What is touted as ‘the biggest social event of the year’, the 2011/2012 Tri Alliance End of Season Presentation Night definitely lived up to its reputation. This year’s was by far the biggest and most exciting Presentation Night we have had.
Held at Ormond Hall, Belgium Beer Cafe on Saturday 12 May, 150 athletes, friends and family all let their hair down, celebrated athletes achievements and danced the night away.
Our MC for the night Andrew ‘Chappo’ Chapman kicked started the night with his amazing auctioneering skills (well done to Tim and Dave for picking up prizes), with our Athlete Awards to follow, celebrating the achievements of athletes who have had great seasons, dedicated themselves to their training and racing and supported the ‘TA Way’. Plus not to mention our ‘social awards’ and the coveted Zoolander Award – a highlight of the evening as always!
Tri Alliance was also proud to finally announce the new TAHQ and new partners GIANT Bicycles and Stratton Finance. Read more on the announcements here….
The formal part of the evening finished with the most prestigious award of the night – the John Cornish (JC) Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was formed by JC last year, originally named the Tri Alliance Scholarship award. However after the passing of Coach JC on 22 July 2011 in a tragic bike accident, it was only fitting that with JC’s family’s blessing, we renamed the award and dedicated it to JC in his memory. The recipient of this award 
receives full support from Tri Alliance including coaching, consultations, training camps plus more. To receive this award is a huge honour amongst Tri Alliance athletes.
John Cornish Memorial Scholarship:
2012/2013 Season Recipient: Marina Jurjevic
“I definitely feel honoured to have won this award! Looking forward to the next 12 months with TA (especially the next 5 though) leading into Kona!” Marina said after accepting her award.
2011/2012 Season Reipient Dan Weekes said on handing over the Scholarship to Marina “Thanks guys for a great night. A true honour”
We thank John’s parents Kerry and Sue, and sister Janine for joining us on the night all the way from Tasmania. And for Kerry for handcrafting the amazing perpetual trophy that will find a proud pride of place in the new TAHQ. “Rest in peace JC.”
Athlete Award Winners:
ASCEND Short Course FEMALE Athlete of the Year: Lisa Dominquez
ASCEND Short Course MALE Athlete of the Year: Brad Campbell
SHOTZ Long Course Athlete of the Year: Marina Jurjevic
GIANT Seasons NewComer of the Year: Shane Buntman
TRI ALLIANCE Team Player of the Year: Sarah Lausberg
TRI ALLIANCE Coaches Award: Dan Brueckner
Social Awards:
CabCharge Award: Jay Mueller
Bribery & Corruption Award: Nola MacGregor
Facebook Addict Award: Dave Nealon
Zoolander Award: Brinn Tavener
Ironman Entry Raffle Winner:
Nathan Sims – now has a spot to Busso!
Noteable mentions:
- Dave Nealon – for being in more than half the photo booth photo’s!
- Coach Ryan for his memorable speech “Let’s have one more round of applause for the coaches!”
- All those who attended their first TA EOSPN, we’re sure you will be back from more next year!
- Chris ‘Dicko’ Dickson for his continual pursuit of ‘pegging’
- Emma Nicholl & Bernadette for strategically ‘pegging’ Ollie all night.
- Shit ‘Tri Alliance’ Triathletes say – a funny take on the popular ‘Shit Triathletes Say’ put together by a group of Tri Alliance athletes. Click here to view.
- Coaches Ollie, Sarah, Greg, Mick & Bernadette ‘leading by example’ by being part of the ‘last man standing’ crew.
A big thank you goes out to our partners for supporting the night including: ASCEND, SHOTZ, PSPC, LAKESIDE SPORTS MEDICINE CENTRE, AUSTRALIANVITAMINS.COM, GIANT & BIKELAB. We look forward to an even bigger 2012/2013 Season!
And a huge thankyou to each and every one of our athletes, their friends and families. Without such an amazing group of people Tri Alliance wouldn’t be the team that it is. So thank you to everyone for making it such a special and memorable night! We look forward with anticipation to the 2012/2013 Season!
Team Tri Alliance
(A full photo album will be available later today, including all award winners, photo booth pics and roving pics of the night – keep an eye out!)
