The Gippstar award winners for March and April have been finalised, celebrating a sensational run of form from the region’s junior and senior sports stars, headlined by historic national titles and multi-medal hauls.
Thirteen-year-old Glengarry clay target shooter Jack Brady claimed the junior award for March after making history at the 2026 Australian National Trap Shooting Championships in Wagga Wagga.
The Gippsland Sports Academy athlete secured the open section title, making him the youngest champion in Australian Clay Target Association history.
In doing so, Brady broke a national record that had stood for more than three decades — previously held by two-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond.
Cowwarr’s Mackenzie Gibbs took out the junior honours for April following an exceptional season in adaptive surf lifesaving competition. Representing the Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club, the 14-year-old claimed four gold medals at the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships on the Gold Coast, earning Australian Youth Champion titles in the open swim and wade, and under 17 swim and wade events.
Gibbs also collected two national silver medals in the 500-metre run and 70-metre beach sprint. Her dominance continued at the Lifesaving Victoria Adaptive State Championships in Lorne, where she swept six gold medals across the swim, board, wade, beach flags, beach sprint, and 500-metre run.
Traralgon swimmer Ashley Nicholes secured the senior award for March after a dominant performance at the 2026 Victorian Country Swimming Championships in Geelong. Nicholes put on a clinic in the pool to collect four gold medals, two silver medals, and a bronze medal, ultimately being crowned the prestigious Swimmer of the Meet.
Seaspray’s Jessica Jackson was named the senior winner for April after another outstanding season on the sand in beach flags competition. Jackson finished seventh in the gruelling open women’s Beach Flags final at the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships at North Kirra, earning her a number five national ranking.
Back in her home state, she claimed gold and the Victorian State Championship title at the Lifesaving Victoria State Championships in Lorne, alongside a victory at the high-profile Battle of the Beaches carnival.
