Local athlete Robin Bell says he wasn't overly serious about canoe slalom when he first started in the sport back in the early 1990's, but over the years he has developed into a professional athlete and a world champion.

His career highlights include representing Australia at the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic Games, where he achieved 9th and 4th place respectively.

"I was reasonably happy with my performance at Athens, but not the result, I was really aiming for a medal," Robin said.

2005 has been Robin's best year yet. Coming off the back of the highly competitive Olympic season, he has picked up two Silver medals in Europe, a feat that when combined with a Gold at the World Championships has elevated the local to the number one ranking in the world.

His current goals are to win Olympic Gold in 2008, and to retain the World Championships title in 2006.

Robin has been living in Penrith since 1999 and continues to make an impact on the water, with more honours sure to come in the coming years.

For somebody who only started in the sport of swimming three years ago when she was recovering from a knee injury sustained while playing hockey, 18 year old Breanna Bunce has certainly achieved an incredible array of goals.

The Junior Sports Star of the Month for September 2005 has the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing in her sights, and is keeping a glimmer of hope alive that she may make the Commonwealth Games next year.

Earlier this year Breanna headed to the USA to compete at the Cerebral Palsy World Swimming Championships, grabbing silver medals in the 100m and 400m Freestyle events.

Breanna says that when she started swimming as a form of rehab, she never dreamed that it would become her focus.

"I wasn't even thinking about competitive swimming," the HSC student said.

Breanna is aiming to compete in as many swim meets as possible as part of her efforts to get to Beijing in 2008, and rates her career highlight so far as her trip to America earlier this year.

Rugby league is a tough sport but to play more than 400 games for the one club is something quite remarkable.

Ben Dicker recently played his 400th game for St Marys and has declared that he'll give the game away at the end of the year after decades of playing for the club. He started when he was just four or five years old, and since then has continued to provide loyal service to St Marys, a club he describes as "the best in the district."

Ben, a front rower who has always played in the forwards, rates his highlights as the many grand finals he has played in &endash; about 15 in total &endash; and says he has stuck with the game because he simply loves it.

"I enjoy playing for the mateship," he says. "It's a pretty good club."

Ben started out playing hooker and 400 games later, is still tearing it up in the forwards and playing pretty solid football.

Ben has played for Penrith in both the Harold Matthews and SG Ball competitions, and will play out the season with St Marys before heading into retirement from the game &endash; something he deserves given his dedication and long service to the club.

Ben was recently awarded the Penrith Valley Sports Foundation Senior Sports Star of the Month for July, 2005.

Local resident Ian Docherty has big goals &endash; he wants to represent Australia at the Olympic Games. The BMX rider, who has been participating in the sport for more than eight years, fell into it by accident.

"I used to be on my bike all the time and my mum saw an ad in the paper and suggested I give it a go," Ian says.

"I'd really like to get to the 2008 Olympics but I think the 2012 Games are more realistic."

At the recent NSW BMX Championships at Penrith, Ian won the State Championship for 14 year old boys, the second year in a row he has won the title. He also became a dual plate holder by winning the 13-14 boys cruiser title as well, a remarkable achievement.

Ian says collecting the Sports Star of the Month accolade is a great honour.

"It is just great, I didn't really expect it," he said.

Ian recently appeared on the "Studio Disney" television program, a great profile riser for the talented 14 year old.

Glenmore Park resident Amanda Ford is quickly rising up the basketball ranks, and she's got some huge dreams about her future in the sport.

Amanda says her biggest dream is to play for Australia &endash; a feat that would be the highlight of any sporting star's career.

"I want to play in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL)," Amanda said. "I have dreams to play for Australia but who knows if it will happen."

Amanda, who rates Lauren Jackson as one of her sporting heroes, says her short-term goal is to make the Under 20's State squad.

The 18 year old got started in the sport about ten years ago.

"I had an interest in the sport and my parents wanted to support me with that, so that's where I started," she said.

"I started in the Under 8's or something like that and grew from there."

Amanda first represented her state when she was 14, and has also represented in other age groups during her booming career.

The teenager credits her coaches for their assistance in helping her reach the milestones she's already achieved, milestones that are surely just the first of many to come for this rising star of the basketball court.

He may be only 14 years of age but Leonay resident Sam Gervinas has high hopes about a successful future in the sport of golf. The teenager has a major aim to turn professional in the years to come, and given his recent achievements, he's certainly well on his way.

Sam says he started his life on the golf course at the tender age of two.

"My dad was playing and when he went down and practiced I just followed him around," he said.

Sam became a member of Leonay Golf Club at the age of nine and earlier this year won the Club Championships at the club, a feat he calls his greatest achievement in the sport so far.

Sam rates Adam Scott as one of his sporting heroes, and says the thing he likes most about the sport is the people he gets to meet around the course.

Sam joins a huge list of future sportsmen in winning the Penrith Valley Sports Foundation's Junior Sports Star of the Month, and with a huge ambition to work in the sport full time when he gets older, there's little doubt that we'll be hearing his name a lot more around the traps sooner rather than later.

Michelle Kennedy has been playing hockey for around 20 years, an incredible effort by anyone's standards, and she's certainly not ready to hang up her stick just yet.

The Mount Druitt resident has achieved plenty of accolades during her two decades in the sport, and has increased her involvement in recent times through coaching.

"The thing that has kept me going is that I have always loved the game," she says. "I'll keep going as long as I can."

Just last week Ms Kennedy won yet another Grand Final, this time with a Nepean Veterans side that toppled North Shore at Homebush. And there's plenty still to come, with a trip down to Melbourne with her State side coming up in a few weeks.

"The kids that I coach inspire me quite a lot. My junior team just came in second this year which is an excellent result," she says.

Ms Kennedy says her most recent highlight is the Gold Medal the Australian Veterans team she was a part of won at the International Masters Hockey Tournament in Kuala Lumpur in December last year.

Michelle Kennedy is the Panthers Senior Sports Star of the Month for August 2005.

John O'Sullivan is no stranger to premiership success. The rugby league player, who is the Penrith Valley Sports Foundation Senior Sports Star of the Month for September, first tasted a Grand Final in the under 14's and won his first premiership in the under 17's. In 2005, he won his third consecutive Grand Final.

Playing for the Brothers under 19's side this year, O'Sullivan was named captain at the start of the season. "During pre-season training I was putting in a big effort and the coach asked me if I would like to be captain, mainly to inspire the guys out there more than anything else," O'Sullivan, who has played league for about 10 years, says.

Brothers were Minor Premiers in the under 19's competition this year and won the season deciding grand final over St Marys 18-16.

O'Sullivan, who plays lock, says he wants to make a career out of the game, and is currently in talks with a couple of clubs about Jersey Flegg contracts for next season.

Her passion for hockey started in high school and for Lynne Roberts, the sport has become something of an institution.

The PE teacher has just been selected in the Australian Over 50's team that will travel to Tasmania in April and May to take on New Zealand, and says she still loves the sport after decades of participating in it.

"I love the competitiveness of the sport and the friendship and social aspect of the game as well," Lynne said.

"I try to keep as active as possible to encourage my students."

She says being selected in the Australian Over 50's team just happened to come about, primarily thanks to her State representation. She has represented both the New South Wales and ACT over 50's teams.

Hockey isn't the only sport Lynne has an interest in &endash; she also keeps fit and busy by playing vigaro, netball and volleyball, and says she's just discovered the sport of broomball as well.

With such a sports oriented life, there's no doubt that Lynne's opportunity to represent Australia is well deserved, and her future in the sport continues to look bright.

She's now able to add the honour of the Penrith Valley Sports Foundation's Senior Sports Star of the month to her impressive range of achievements.

Local youngster Joshua Clarke has dreams to play cricket for Australia one day, and the success he has achieved so far in the sport is enough evidence to suggest it's a goal he may one day achieve.

The Kingswood Park teenager scored 618 runs for Penrith RSL last year and is an all-rounder, proving himself as a skilful player with both the bat and the ball.

"My long term goal is certainly to play for Australia &endash; there is no doubt about that," Joshua said.

"I started getting interested in cricket when I used to watch my dad play."

Cricket isn't the only sport Joshua's interested in &endash; he's also a keen soccer player, but says if it came down to a choice, he'd certainly have to take the cricket option.

Joshua regards Australian cricket champions Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer as his sporting heroes, and given his wonderful achievements so far, there is little doubt that a successful future in the sport is at this talented local's feet.

Cambridge Gardens resident William Drury has a list of achievements longer than a giant's arm.

He has represented Cranebrook High School at state level for a number of years in athletics, and in 2005 he became the State Champion in the 200m Hurdles.

"I love athletics &endash; it's fun and you meet lots of new people," William said.

William is also a keen rugby league player &endash; he played with Cambridge Park for many years before making the switch to Brothers in 2006, where he hopes the club will win a premiership.

If he eventually has to choose between athletics and rugby league, he hasn't yet decided what direction he will take.

"I'd like to do both but I'll see what happens," William said.

"I certainly hope we can win the premiership at Brothers this year."

William rates Brett Kenny, Matt Bowen, Andrew Johns and Patrick Johnson as his sporting heroes, and with so many achievements associated to his name, there is no doubt this local youngster has a huge future in sport ahead of him.

Softball player Peter Albee is certainly making a name for himself in the sport, with the 22-year-old recently returning from a national Under 23's tournament where he represented New South Wales. He was also captain of the team.

Peter has been playing softball since he was about four years old, and his commitment to it has never wavered.

"It's a quick and competitive sport and you meet some great mates along the way," he said.

Peter says among his goals is to represent the Australian men's team, and has in fact already represented his country, playing for the Australian Under 19's in 2001.

His career has been littered with representative honours and while softball is his major love, other sports also play a part in his life.

"I love watching major league baseball and I've played baseball for a couple of years &endash; and I love playing golf when I get the chance."

The Werrington County resident is clearly a worthy winner of the Panthers Senior Sport Star of the Month for April, 2006.

Watch out for his name in the future.

Netball may be the chosen passage for many young girls, but 15year-old St Clair resident Kimberley Wright tossed the sport aside a while ago to pursue her real sporting passion &endash; softball.

She's been playing softball for as long as she can remember and when netball started to get in the way, it was an easy choice to make &endash; softball was the way to go.

"I first found out about it through a friend and it just went from there," Kimberley says of her introduction to the game. "The best thing I love about it is being in a team and meeting new friends."

Kimberley made the under 16's NSW side last year, a team that was undefeated in the national championships.

In February she was selected in the Australian Development team.

"With that I go through a nine week program that we do ourselves and then in July we play a week-long tournament," Kimberley said.

Softball's Olympic Games future in doubt, but Kimberley is still hopeful of achieving major goals within the sport.

"I used to aim for the Olympics but with them taking it out I now really just want to focus on rising up the ladder and doing the best I can," she said.

One honour Kimberley can add to her list of achievements is being crowned the Junior Sports Star of the month for February 2006.