hip on that side, she was very lame. After three indoor rowing wins Sandra competed in the show jumping, taking home two more gold medals and two silvers." Nominated by Catriona Nicholls, peer

BEST STALWART - Angela Beresford, tireless and energetic president of the Tweed Valley Equestrian Group, in Murwillumbah, NSW

"Our Ange is the president of the club and took on that role as no one else would four years ago otherwise the club would have folded. The club has been going in the beautiful town of Murwillumbah since 1972. Ange works tirelessly for our club, volunteering her time and energy to help our small group of riders (about 70) constantly. She also volunteers her time for helping neighbouring clubs set up and pack up their equestrian events. In early 2017 Murwillumbah was devastated by the floods of x cyclone Debbie and Ange was there without hesitation and rallying us all to help clean up, repair and restore our Showgrounds. She believes in our lovely sport and unwaveringly goes out of her way to help others. Ange has volunteered for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and nine years ago gave one of her kidneys to help a friend in need. Ange is so very deserved of this recognition and award and I can guarantee any funds received would be donated back into our club and sport." Nominated by Alissa Anderson, club secretary

Now we’re turning it over to you to help choose the winners!

To view the finalists and cast your vote just go to www.insidesport.com.au/clubbies/vote

Your votes will have a big say in who picks up awards for:

• Best Club 
• Best Coach
• Best Stalwart
• Best Sports Association
• Best Masters Performance
• Best Administrator
• Best Facility

Winner of the Best Club category will win $5000 worth of INTERSPORT vouchers, while other Clubbies winners will share in a prize pool worth more than $10,000!

Inside Sport editor, Jeff Centenera said: “We were floored by the response to the Clubbies this year, particularly how far it reached across the country. It proved yet again to us at the magazine that the best stories in Australian sport are at the grassroots level.”

You can support your coach, club, sport (or any nominees that blow you away). To view the finalists and cast your vote just go to www.insidesport.com.au/clubbies/vote

Voting closes on April 15 and winners will be announced on May 3.