Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarship holders Amy Steel, Courtney Tairi and Sharni Layton have capped off outstanding years by taking out the three major awards at last night’s AIS Netball awards ceremony.

Steel, who was called into the Australian Diamonds senior squad for the recent test series against New Zealand, was named the Institute’s Most Valuable Player (Gweneth Benzie Award). Tairi took out the Anne Clarke Award and Sharni Layton was named the Players’ Player of the Year.

Head coach of the AIS Netball program, Simone McKinnis, said 2009 had been another successful year for Institute.

‘The AIS netball program had six scholarship holders who were members of the Australian 21-and-under team that won gold at the World Youth Cup and we finished runners up to the Victoria Fury in the Australian Netball League,’ McKinnis said.

‘Importantly the program continues to give players the experience necessary to compete with distinction at both the national and international level. I have no doubt that among the current AIS squad there are players who will progress to represent Australia at the senior level.

‘Amy being selected in the Australian Diamonds squad is testament of the quality of player that we have coming through the ranks. She had an outstanding year with the AIS and is a deserved winner of the Gweneth Benzie award.’