Magpies produced a clean sweep of Hockey Albury-Wodonga’s division one best and fairest awards at the association’s senior presentation night at the Commercial Club on Friday.
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Joe Forster claimed the division one men’s honour, while Eunyoung Kim collected the division one women’s trophy after a stellar debut season on the Border.
Forster polled 24 votes to edge out United’s Tim Jones who stormed home on 22, with Wombats’ Josh MacVean third with 18.
The talented Englishman was thrilled to claim the league’s best and fairest for the first time.
“It’s been a consistent season and it’s been good fun, but I wasn’t really expecting it at all,” Forster said.
“The club has a great community feel about it, we’re coming together a lot more.
“We’re both (Eunyoung Kim and I) from overseas, so Magpies have got a good international recruitment program happening.
“I’m on a student Visa, so I’m hoping to play at least another year here and hopefully long term as well.”
Kim was fast out of the blocks with 19 votes in the first eight rounds.
She survived a challenge from Wodonga’s Shae Billingsley who reached 28 votes, while Norths’ Sherren Rahaley finished third on 22.
“I’ve been very happy playing with Magpies,” Kim said.
“I’ve met so many nice people.”
United’s Leigh Wignall was the division two men’s best and fairest, while Lesley Britten, who recently played her 400th club game for Beechworth, was the division two women’s winner.
The division three awards were won by Norths’ Luke Pontt and United’s Paige Cooper.
United capped off a strong night by taking out the Flo Joynson Trophy as the most successful club of the year.
Wheelchair racer Eliza Ault-Connell was the guest speaker on the night.
Meanwhile, Albury Hockey Centre hosts the division one men’s and women’s preliminary finals on Sunday.
Defending women’s premiers Wodonga can set up a replay of last year’s decider against Falcons if they take care of Magpies.
Wodonga fell 2-1 to Falcons last weekend, but have a second chance against Magpies who prevailed 2-0 against Norths in sudden death.
In the men’s competition, Magpies and United are fighting for the right to take on reigning premiers Norths in the grand final next weekend.
Magpies went down 3-2 to Norths in the qualifying semi-final, while United came from behind to beat Falcons in golden goal in the elimination semi-final to keep their season alive.
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