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THREE of central Victoria's brightest sporting stars joined an elite club at Friday night's Bendigo Advertiser-WIN TV Sports Star of the Year awards.
Kayaker Rebecca Mann, and Strathdale's cricket and soccer ace Tayla Vlaeminck were named as joint winners of the Maxine Crouch Trust Fund.
The award was presented by Travis Crouch, one of Maxine's three children, and by sports star committee member Bronwyn Tweed.
Gun cyclist Jack Haig was awarded the Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund, which was presented by Cyril's son, Bruce.
The trust funds are a way of assisting and encouraging youngsters in their chosen pursuits.
A superb year for Mann included being named the Australian junior kayaker of the year.
A multiple gold medallist at last year's national titles, Rebecca could not be at the awards night because of racing at the Oceania titles in Sydney.
Her award prize was received by Rebecca's mum, Sue-Ellen.
In 2012, Tayla Vlaeminck excelled on the soccer pitch and cricket field.
Tayla represented Victoria at national titles in both sports.
She played at the national under-14 soccer titles and later in the year led Victoria's attack as a right-arm fast bowler at the Australian under-15 cricket titles.
Jack Haig started this year's road racing by winning the Best Young Rider award in the Tour Down Under in South Australia.
A few weeks later and Jack jumped to third in the Jayco Herald-Sun Tour after finishing third in the Ballarat-Bendigo leg.
He went on to finish third in the classic.
A national junior cross-country champion in mountain bike racing, Jack is also aiming to be in this year's Commonwealth Games team on Glasgow's hills.