Prince George’s Cillian Hollybow wins W.R. Bennett Award

QUESNEL, B.C. – Prince George’s Cillian Hollybow was presented the W.R. Bennett Award for Athletic Excellence as the Lhtako Quesnel 2024 BC Winter Games on Sunday.

A karate athlete in Zone 8 North West, Hollybow was recognized for his outstanding achievements before and at the Games. The presentation was made by the Honourable Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship and MLA for Stikine.

“It’s been excellent to see this kind of growth and I’m excited about his potential for the future,” Jordan Foy, Hollybow’s coach at the Games, told Global BC.

The W.R. Bennett Award recognizes one athlete at each BC Winter and BC Summer Games who demonstrates athletic achievement and leadership. Nominations are submitted by Provincial Sport Organizations and the winner receives a $2,500 bursary. The award was named in honour of former premier Bill Bennett, who created the BC Games in 1978.

At the Lhtako Quesnel BC Winter Games, Hollybow took home a pair of silver medals.

“I’m very proud of this for myself and for everyone who helped me get it,” said Hollybow. “I want to get a gold medal in an international event like a Pan-Ams or a World Championships.”

Hollybow has showcased remarkable achievements in karate, highlighted by a gold medal at the U14 Male Kumite -50kg at the 2023 Karate Canada National Championships. This victory secured him a place on Team Canada at the 2023 Junior Pan American Karate Championships in Santiago, Chile where he placed 9th. His talent extends to the World Karate Federation Karate-1 Youth League in Merida, Mexico, where he finished 5th in the same category.

A Brown Belt at the Nechako Karate Club, he assists younger athletes in their training. In his free time, he is a school champion in chess and a talented cello player who is part of the Royal Conservatory of Music.