The awards were held at Cessnock Leagues Club on Friday night, with 160 people in attendance.

Repacholi, who won the award in 2010 and 2014, was recognised at Cessnock’s top sportsperson for 2015 for his efforts at national and international level.

The 33-year-old, who will compete at his fourth Olympics in Rio, said it was a great honour to receive the award.

He was particularly impressed with the level of junior finalists at the awards, and encouraged the athletes to follow their dreams.

“Anyone can become an Olympian, if you put in the hard work and dedication,” Repacholi said.

“If you ever dream of doing it, don’t let anything get in your way.”

Cessnock cricketer Nathan Stapleford received the local achievement award in recognition of his 100 representative games for Cessnock.

Ten pin bowler Mary Marks received the senior athlete with a disability award after a great year in 2015, which included a gold medal at the gold medal at the National Disabilities Tenpin Bowling Championships, and bronze at the state championships.

Weston lawn bowler Jesse Herbert was named junior sportsperson of the year and also received the East Cessnock Bowling Club junior scholarship, worth $2000.

Herbert was 17 when he won the singles crown at the Junior South Pacific Bowls Championship in January 2015.

He went on to win gold with the NSW triples team at the Australian Under-18s Bowls Championships, and silver in the fours event.

Junior achievement awards went to national under-11s trampolining champion Anika Rendoth and motorcycle rider Keegan Pickering, who at 16 became Australia’s youngest female senior national motorcycling titleholder when she won the national women’s long track title at Taree in August.

The junior athlete of a disability award went to Tyson O’Neil for his achievements in goalball (a sport for vision-impaired athletes) and athletics.

O’Neil was part of the NSW side that finished runner-up at the Australian Goalball Championships, and brought home bronze from the Pacific School Games; and he broke two records at the School Sport Australia athletics competition.​

Cessnock PCYC’s aerobics team won the team of the year award after its impressive medal haul at the FISAF national championships, which included five gold and four silver medals across the pairs, trios and teams divisions.​

Mulbring Public School received a special recognition award for its achievements in swimming, athletics and soccer at state level.

Cessnock Motorcycle Club received the administrator/official of the year award, on the back of the success of the Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix, which saw the club named Club of the Year at the Motorcycling NSW 2015 Night of Champions.

Former Newcastle Knights player and Cessnock Goannas team of the century inductee Bill Peden was the guest speaker, and gave the audience an insight into his playing days and his preparation for the upcoming Kokoda trek for the Mark Hughes Foundation.

A raffle and auction on the night raised more than $1100 for the foundation, which funds brain cancer research and support for patients.

2015 CESSNOCK CITY SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR AWARDS WINNERS

Sportsperson of the Year: Daniel Repacholi (pistol shooting)

Senior achievement award: Nathan Stapleford (cricket)

Senior athlete with a disability: Mary Marks (ten pin bowls)

Junior sportsperson of the year: Jesse Herbert (lawn bowls)

East Cessnock Bowling Club junior scholarship: Jesse Herbert (lawn bowls)

Junior achievement awards: Anika Rendoth (trampolining), Keegan Pickering (motorcycle racing)

Junior athlete with a disability: Tyson O’Neil (goalball/athletics)

Team of the year: Cessnock PCYC aerobics

Special achievement award: Mulbring Public School (swimming/athletics/soccer)

Administrator/official of the year: Cessnock Motorcycle Club