Glenn Ashby wins 2006 VIS Award of Excellence

by Victorian Institute of Sport media on 2 May 2007 Victorian Institute of Sport sailor Glenn Ashby added the prestigious Award of Excellence to his World Champion pedigree on Monday 23rd April.

The 29-year-old joined the likes of Catherine Freeman, Steve Moneghetti and Robert Allenby as winners of the award, in a ceremony at Crown Palladium.

Ashby, from Strathfieldsaye, was nominated for the Award of Excellence with Olympic gold medallist Drew Ginn and international swimmer Matt Welsh. The award is given to the athlete who has achieved outstanding sporting results and contributed to the promotion and development of their sport.

Glenn’s incredible sailing career shot to a new level in 2006 when he won his first Olympic Class World Championship with partner Darren Bundock in December.

It was the first World Championship in the highest class, adding to the A-Class World Championship he claimed in August.

Glenn has won a total of four A-Class World Championships and two more in the F18 category in his career to date.

In recognising these achievements, VIS CEO Anne Marie Harrison said: '2006 was a stellar year for VIS athletes with a Winter Olympics, the fantastic Melbourne Commonwealth Games and a myriad of World Championships.'

'To win a VIS Award in this year, an athlete had to be the ‘best of the best’.'

Former VIS athlete Nicole Livingstone hosted the ceremony, which was also attended by Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs, James Merlino.

More than 200 VIS athletes were in attendance, including Jacqui Cooper (aerial skiing), Sarah Jamieson (track and field), Alisa Camplin (aerial skiing), Danni Miatke (swimming), Shayne Reese (swimming) and Lee Troop (track and field).

2006 VIS Awards of Excellence winners:
Award of Excellence - Glenn Ashby (Sailing, from Strathfieldsaye)
Network 10 Youth Award - Leigh Howard (Cycling, Waurn Ponds)
Spirit Award - Sarah Jamieson (Track and Field, Moonee Ponds)
Award for Athlete with a Disability - Michael Gallagher (Cycling, Roxburgh Park)
William Angliss ACE Award - Kevin Murfitt (EAD Water Skiing, Burwood)

Past VIS Award of Excellence winners:
1991 - Robert Allenby (Golf)
1992 - Peter Antonie (Rowing)
1993 - Danielle Woodward (Canoeing)
1994 - Steve Moneghetti (Athletics)
1995 - Daniel Kowalski (Swimming)
1996 - Oarsome Foursome (Rowing)
1997 - Catherine Freeman (Track & Field)
1998 – Sara Fitz-Gerald (Squash)
1999 – Catherine Freeman (Track and Field)
2000 – Catherine Freeman (Track and Field), Aaron Baddeley (Golf), Tom King & Mark Turnbull (Sailing)
2001 - Matt Welsh (Swimming)
2002 - Sarah Fitz-Gerald (Squash)
2003 - Alisa Camplin (Aerial Skiing)
2004 – James Tomkins and Drew Ginn (Rowing)
2005 - Katie Mactier (Cycling)