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November was a standout month for UNSW Sport, brimming with achievements across a variety of disciplines and the celebration of the university's thriving sporting community. From gala dinners to international representation, our athletes, teams, and clubs ending the year on a high note.

The month began with the annual UNSW Sports Awards Gala Dinner, held at the Royal Randwick Racecourse Grand Ballroom. This year's event was the largest yet, drawing 360 attendees to celebrate the achievements of UNSW athletes, teams, and clubs. With over 150 nominations across 17 categories the Women’s Basketball Team claimed the prestigious Team of the Year award, while the Hockey Club was named Club of the Year after an exceptional season for the club. Full recap of the awards night can be found here.

UNSW Elite Athlete alumnus Max Balard earned a call-up to the Socceroos squad for FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain with both matches ending in draws. Max’s selection comes after an impressive season with NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie, where he has emerged as a defensive powerhouse. Sharing the news with his family was a heartwarming moment for Max telling the Socceroos media “My mum was screaming. My dad was just super happy, holding my mum in his arms. It was a very beautiful moment there. They're just as happy as I am, and I'm over the moon”. 

UNSW Rabbitohs Touch Division 3 girls squad taking home the silver medal in the Vawdon Cup, unfortunately losing to Parramatta in the final 3-1. A very successful year for the club with multiple teams making it into the semi-finals. Their club also received multiple accolades, and had numerous nominations, at the Sports Awards Gala Dinner with Emily Thomson winning Indigenous Sport Award, Monique Muskens winning a Doug Crawford Sports Recognition Award and the club taking home Sport Initiative of the Year for their incredibly successful junior touch football academy program.

Rebecca Beeson (2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Blues winner), in her first season as captain for the AFLW GWS Giants, took home the Gabrielle Trainor Medal for 2024. Having won the award back in 2019, Beeson becomes just the second GIANT to win multiple Gabrielle Trainor Medals alongside Alyce Parker who has won the award four times. Beeson also won the player-voted Jacinda Barclay Fearless Award, an award that is voted upon after each game to recognise a teammate that lives the team’s values and plays in a selfless and fearless fashion.

To athletics, and at the NSW Relays Championships UNSW clocked the fastest 4x100m Men’s Open relay time in nearly a decade when they clocked 40.12 (current record is 39.51 – set in 2015) in the final beating USYD to the tape who came in second at 40.43. What was wild is UNSW had clocked what they thought was the fastest time in 9 years when they won their heat with a time of 40.65, only to go even faster in the final. Our Men’s Open team were represented by Ivor Metcalf (2015 Vice-Chancellor’s Blues winner), Zane Branco, Leonard King (2023 Vice-Chancellor’s Blues winner), and Christopher Geordas. Tamsin Colley (2023 Vice-Chancellor’s Blues winner) also competed in the Mixed Para Exhibition 4x100m – the first time a race with all para-athletes competed at the State Relays.

Jamieson Leeson, capped off a memorable 2024, winning Young Athlete of the Year with a Disability at the NSW Champions of Sport night hosted by Sport NSW. This incredible honour awarded to Jamieson for her historical Paris 2024 Paralympics campaign taking home the silver medal in boccia, a historic first for Australia. Jamieson also was awarded Athlete of the Year with a Disability and Female Student Athlete of the Year at our annual Sports Awards Gala Dinner.

12 players from the Handball club were selected in the U18 & U20 Australian Handball squads to represent Australia at the 2024 Oceania IHF Trophy on December 16^th in Tahiti. UNSW elite athlete, Lucas Velasque, was selected as captain of the u20’s squad who will be joined by fellow UNSW students Tanay Kumar & Franciszek Lesniak. The club attributed their success to having the biggest and most successful youth and junior development program in Australia. 

In equestrian, Georgina O’Sullivan shone at the Sydney International 3-Day Event, finishing 2nd overall in the CCN1* competition. She also won the Akubra Grassroots Champion 1-Star award, recognizing her as the top rider who has not yet competed internationally. Georgina’s achievements signal a bright future in the sport as she edges closer to competing on the international stage.

November wrapped up a phenomenal year for UNSW Sport, showcasing the depth of talent and dedication within our sporting community. As 2024 draws to a close, we look forward to seeing what new heights our community will reach in the year ahead.