03.04.2008 – Graham Croker
Australian netball representative Susan Pratley and Test cricketer Stuart Clark were named Sydney University Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year for 2007 at the annual Sports Awards night held in the Great Hall on Wednesday.
Pratley faced strong competition for the award from Test cricketer Kate Blackwell, Australian water polo representative Taniele Gofers and Australian basketball representative Natalie Porter.
A third year commerce students, Pratley was a member of the Australian team that reclaimed the World Championship when they defeated New Zealand for the crown. She also played for Australia in seven other internationals for six wins and a loss.
On the local front, Pratley was a key player for the Sydney Swifts in the national netball competition and shot an incredible 26 goals from 26 attempts in the Swifts’ Commonwealth Bank Trophy grand final win. During the 2007 season, she also shot 344 goals at 89 per cent.
Clark won the men’s award from a strong field that included double (soon to be triple) Olympic canoeist Robin Bell, Australian water polo vice-captain Trent Franklin and Australian gymnastic representative Prashanth Sellathurai.
A final year Master of Commerce student, majoring in corporate finance, Clark firmly established himself in the Australian Test and one-day line-ups during 2007 following an outstanding debut in 2006.
He collected 26 wickets at an average of 17 in Australia’s clean-sweep of the Ashes, and had seven-wicket hauls in Tests against Sri Lanka and India.
Clark also represented in 13 one-day internationals, taking 16 wickets, and was a member of the successful World Cup team.
He also represented Australia in the Twenty20 World Cup, taking 12 wickets in six matches.
On the domestic scene, he took 21 wickets at 14.48 in three matches for NSW. He has been selected in both the Test and One-Day squads for next month’s tour of the West Indies.
Other awards presented on the evening were:
- Female Club Administrator of the Year: Brianna Heazlewood (Athletics)
- Male Club Administrator of the Year: Greg Turner (Water Polo);
- Ann Mitchell Award (Best performed team at the Australian University Games): Boat/Rowing and Tennis – won jointly;
- Club of the Year: Soccer;
- Premier Club of the Year: Rugby Union (men);
- Coach of the Year: Mick Somers (Soccer); and
- Premier Coach of the Year: Phil Bourguignon (Boat/Rowing) and Damien Hill/Anthony Eddy (Rugby Union) – won jointly.
