Scown reigns supreme

Rebecca Scown and Chronicle editor Mark Dawson with Scown's Supreme Award at the 2013 Ray White Wanganui Sports Awards. PHOTO/RAE CLIFFE 151113WCRCVSPORTS16

They thanked their mentors, their coaches, their sponsors, their mums and dads, and nearly all of them were surprised to get their names called.

You knew what to expect from the speeches at the 2013 Ray White Wanganui Sports Awards on Friday night, but there were still some lighter moments as the 13 category winners from 11 different codes got their moment in the spotlight in front of their home town peers and supporters.

After another year of world championship rowing medals, Rebecca Scown was as composed as one would expect, finally being in town to accept the International Senior Sportsperson of the Year award as well as the overall Supreme Award once again.

"It's the icing on the cake when you get to come up and receive these awards. It's not why you do sport, but it's definitely rewarding."

"This category, I went through the category of what everyone has done this year, and it's phenomenal," Scown said of fellow nominees Sam Blenkinsop (mountain biking), Hayley Giddens (cycling) and Christine Strichen (petanque).

After the retirement of former world championship and Olympic bronze pairs partner Juliet Drysdale, Scown had wondered if she could continue as successfully in the current Olympic cycle of events with young Kayla Pratt.

Two silvers at the World Cup regattas and a bronze and the World Championships confirmed that.

"Pairs are made in heaven so they work or they don't so I'm very glad I found her."

There was also a lot of emotion on display from young female athletes speed skater Jessica van Bentum's voice a tremble after winning the International Junior Sportsperson award, thanking coach Gary Clark and her family for all their support.

Bentum was a great story in 2013 the teenager who trains in the Mitre 10 carpark and went on to finish sixth in the world at the Junior Girls 1000m race in Belgium.

National Under 16 kayaking champion Erica Tanner was likewise a tremble as she approached the stage on crutches, being helped by coach Brian Scott to go up and accept the National Junior Sportsperson award.

"I thank Brian for everything with kayaking and all the other kayakers for supporting me."

Scott had a proud night as he watched two other proteges Max Brown and Aiden Nossiter accept the Junior Team of the Year award for their national K2 title, Czech Republic title with the New Zealand Under 18 crew, and getting an overall world championship placing of 14th.

Ever the lads Brown thanked mum for the food and dad for paying, while Nossiter acknowledged his dear mother for always driving him and dad for putting up with it.

"That makes it easy to get up at 5.30am [for training], said Scott.

"They can still improve," Scott said of Brown and Nossiter.

"They're putting pressure on the New Zealand U23 team members now. Whoever makes that, they have to put in some honest performances to push these guys out of the team."

Alec McNabb knew just how Scott felt as the awards night booklet for the last two years has been filled with his proteges in the athletics, it was only right he was once again named Coach of the Year.

His biggest pleasure is that so many of his former charges have stuck with their sports since leaving Wanganui, such as runner Lucy van Dalen. Her national and Olympic success are proof that it just takes a little drive.

"Finding young people with talent and making them believe they can actually achieve something, is one of the great pleasures," said McNabb.

Turn to Page 26 to read more about the other big winners on the night.