BOP and Coromandel surf lifeguards and support crews recognised

Regional winners were recognised at Club Mount Maunganui on Saturday. Photo / Supplied

Bay of Plenty and Coromandel's top surf lifeguards, and the support crews keeping the local surf lifesaving clubs running, have been recognised in this year's Zespri Awards of Excellence.

A function announcing the winners and celebrating the achievements of the 2019/2020 season was held on Saturday at Club Mount Maunganui.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand Eastern Region manager Chase Cahalane said the Awards of Excellence were an annual opportunity to formally recognise the outstanding contribution members made to the community.

"It's also an opportunity to give thanks not only for the exceptional achievements of the nominees and winners from the 2019/2020 summer season, but the wider surf life saving community of ordinary people, doing extraordinary things.

"We want to thank the dedicated volunteer surf lifeguards on the front line of the New Zealand coast, as well as those behind the scenes in the training rooms, gear sheds and offices, and all of the people that contribute to the service the New Zealand public trust and enjoy on our beaches every summer."

Cahalane said the 2019/2020 summer season had been an "interesting, challenging, yet very successful one" for the surf life saving community in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel areas.

"This is evident through the exceptionally high calibre of nominations and winners of this year's awards. A particular thank you for this year's recipients of service awards, your dedicated and continued service is an inspiration to us all."

The regional awards culminate in the National Awards of Excellence which will be held on September 19.

Zespri Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Awards of Excellence 2020 winners

Regional Service Awards:
Christine Nairn – Pukehina Surf Rescue
David Grant – Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service
James Lloyd – Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service
David Litton – Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service
Natalie Lloyd – Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service

Regional Distinguished Service Award:
Christiaan Maarhuis – Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service
Kevin Thorburn – Onemana Surf Lifesaving Club

Rookie Lifeguard of the Year:
Rosie Swain – Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service

Bay of Plenty Winners:

Patrol Support Person of the Year:
Ashleigh Riekart – Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club

Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year:
Julia Conway – Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

Emerging U19 Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year:
Emma Russell – Pukehina Surf Rescue

Patrol Captain of the Year:
Josh Russell – Pukehina Surf Rescue
Ryan Hohneck – Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club

Instructor of the Year:
Jaime Troughton – Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

Examiner of the Year:
Gabriel Puckey-Brockelsby – Omanu Surf Life Saving Club

Regional Lifeguard of the Year:
Julia Conway – Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

Beach Ed Instructor of the Year:
Robynne Cabusao – Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club

Volunteer of the Year:
Boyd Harris – Pukehina Surf Rescue

Rescue of the Year:
Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service– 8th March Rescue

Patrol Club of the Year:
Whakatane Surf Life Saving Club

Club of the Year:
Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

Coromandel Winners:

Patrol Support Person of the Year:
Sharlene Manukau – Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service

Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year:
Max Jones – Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club

Emerging U19 Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year:
Sam Cox– Pauanui Surf Life Saving Club

Patrol Captain of the Year:
Tyler Ranger – Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club

Instructor of the Year:
Alexandra Beggs – Pauanui Surf Life Saving Club

Examiner of the Year:
Lucy Scown – Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service

Regional Lifeguard of the Year:
Jamie Lock – Pauanui Surf Lifesaving Club

Beach Ed Instructor of the Year:
Georgia Eldridge – Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service

Volunteer of the Year:
Garry Christoffersen – Whiritoa Lifeguard Service

Rescue of the Year:
Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service – 21st February Search

Patrol Club of the Year:
Tairua Surf Life Saving Club

Club of the Year:
Tairua Surf Life Saving Club

Lifesaving Sport – Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Winners:

Emerging Surf Official of the Year:
Mick Buckley – Waihi Beach Lifeguard Service

Surf Official of the Year:
Greg Rieger – Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

Emerging Coach of the Year:
Danny Hart – Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

Coach of the Year:
John Bryant (Spindles) – Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

Volunteer Coach of the Year:
Boyd Harris – Pukehina Surf Rescue

Sportsteam of the Year:
Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service - U16 Mens Pool Relay Team (Zach Reeder, Liam Shanahan, Benjamin Cosford, Tarquin Magner)

Sportsperson of the Year:

U14 Male:
Thomas Richardson – Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

U14 Female:
Talitha McEwan – Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

U16 Male:
Tarquin Magner – Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

U16 Female:
Lucinda Bartlett – Omanu Surf Life Saving Club

U19 Male:
Lochlainn O'Connor – Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

U19 Female:
Molly Shivnan – Omanu Surf Life Saving Club

Open Male:
Max Beattie – Omanu Surf Life Saving Club

Open Female:
Natalie Peat – Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club

Masters Male:
Barry Cutfield – Whakatane Surf Life Saving Club

Master Female:
Naomi Davoren – Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club

International Individual Sports Performance of the Year:
Lochlainn O'Connor – Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service

International Team Sports Performance of the Year:
Whangamata U23 Mens Surfboat Crew (Steve Pipe, Zane Sweetman, Taine Wilson, Joshua Nicholas, Sergio Schuler)