Sporting stars, dedicated volunteers and hard-working coaches are among those who received accolades for their contribution to local sports at the 2026 Ipswich Sports Awards.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said she was proud to see the incredible range of sporting talent across the city with the awards, now in their 17th year, presented on Thursday 29 October at the Ipswich Civic Centre.
“The Ipswich Sports Awards celebrate the best of the best sporting talent in our city,” Mayor Harding said.
“From junior swimming stars to senior athletes, aspiring basketball players to dedicated coaches, every year the Ipswich Sport Awards demonstrate the sheer depth and breadth of skill, focus and ambition in dozens of sporting codes citywide.
“The awards not only recognise our star athletes but also show appreciation for those who keep sporting clubs moving across the city.
“The dedication that each of these winners demonstrate is extraordinary, elevating the sporting community with their talent and service.”
The 2026 Ipswich Sports Awards winners are:
- Senior Sportsperson of the Year: Jude Thomas – Athletics
- Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Ava Hogan – Swimming
- Masters Sportsperson of the Year: Shannon Ashton – Hockey
- Coach of the Year: Jessica Cashman – Boxing
- Official of the Year: Taylor Leighton – Wrestling
- Volunteer of the Year: Lorena Humphreys – Australian Rules Football
- Sporting Organisation of the Year: Ipswich & District Athletics Club – Athletics
- Team of the Year: U14 Ipswich Force Girls – Basketball
Mayor Teresa Harding said the award winners were putting Ipswich on the map in a range of sports.
“This year’s Senior Sportsperson of the Year, Jude Thomas, has taken Ipswich to the world stage establishing himself as one of Australia’s leading middle and long-distance runners,” Mayor Harding said.
“Thomas has competed across Europe, Japan and Australia and has become the fifth-fastest Australian ever in the indoor 5,000 metres, representing our country at the World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo.
“This year, he claimed the Australian Road Mile Championship and rose to a current ranking of 31st in the 1500 metres. What a fantastic result after countless hours of training.
“Our Junior Sportsperson of the Year is swimming sensation Ava Hogan whose discipline and determination is inspiring to see.
“She has claimed championship titles and is the current state champion of the 1500, 800 and 400-metre freestyle. Hogan is the youngest member of the Australian Junior Dolphins team and has been twice named Distance Freestyle Swimmer of the Year at the Brisbane Swimming Awards.
“She has gone on the earn herself a spot in the prestigious swimming camp at the Australian Institute of Sport training alongside the nation’s emerging swimmers. Hogan is certainly one to watch as she represents Ipswich across the world.
“Our Masters Sportsperson of the Year is field hockey star Shannon Ashton for her contribution to the sport. Ashton proudly represented Australia at the International Masters Cup in Rotterdam, Netherlands, helping secure a bronze medal.
“As a coach and mentor, Ashton goes above and beyond to develop local hockey players, demonstrating leadership and volunteering countless hours to the sport she loves.
“I was also pleased to see volunteers celebrated for their contribution to local sports, with Lorena Humphreys receiving Volunteer of the Year. Humphreys has been described as the heart of the Ipswich Eagles Football Club, volunteering as club president, secretary, treasurer and more.
“It is an exciting time for sporting in Ipswich as council delivers a diverse range of sporting upgrades. Work is underway at the North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct, bringing a 2,000-seat grandstand to our city.
“As the home of the mighty Ipswich Jets, this is a major boost to local rugby league, bringing the facility up to national standard and allowing more residents to come along and support our team.
“Cricket and soccer are also getting a boost as the Tivoli Sporting Complex and Redbank Plains Recreation Reserve both undergo transformations with upgraded lighting, expanded fields and a new clubhouse in Tivoli.
“And council is continuing our advocacy to bring a synthetic track to Ipswich to support our local track stars from the 2026 Sporting Organisation of the Year, Ipswich and District Athletics Club.
“On behalf of the Ipswich community, I congratulate all finalists and winners of the 2026 Ipswich Sports Awards. I look forward to seeing what the future brings for each of these athletes.”
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