Not only did he become a world champion as a member of the Australian under 19 cricket team that took out the ICC World Cup in New Zealand, he also won back-to-back Shoal-haven Sportstar of the Year awards.

He joins elite company such as Ray Hannett (1975-76) Merv Bennett (1977-78), Alan Ozolins (1981-82, 85), Karen Phillips (now Higgison) (1983-84, 86), Paul Greene (1988-89-90-91), and Lori Munz (1996-97-98) to have won the award on consecutive years, while legendary lawn bowler Bob King has also won the award twice in 1980 and 1994.

Maddinson, who could not attend the awards evening at the Boma-derry Bowling Club on Friday night, as he was taking part in the Emerging Talent Tourn-ament in Brisbane as part of the Australia Institute Scholarship program said he was shocked to again win the award.

“Looking at the amount of talent nominated for this year’s award, I never expected this,” he said.

“It’s a very strong field of local athletes, I thought I was lucky to win the award last year with so many strong athletes in the Shoalhaven, I’m so honoured.”

The award caps a fantastic year for the young left hand opening batsman.

As well as the success with the Australian under 19 team at the ICC World Cup he was also a member of the NSW team that won the Australian under 19 championships and has since been awarded on a rookie contract with Cricket NSW.

He had earlier scored a century for the Australian 19s in a series against Sri Lanka and was named Cricket NSW’s Rising Star and the NSW under 19 Player of the Year.

2010-11 is also shaping up to be a big season.

“From here I will get back into grade season and NSW 19s commitments,” he said.

“I will also be able to be around the NSW Blues squad this year which will be great.

“A first grade premiership with Sutherland would be nice and is definitely something to aim for and the Future League and play some second XI cricket again.”

The Junior Sportstar of the Year was taken out by another cricketer, Jordan Matthews, who was a member of the Aust-ralian under 16s schoolboys team that toured India.

“I never expected this, I’m a bit blown away,” he said.

“I would like to thank everyone for their support, especially my parents.

“Thanks also to the Bernie Regan Memorial Sporting Trust which has been a great support not only to me but hundreds of junior sportstars in the area, which is superb.”

In a big year Matthews, a right hand fast bowler, took 10 wickets from five matches on the tour of India, at 16 became the youngest bowler ever to win the Shoalhaven District Cricket first grade bowling average, and was named the Shoalhaven Junior Cricketer of the Year for second successive year

He was the captain of the Bomaderry under 16 premiers and won the association batting, bowling and allrounder trophies and was also a member of the Bomaderry first grade premiership and one-day winning sides.

He led Shoalhaven to victory in the Southern Zone under 16 competition, taking wickets in every match and scoring a century in the semi-final, and also represented Southern Zone under 16s and 17s.

Matthews said his aim for this year was to try and force his way in to the NSW under 17s team.

The Masters trophy was won by a former Sport-star winner in swim and surf champion Karen Higgison.

Higgison won the sportstar award in 1983-84 and 86, returned to competition in the surf a few years ago with great success, but in a stunning return to the pool this year dominated.

At the World Masters Games in Sydney she won four gold medals (40-44 years).

At the NSW Masters Shortcourse Champion-ships she won five gold medals and broke two national records including one held by Shane Gould.

She claimed two gold and two silver medals at the NSW Surf Champion-ships and silver at the national championship.

“I didn’t expect this at all,” she said.

“I really only got back into competition to spend time with my family who were all competing in surf lifesaving. I’d go to competitions and watch them compete and thought I might as well join in.

“Mind you it was a lot of hard work but I’ve loved it all.

“Masters sport is so social, I have met so many fantastic people, my success has just been a bonus.”