The big winners at the awards ceremony at the World Trade and Convention Centre were: Halifax sailor Paul Tingley (male individual athlete of the year); soccer player Nkem Ezurike of Lower Sackville (female team athlete of the year); Banook paddler Andrew Russell (male team athlete of the year) and the Halifax City Salty’s senior women’s soccer squad (team of the year).

Tingley was golden in his third appearance at the Paralympic Games. At the 2008 Paralympics in China, Tingley became the first Canadian to win a gold medal in sailing. He was also selected to be Canada’s flag bearer at the closing ceremonies.

Ezurike has been part of the Canadian national under-17 team and helped them qualify for the first Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand. She was Canada’s leading scorer at the international tournament.

Russell, who returned to paddling after a three-year retirement, and canoeing partner Gabriel Beauchesne-Sevigny finished sixth in the two-man 1,000-metre final and fifth in the 500m final at the Beijing Olympics.

Halifax City won the Canadian senior women’s championship becoming only the third team from Nova Scotia to win a national soccer crown.

"Everyone here has made significant personal sacrifice to reach the level of excellence they have and their contributions have helped enhance the sport system in this province," Jamie Ferguson, CEO of Sport Nova Scotia, said in a news release.

Sailing’s Craig Guthrie was named coach of the year, soccer’s Shauna Poirier won the official-of-the-year award, the Hammonds Plains Baseball Association captured association-of-the-year honours, triathlete Shawn Amirault won the fair play award and Brian Todd took the Sport Nova Scotia chair award.

Also recognized at the event, were other Soccer Nova Scotia nominees:

Ann Marie Hurlburt – Volunteer of the Year
Ken Burton – Coach of the Year
Derek Gaudet – Male Team Athlete of the Year

Courtesy Chronicle Herald