More than 140 people turned out to Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas on Saturday night to witness North Queensland’s finest sports people awarded  highest honours.

Former Olympic and Commonwealth Games hurdler, Jana Pittman, was the special guest at the NQ Sportstar Awards at the famous resort’s Mirage Ballroom, and was on hand on help award outstanding junior and senior athletes from around north Queensland.

Awards were also presented to exceptional athletes with disabilities, as well as individuals contributing outstanding services to local sport.

With 2012 winners including ironman triathlete Mike Le Roux and BMX star Melinda McLeod, and with 1997 senior winner Wayne Mawer of Cairns (World Champion water skier) and 2009 junior winner Ashleigh Stebbeings (World Champion barefoot waterskier) going on to win both the State and National Sportstar Awards, all those who attended waited with baited breath to hear who would take the 2013 honours.

They included:

Senior Winner - Ashleigh Stebbeings (barefoot waterskiing) - Mackay
Senior Runner Up - Angelika Schriber (wakeboarding) - Cairns

Junior Winner - Tennille Falappi (cycling) - Cairns
Junior Runner Up - Kirsten Wadley (sailing) - Tablelands

Athlete with a disability Winner- 12-year-old Joshua Lush (athletics) - Cairns
Athlete with a Disability Runner Up – Cheryl Buscemi Le-Brun (seated javelin) – Cassowary Coast

Services to Sport Winner - Brian Rodriguez (swimming coach) - Mount Isa
Services to Sport Runner Up - Christopher Cantoni (surf life saving) -  Hinchinbrook Shire