The 2017 Carrus Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards evening was held at the ASB Stadium Lounge on Wednesday night.
The evening celebrated and recognised the success, efforts and achievements of players, coaches, referees and volunteers in front of a well-attended audience of teammates, family, supporters and sponsors.
Te Puke Sportsand Recreation Club's Deborah Keenleyside and Ashley Peat collected the Carrus Bay of Plenty Rugby Supreme Award. Keenleyside and Peat, life members of Te Puke Sports and Recreation Club, have completed 21 continuous years in their respective positions as president and club administrator.
Their achievements have included the establishment of the Old Pirates supporters club, installation of night-lighting, introducing basketball, Kiwi volleyball and competitive women's netball. To top their achievements is the introduction of rugby charity matches supporting breast cancer and anti-domestic violence campaign "It's Not Ok", with both charity matches having a specially designed jersey.
Black Ferns and NZ Sevens player Kelly Brazier was voted the Tauranga City Council Sports Person of the year. The Bay of Plenty Volcanix's confirmation in the Mitre 10 Farah Palmer Cup Championship final secured the team the Staples Rodway Representative Team of the year.
Tom Franklin was the standout for the Steamers, collecting the Rotorua Central Mall Steamers Player of the Year alongside the Seeka Steamers Players Player and McFall Steamers Forward of the Year awards.
2017 Carrus Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards
Community Awards: Vodafone Service to Sport: Gary Lonergan - Judea Rugby Club, Ashley Peat & Deborah Keenleyside - Te Puke Sports and Recreation Club, Mark White Edmonds QSM - Rotorua Girls High School, Rangiuru, Bay of Plenty Under-18s and Matt Welsh - Mount Maunganui Sports
Secondary School Awards: Toi Ohomai Secondary School Programme of the Year: Rotorua Girls' High School Bethlehem Coachlines Secondary School Coach of the Year: Steve Orr (John Paul College)
Club Awards: Craigs Investment Partners Administrator of the Year: Jodi Hepburn and Debra Mikaere - Whakarewarewa JAB Vodafone Female Club Player of the Year: Kaci James - Whakarewarewa Vodafone Male Club Player of the Year: Baden Wardlaw: Rotoiti Page Macrae Club Team of the Year: Waikite Women Cooney Lees Morgan Club Coach of the Year: Rodney Voullaire - Mount Maunganui Sports Cooney Lees Morgan Highly Commended Club Team of the Year: Edgecumbe Rugby Club Cooney Lees Morgan Club of the Year: Arataki
Referee Awards: Lawrence Award Best Premier Referee as voted by the Premier Team Coaches: Jamie Bell Martin Toe Shield-Best Referee as voted by the Referee Coaches: Jamie Bell Bill Sparks Memorial Award-Best Assistant Referee as voted by the Premier Referees: Cameron Russell Allan Oates Memorial Trophy-Best Referee Coach as voted by the referees: Pat Rae and John Donnelly John Cormack Trophy for Most Improved Referee: Nick Burton George Woodroffe Trophy for highest exam result: Ryan Waite and Cameron Russell Flays Cup-Best Referee up to Division 1: If Seumanutafa
Representative Awards: Rotorua Lakes Council Bay of Plenty Pasifika Player of the Year: Joe Toai-Key Te Hiku o te Ika Team of the Tournament Trophy: Te Warariki Tane Te Hiku o te Ika Tournament Player of the Year: Whakataki Cunningham Te Waiariki Highly Commended Player of the Year: Peter Smith Te Waiariki Player of the Year: William Warbrick New Zealand Community Trust 2017 Under-16 Player of the Year: Kahi Borrel NZCT Under 18 Male Player of the Year: Bailey Williams Body in Motion Under 19 Player of the Year: Stan Van Den Hoven Bethlehem Coachlines Bay of Plenty Under-18 Female Player of the Year: Tynealle Fitzgerald Harvey Norman Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Michaela Blyde Distinction Hotel Men's Sevens Player of the Year: Regan Ware Four Winds Foundation Volcanix Forward of the Year: Christie Yule Four Winds Foundation Volcanix Back of the Year: Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly Harvey Norman Volcanix Player of the Year: Kaci James Farmer Autovillage Fan Favourite: Mike Delany McFall Fuel Steamers Forward of the Year: Tom Franklin Bayleys Steamers Back of the Year: Monty Ioane Steamers Rookie of the Year: Richard Judd Seeka Steamers Players Player Award: Tom Franklin Rotorua Central Mall Steamers Player of the Year: Tom Franklin Highly Commended Vodafone Community Player Award: Julia Buescher and Aidan Ross Vodafone Award for Player Community Service: Elijah Nicholas WASPS Emerging Representative Player of the Year: Tynealle Fitzgerald Staples Rodway 2017 Representative Team of the Year: Volcanix HOBEC Representative Coach of the Year: Victoria Grant Tauranga City Council Sports Person of the Year Award: Kelly Brazier Carrus Supreme Award: Ashley Peat & Deborah Keenleyside - Te Puke Sports and Recreation