The awards were re-born in 2004, after previously being held in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Take a look back at photos from Cessnock City Sportsperson of the Year awards nights, every year from 2005 to 2015 in the gallery above.

See the full list of finalists for the 2016 awards here.

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

Read more about the 2015 awards here.

Sportsperson of the Year: Daniel Repacholi (pistol shooting)

Senior athlete with a disability: Dana Ford (ten pin bowling)

Junior sportsperson of the year: Matt Rees (javelin)

East Cessnock Bowling Club junior scholarship: Jessica Meyers (equestrian)

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

Team of the year: East Cessnock Bowling Club’s men’s fours and Kurri Bowling Club’s men’s pairs sides

Family achievement award: Narelle and Janszen Cook (archery)

Administrator/official of the year: Paul Hyham (baseball)

Special achievement award: Weston Bears Football Club

Read more about the 2014 awards here.

Sportsperson of the Year: Gerard Miles (archery)

Senior athlete with a disability: Shirley Sneesby (lawn bowls)

Junior sportsperson of the year: Matt Rees (javelin)

East Cessnock Bowling Club junior scholarship: Ella Hugo (archery)

Junior athlete with a disability: Ranon Holstein (swimming)

Team of the year: Cessnock District Netball Association’s under-12s representative team 

Administrator/official of the year: Ellena Morris (Special Olympics)

Read more about the 2013 awards here.

Sportsperson of the Year: Claudia Russell (netball)

Senior achievement award: Daniel Repacholi (pistol shooting)

Junior sportsperson of the year: Matt Rees (javelin)

Junior achievement awards: Ella Hugo (archery), Jake Robinson (water polo), Hannah Phillips (water polo)

Administrator/official of the year: Robert Stapleford (Cessnock District Cricket Association)

Team of the year: East Cessnock Bowling Club’s men’s No. 1 pennant side (senior);  Cessnock Netball’s under-17 rep side (junior)

Family achievement award: Tom and Taylah Turner (clay target shooting)

Special recognition award: Abermain Hawks Rugby League Club

Read more about the 2012 awards here.

Sportsperson of the Year: Megan Weir (archery), after she won numerous titles at state and national level in 2011.

Senior athlete with a disability award: Matt Johnson (basketball), who was selected in the Australian Boomerangs basketball side for athletes with an intellectual disability.

Junior sportsperson of the year: Ella Hugo (archery) won a bronze medal at the world youth championships in Poland.

Junior athlete with a disability award: Sophie Schumacher (swimming), who won two silver medals at the NSW PSSA state carnival.

Administrator/official of the year: Noel Partridge (swimming) for his contribution and achievements with Masters Swimming Australia. 

Team of the year: Cessnock Netball (winners of Open Division Two at the state championships) and Cessnock 3D Archers (numerous achievements at state and national level).

Special recognition award: Brian Davey, on his retirement as Cessnock Rugby League’s ground announcer after more than 30 years.

Sportsperson of the Year: Daniel Repacholi (pistol shooting), after winning a bronze medal at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Junior sportsperson of the year: Matthew McDougall (archery), winning the 3D Archery Association National Championships along with the State title.

Administrator/official of the year: Sam Clough (lawn bowls), who was a national selector that year.

Team of the year: East Cessnock Bowling Club No.1 Pennant team, who were the state champions for the second time in three years.

Special recognition award: Kurri Kurri Speedway Club (for bringing the sport back to the area), Cessnock District Netball Association (on its 40^th anniversary) and Weston Bears Football Club (for its great performance in the Northern NSW competition).

Sportsperson of the Year: Alan Provenzano (athletics), for his outstanding performances at the World Masters Games.

Junior sportsperson of the year: Josh MacDonald (motorcycle racing), after winning four Australian titles in the 11-to-under-13 division that year.

Administrator/official of the year: Diane Partridge (swimming), for her contribution to Masters Swimming NSW.

Team of the year: Cessnock Archery Club, who won the club team title at the national championships.

Special recognition award: Kevin O’Neill (soccer), in recognition of his inclusion in Northern NSW Football’s team of the era.

(Note: The 2009 awards were for the months of February to December)

Sportsperson of the Year: Jason O’Hearn (bull riding), having won Australian, Australasian and international titles within that 12 months.

Junior sportsperson of the year: Jacarna Fenton (athletics), numerous state and national achievements including silver in the 400-metres at the Pacific School Games.

Administrator/official of the year: Pat Ptolemy (cricket), who was honoured by Cricket Australia for 50 years’ service to the game.

Team of the year: East Cessnock Bowling Club No 1 Pennant team, the club’s first state pennant winners since 1974.

Special awards: Cessnock West Public School aerobics team (for third Team of the Year nomination); Robert Thompson, for becoming Australia’s most winningest jockey.

(Note: These awards were from the months of February 2008 to January 2009)

Sportsperson of the Year: Grant Elsley (archery), who won multiple Australian titles that year.

Junior sportsperson of the year: Bailey Graeber (karate), winner of a world title at the US Open martial arts tournament in Florida.

Administrator/official of the year: Cessnock Archery Club, for its efforts to grow the sport in Cessnock.

Team of the year: Cessnock Archery Club, for its success at state and national level.

(Note: These awards were from the months of February 2007 to January 2008)

Sportsperson of the Year: Grant Elsley (archery), who won a world title that year.

Junior sportsperson of the year: Tiani Dederer (swimming), who won several medals at state and national level in the multi-disability category.

Administrator/official of the year: Cessnock Little Athletics, for organising and hosting the state titles.

Team of the year: Bellbird Park Bowling Club's No.3 Pennant Team and The Oaks No.6 Pennant team, as both teams won the State titles in 2006.

Special recognition awards: Topita and Vicky Tuliatu, for their dedication to junior sport; Weston Bears Football Club, recognising the club's centenary year; and Cessnock Masters Swimming Club for the excellent performances and promotion of the city at carnivals near and far.

(Note: These awards were from the months of February 2006 to January 2007)

Sportsperson of the Year: Justin Beckett (woodchopping), who won a world championship that year.

Junior sportsperson of the year: Eli Deloraine (water polo), who was selected in the NSW under-16s water polo team.

Administrator/official of the year: Ellena Morris (swimming/Special Olympics), in recognition of 30-plus-years involvement with sport in the city.

Team of the year: Nulkaba Public School’s boys’ basketball team, which made the final of the NSW PSSA competition.

(Note: These awards were from the months of February 2005 to January 2006)

Sportsperson of the Year: Chad Reed (motorcross), after winning the 2004 250cc AMA Supercross Championship in the United States.

Junior sportsperson of the year: Brigette Price (Taekwondo), after winning a bronze medal at the junior world championships in Korea.

Administrator/official of the year: Phil Murray (swimming), for his contribution as president of Cessnock Masters Swimming Club. 

Team of the year: Kurri Kurri Bowling Club’s No 1 Pennant team, for winning the state No 1 pennant.

(Note: These awards were from the months of February 2004 to January 2005)