Revealed: Local Sports Star winners

From world championships to dominating on Gold Coast touch footy fields, the Bulletin’s 2019 Local Sports Stars has had it all.

FROM world championships to dominating on Gold Coast touch footy fields, the Bulletin’s 2019 Local Sports Stars has had it all.

Athletics whiz Ellie Beer has beaten a hot field to claim the coveted Junior Sports Star (Individual) award.

Nathan Andrews’ ongoing fight with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia saw the Labrador Tigers Aussie rules player win the Inspiration award.

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Steve Brennan’s long service to Mudgeeraba Soccer Club earnt the 58-year-old the Service to Sport award, while rising under-11/12 touch football side Shutdown claimed the Team of Excellence gong.

Beer has spent this week in Cairns before she soon becomes the youngest woman to represent Australia at the world championships (4x400m relay) after leaving for Doha on Tuesday.

Local Sports Star award winnders Steve Brennan (Service to Sport), players from the Shutdown under-11/12 side (Team Excellence) and Nathan Andrews (Inspiration Award). Picture: Jerad Williams

At 16 years and 268 days, the rise of the Marymount College Year 11 student has been remarkable after she clocked a personal best time of 52.53 seconds to win the open women’s Brisbane Track Classic earlier this year.

That elevation on to the world stage helped Beer hold off a strong field in the Junior Sports Star category.

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“She has taken us by surprise this year,” mum Megan said.

“But she’s still so young so we are a bit nervous about her going away by herself.

“But we’re immensely proud and she has a really good training squad who keep her level-headed.”

After being diagnosed in 2017, Andrews’ footy dreams took a back seat but the 16-year-old fought back from not being able to complete a lap of the oval to again returning to the field.

“He’s the toughest man I’ve ever met,” dad Michael said.

“He inspires us every day with his attitude and how he looks at things.”

Shutdown dominated various touch football competitions across the Gold Coast in this season after a huge growth since starting three years ago.

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“It will mean a lot for the kids because me and my brother-in-law are carers too with kids with major difficulties and this is why we started doing this,” organiser Julian Timu said.

Brennan, who volunteers his time coaching and supporting various teams at Mudgeeraba, called his award win “very humbling”.

■ The Local Sports Star awards nomination period ran from March until August.

■ The judging panel was Bulletin sports editor Rhys O’Neill, Olympian and Gold Coast Academy of Sport executive director Glynis Nunn, and Gold Coast Suns general manager of consumer and community Jane McGough.

■ Gold Coast Suns are a campaign partner of the Local Sports Star awards.

The Shutdown under-11/12 team. Picture: Jerad Williams

ELLIE BEER (Junior Sports Star Individual)

■ Won the Brisbane Track Classic open women’s race with a PB of 52.53sec

■ Representated Australia in the 4x400m relay at the IAAF World Relay Championships

■ Winner of Carbine Club Bursary 2019

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“It’s a good learning experience for her. She would love to run in the 51s and she has world juniors next year in Kenya so that’s her big goal,” mum Megan Beer said.

NATHAN ANDREWS (Inspiration)

■ Diagnosed with Leukemia in 2017

■ Returned to footy and couldn’t do one lap of the oval

■ Kept training until he was able to return to the field

“He’s the toughest man I’ve ever met,” dad Michael said. “He inspires us every day with his attitude and how he looks at things.”

SHUTDOWN (Team of Excellence)

■ 2018 under-11 Labrador Oztag champions

■ 2018 Gold Coast under-11 rugby sevens champions

■ 2018 Coomera under-12 touch champions

■ 2019 Gold Coast under-12 tri series champions

■ 2019 Palm Beach under-12 tri series champions

“It will mean a lot for the kids because me and my brother-in-law are carers too with kids with major difficulties and this is why we started doing this,” organiser Julian Timu said.

STEVE BRENNAN (Service to Sport)

■ Trains multiple teams at Mudgeeraba Soccer Club

■ Has volunteered his time to coach other sides when no coach is available

■ Always offers support to his players, even if they’re not from his team

“Although, as a coach it’s not expected or sought after it’s pleasing and a little embarrassing to be nominated and recognised. I’m just really happy to give something back to the sport I grew up on and enjoyed immensely as a kid, and to be involved with female sport and the girls” development.”