To an audience filled with some of the biggest names in regional media, Clarke was singled out as the winner of the Media Super Limited Award for Sports Journalism for his stories “Tackling Concussion” and “Light shines through on Wendy’s Day”.

Judge Ian Heads, a sportswriter since 1988 and co-author of more than 40 books, said this of our talented young journalist: “Chris Clarke’s April 11 feature on a subject increasingly in the spotlight in world sport – that of the effects of concussion in the ‘collision’ games – was both timely, as the discussions raged in the wider media, and also tailored to local realities in country sport. It began with a colourful declaration by a well-known football man of how things used to be when players took a knock. It was excellent sports writing….and educative.

“Clarke’s story on Wendy Walter, wife of the renowned horseman Guy Walter who had passed away two weeks before was illustrated by an outstanding photo, taken on a wet afternoon at the Goulburn track. The jockeys line up in respectful remembrance. Wendy that day won her first race as a trainer.

The tears flowed, and Chris’s story captures the poignancy of the occasion. A fine photo, and a story to match.”

Our digital editor Chris Gordon was also mentioned, awarded a highly commended in Feature Writing for his touching tribute to Rick Buckley.

Our youth publication etch was given the encouragement award for Special Publications and we nabbed a highly commended in the Newspaper Presentation section.