(JAN. 25, OTTAWA) -- A record crowd of 470 came out to celebrate the city's finest in amateur sport at the 59th-annual edition of the Ottawa Sports Awards on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Algonquin College.

 

Full biographies of each winner are now available through ottawasportsawards.ca .

 

The final awards of the night were presented to the male and female athletes, teams and coaches of the year for their accomplishments in 2011.

 

For the first time in seven years, Ottawa has a new female athlete of the year. Following the retirement of speed skater Kristina Groves, the torch has now been passed to Kate Goodfellow of the Ottawa Rowing Club.

 

The University of Ottawa student helped Canada's women's eight to a gold medal and a world record at the under-23 world rowing championships in Amsterdam this past July.

 

"I was surprised," said Goodfellow, who overcame a rib injury just days before the worlds. "To know the calibre of athletes that have received it in the past – obviously with Kristina Groves for so many years – it’s very exciting and a big honour."

 

The team that dominated its competition all year long in 2011 did the same thing at the Ottawa Sports Awards banquet. The Carleton Ravens men's basketball team was male team of the year, star player Tyson Hinz was male athlete of the year and Dave Smart was coach of the year.

 

The Ravens won their seventh Canadian Interuniversity Sport national championship in nine years last March, holding the #1 ranking all season long and earning a 34-1 overall record against CIS opponents.

 

"I think it’s great for my kids," said Smart, who also coached the Canadian entry at the September 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico. "As much as I like the coaching award, it really is a credit to my team as well and what they’ve accomplished. They show up every day to work hard, and you’ve got to appreciate that and their commitment to each other."

 

For Hinz, it is the second time he is honoured for his achievements compared to athletes in many sports. Hinz was previously named outstanding CIS athlete in all sports, on top of other awards as conference, national, and championship tournament MVP.

 

"It’s pretty cool. Growing up in Ottawa and winning that award is something special," said Hinz, who represented Canada twice in 2011 at the World University Games and Pan Am Games. "The individual awards are very special – I’m not going to turn them down – but the main goal was winning the national championship, so that was definitely my favourite thing."

 

The female team of the year honour went to the Ottawa Curling Club rink of Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Alison Kreviazuk and Lisa Weagle. In 2011, Team Homan became the youngest team to ever win the Ontario Scotties women's curling championship, and the youngest to reach the playoff round at the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts, where they wound up placing fourth.

 

"Ontario is always represented very well at the Scotties and we didn’t want to disappoint our province," reflected Homan, who wasn't able to attend the ceremony since she is presently in Kenora looking to defend her provincial title. "We did really well our first time around. It wasn’t the finish we wanted, but it definitely inspired us to try even harder this year."

 

The female coach of the year award went to Lynne Morrison of the Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Club. The longtime volunteer coach and program coordinator helped four of her club's athletes earn positions on the eight-member Ontario team for the Canada Winter Games.

 

"Last year was a big year. I spent every second weekend away with the team," noted Morrison, who also coached provincial team athletes at junior nationals and Canada Cup races on top of the Canada Games. "It's a very beautiful and technical sport. Coaching speed skating is all about technique. The smallest detail can really affect the skater's results."

 

In conjunction with the Ottawa Nepean Canadians Sports Club, the Ottawa Sports Awards presented $1,000 scholarships to Carleton University student Eric Kemp (orienteering athlete of the year) and University of Ottawa student Grace Lonergan (softball athlete of the year), the lucky winners of a draw. 

 

The Ottawa Sports Awards also made a $500 donation to the Ottawa Police Soccer Mentorship Program, a cooperative venture that engages 20 Aboriginal youth with police officers through sport.

 

"I feel so grateful that the Ottawa Sports Awards have recognized something that we, as police officers and members of the community, are so passionate about – children, and the success of children, and helping kids grow up to be the best they can be and have positive relationships with members of our organization," said Staff Sgt. John Medeiros, who began the program in 2008.

 

As detailed in a previous Jan. 20 media release, the recipients of lifetime achievement honours including the Mayor’s Cup, presented by Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, were unveiled in advance of the banquet, along with teams recognized for winning a provincial championship or higher, club of the year, and the top athletes in over 60 individual sports.

 

Winners included Rick Sennott (Mayor's Cup), John Leroux (lifetime volunteer or administrator), Jim Ward (technical official), Don Lyon (coach), Carolyn Waldo (media), and the Ottawa Fury Soccer Club and Ottawa Lions Track-and-Field Club – club of the year co-winners.