RYAN Kent was the toast of the recent Bright Football and Netball Club presentation night, taking out the Best and Fairest award in a two horse race.
The Bright P-12 College sports teacher polled ahead of revered skipper Steve Nightingale, who had claimed three of the previous four club championships.
Since joining the Mountain Men in 2010, Kent has made a huge impact on the side.
This season he assumed the vice captaincy under Nightingale and led from the front on field with his hard-nosed attack on the footy.
Kent finished 14 votes ahead of Nightingale.
Steve's younger brother Brad capped off a breakthrough season by finishing third, while the next best was Daniel Robinson.
Meanwhile, Jake Denison was a deserving winner of the reserves top prize.
The 20 year old was a standout for coach Tracy Culhane and often played two games in a weekend when the senior side fell short of players.
The struggling side finished the year on a high, winning the last two matches after going down in the first 16.
Its core group of players were rewarded for their efforts in the best and fairest count, with Dan Bryant coming second, and veterans Tracy Culhane and Pete Jones polling well, while Josh Grundy also gained plenty of votes.
The under 18s didn't finish the way they would have liked, but still had plenty to celebrate in 2011.
Cully Hall was awarded the best and fairest ahead of defender Ryan Sunderland.
Rhys Andreatta stormed home after playing the first part of the year in the under 18s and last year's winner Jai Dykstra finished fourth.
In the A Grade netball award, there was a tie with year 12 classmates Kirstie Iaria and Sera Paterson sharing best and fairest honors.
In a year where the netballers struggled to notch up a lot of wins, there were plenty of positives, with a number of young players coming through the ranks.
That was highlighted in the B Grade award with youngster Gillian Deed claiming the award ahead of fellow teenager Elisha Romeril.
In the B-Reserve Grade award, veteran Natalie Kelly took out the mantle of the season's best player with youngster Kayla Harris, while Roisin Pryor was a clear winner in the C Grade ahead of Keetah Richardson.
By - ALEX BAIRD.
www.nenews.com.au
CHAMPS: Bright senior award winners (back, from left) Leading Goal Kicker Ricky Weimer, Coach's Award Brad Nightingale, sponsor Peter Smith, Best Defender Dylan Bursill, Best First Year Player Kyle Arter, Runner Up Steve Nightingale and (front, from left) winner Ryan Kent celebrate a successful season.
Last Modified on 17/09/2011 12:22