Sports Performer Awards

Tight race for Sports Performer of the Year

Performer Awards Lunch

A record 100,000 plus votes have been recorded so far for the 2009 Sports Performer of the Year, presented by Colonial First State, with voting closing at 5pm on Friday.

A record 100,000 plus votes have been recorded so far for the 2009 Sports Performer of the Year, presented by Colonial First State, with voting closing at 5pm on Friday.

The final vote numbers are not made public with only the winner announced, but smh.com.au can confirm that it is a close race with less than one per cent of votes separating the two leaders.

The 12 nominees for the top award are Gary Ablett, Craig Alexander, Victor Darchinyan, Cadel Evans, Stephanie Gilmore, Jarryd Hayne, Steve Hooker, Mitchell Johnson, Emma Moffatt, Dani Samuels, Jess Schipper and Mark Webber.

The winner will receive $50,000, and voters also go into the draw to win $5000.

The Team Performance of the Year is also proving to be another tight category with the Australian Socceroos, Geelong Football Club, Melbourne Storm, Queensland State of Origin and the Melbourne Vixens all fighting it out.

Other categories still open to vote on include the Coach, Young and Performer of the Year with a disability.

The Sports Performer Awards are one of the most prestigious prizes in Australian Sport – recognising the very best performances from 2009.

The winners will be announced at a special function to be held at Star City Casino on Wednesday, .

*Channel 10 will have coverage of the awards night including the red-carpet with the sports celebrities, as well as the highlights from the Gala Awards night on Sunday November 29, 1pm and and on OneHD from 8pm.