BOP Sports Awards: Star-studded finalist line-up

Sam Cane has been named as a finalist in a strong field for Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year at the 2014 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards. Photo / Stephen Parker

Award season has arrived again bearing further proof the Bay of Plenty is the quiet achiever of New Zealand sport.

The list came through for the 2014 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards yesterday and again my overwhelming feeling while digging through it was a genuine shock at just how many quality athletes and sporting identities make their home in the region.

In no particular order the nominees include: the sailor being groomed to be the next skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand, a number of All Blacks and Black Caps, including the guy with the fastest century in the history of international cricket and the future likely successors to both captaincy gigs, a staggering number of world and junior world champions, some seriously exciting secondary school talent and some of the hardest working coaches and volunteers one could hope to meet.

Surnames such as Tietjens, Adams, Drysdale, Williamson, Cane, Carrington, Burling and Horan dot the list - which can be found on page 38.

New junior awards have been introduced alongside the established Bay of Plenty Secondary School Awards, further highlighting the calibre of athletes coming through the Bay ranks.

"All those listed as finalists are a credit to their communities and our region and we look forward to following their continuing achievements in the future," said Sport Bay of Plenty CEO Heidi Lichtwark.

The People's Choice award continues this year with the public having an opportunity to vote for their favourite Bay of Plenty junior athlete.

Voting, through the Sport Bay of Plenty Facebook page, opens on Friday and runs until November 26.

The winner will be announced online on November 28. All votes go in the draw to win a 4G Apple iPad Mini.

Tickets for the awards to be held at the Energy Events Centre, Rotorua, on December 5, are available through the Sport Bay of Plenty website - www.sportbop.co.nz

2014 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards finalists

Aurecon Secondary School Best Student Contribution to Sport

Rhys Hamilton, Basketball, Tauranga Boys' College

Rebecca Barnard, Volleyball, Tauranga Girls' College

Jordyn McKay, Football, Reporoa College

Ashley Wilson, Football, Mt Maunganui College

Beth Owen, Equestrian and Netball, Taupo Nui a Tia College

Bay Cardiology Secondary School Girls' Team of the Year
Tauranga Girls' College Canoe Slalom Team
Otumoetai College Volleyball Team
Tauranga Girls' College Cross Country Team
Tauranga Girls' College Athletics Team

Bay Office Products Depot Secondary School Boys' Team of the Year
Tauranga Boys' College C2 Canoe Slalom Team
Tauranga Boys' College Squash Team
Whakatane High School Rowing Team
Tauranga Boys' College Volleyball Team

AquaPlus Club of the Year
Canoe Slalom Bay of Plenty
Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service Inc
Devoy Squash & Fitness Centre
Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club

MoreFM Official of the Year
Glen Jackson, Rugby Union
Nick Briant, Rugby Union
Ross Merrett, Surf Life Saving
Ken Bow, Gymnastics

Rotorua Trust Team of the Year
Whitewater Rafting New Zealand Men's Team
BOP Cricket Senior Men's Team
Canoe Slalom C1 Women's U23 Team
Rangataua Sports & Cultural Club Men's 7's Rugby Team
Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club IRB Team

P2P Physio Junior Team of the Year (new category)
Midlands U18 Girls Hockey Team
Tauranga Boys' College C2 Canoe Slalom Team
Tauranga Girls' College White Water Rafting Team
Papamoa SLS Club Youth Team
BOP Golf Junior Interprovincial Team

CodeBlue Secondary School Coach of the Year
Ben Ormsby, Volleyball, Tauranga Boys' College
Damien Galvan, Squash and Surfing, Tauranga Boys' College
Graham Watt, Rowing, Whakatane High School

BayTrust Coach of the Year
Sir Gordon Tietjens, Rugby 7s
Sean Horan, Rugby 7s
Martin Hammer, Canoe Slalom
Aaron Osborne, Canoe Slalom
Scott Bartlett, Surf Life Saving

Waiariki Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportswoman of the Year
Ariana Moffatt, Surf Life Saving and Volleyball, Tauranga Girls' College
Paige Satchell, Football and Cross Country, John Paul College
Kirsty Burrows, Underwater Hockey, Aquathlon, Triathlon, Tauranga Girls' College
Sophie Stewart-Hobbs, Football, Tauranga Girls' College
Kelcy Ballantyne, Volleyball and Basketball, Otumoetai College

Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year
Callum Gilbert, Canoe Slalom
Ben Johnston, Surf Life Saving
Keegan Wright, Mountain Biking
Connor Hamilton, Mountain Biking
Kodi Harman, Athletics

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary School Sportsman of the Year
Patrick Washer, Canoe Slalom, Tauranga Boys' College
Trent Rippey, Sailing, Tauranga Boys' College
Ari Palsson, Rowing, Whakatane High School
Ben Cochrane, Surf Life Saving, Mount Maunganui College
Kyle Smith, Triathlon and Aquathon, Taupo Nui a Tia

Farmer Autovillage International Sportsperson of the Year
Mahe Drysdale, Rowing
Marc Jacobs, Kite Surfing
Gemma Flynn, Hockey
Valerie Adams, Athletics
Ryan Thomas, Football

Eves Realty Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Natalie Peat, Surf Life Saving
Amy Robinson, Hockey & Athletics
Haylee Dangen, Canoe Slalom
Rose Keddell, Hockey
Olivia Eaton, Surf Life Saving

Holland Beckett Lawyers Sportswoman of the Year
Samantha Charlton, Hockey
Lisa Carrington, Kayaking
Julia Edward, Rowing
Zoe Stevenson, Rowing

Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year
Nathan Harris, Rugby Union
Kane Williamson, Cricket
Sam Cane, Rugby Union
Curtis Rapley, Rowing
Peter Burling, Sailing
Corey Anderson, Cricket