The owners of Sportspower Forbes recently took out the award for 2014 NSW Sportspower Store of the Year.

The award was announced at a Sportspower conference in Melbourne at the start of March.

While the Bowns could not attend the conference, Kerry and Ian said they were very excited to hear the news.

“We were shocked,” Kerry said. 

“There’s a lot of stores that were deserving of the award that didn’t get it, so we’re very honoured to receive it,” said Ian. 

Kerry and Ian first bought the store in August 1994 when it was known as Forbes Sports Centre.

The store became Forbes Sportscene and in 2001 the Sportscene group combined with Sportspower to become the largest independent sporting company in Australia.

Since then they have not looked back.

As well as supplying a variety of sporting equipment and clothing, Sportspower Forbes has diversified, offering key cutting, bike sales and repairs, trophies, dance clothing and footwear.

Ian said both himself and Kerry are still enjoying the store and their customers, who he wished to thank for their support.

“We’ve been a proud supporter of local sport and we’d like to thank all of our customers for their support over the last 20 years,” he said.