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THE finalists have been announced for the Gisborne-Tairawhiti Surf Lifesaving Awards of Excellence for the 2017-18 season — with almost all the finalists from the three city clubs.
Members of the Waikanae and the Ngati Porou clubs are in the running for the BP Rescue of the Year award.
The awards, sponsored by Zespri, recognise and celebrate the contribution made by volunteer lifeguards in the region over the past season.
Regional Awards of Excellence ceremonies are held around the country and regional winners go forward for the national awards.
Surf Life Saving Eastern Region manager Chris Emmett said the awards were an important way to end a busy season and recognise the contribution lifeguards make to their communities.
“These awards are the perfect way to say thanks to all our members who have poured in so much time and energy over the 2017-18 patrol season.
“We are very pleased to have our partner Zespri supporting these awards.”
The Gisborne-Tairawhiti Awards of Excellence will take place at The White House restaurant on June 29.
Some of the key awards are Coach of the Year, where the finalists are Dion Williams from Wainui, Cory Hutchings Waikanae and Matt Sutton Midway.
The “Volunteer of the Year” finalists are Nigel Hope from Waikanae, Dave Corrin from Midway and Salvatore Zame from Wainui.
The three finalists for volunteer Lifeguard of the Year are Andrew Shelton from Waikanae, Chris Niven from Midway and Louis Birkhead from Wainui.
Full list of finalists —
Emerging Coach of the Year: Ella Van Kregten – Waikanae SLSC, Olivia Corrin – Midway SLSC, Sonia Keepa – Wainui SLSC.
Coach of the Year: Dion Williams – Wainui, Cory Hutchings – Waikanae, Matthew Sutton – Midway.
McLeods Emerging Official of the Year: Eric Clearwater – Waikanae, Peter Simmons – Wainui.
McLeods Official of the Year: Debbie Hutchings – Waikanae, Susan Quilter – Wainui.
Sports Team of the Year: Midway U12 Women’s Pool Relay Team, Waikanae U19 Women’s Board Relay Team, Wainui U16 Women’s Board Relay Team.
Sportsperson of the Year: U14 Male: Lachie Falloon – Waikanae, Jack Keepa – Wainui.
Sportsperson of the Year: U14 Female: Sophie Petro – Midway, Chloe Kapene – Waikanae, Imogen Amor-Bendall – Wainui.
Sportsperson of the Year: U16 Male: Jack Keepa – Wainui, Michael Pickett – Waikanae, Will Pittar – Midway.
Sportsperson of the Year: U16 Female: Ava Smith – Wainui, Briana Irving – Waikanae.
Sportsperson of the Year: U19 Male: Jordan Mclarin – Waikanae, Louis Birkhead – Wainui.
Sportsperson of the Year: U19 Female: Olivia Corrin – Midway, Lauren Pickett – Waikanae.
Sportsperson of the Year: Open Male: Quaid Thompson – Waikanae, Cory Taylor – Midway, Jack Virtue – Wainui.
Sportsperson of the Year: Open Female: Casie Fyall – Waikanae, Jasmine Smith – Wainui.
Sportsperson of the Year: Masters Male: Adam Tate – Waikanae, Rob Fergus – Midway.
Sportsperson of the Year: Masters Female: Sonia Keepa – Wainui, Leigh Sheldrake – Waikanae.
International Performance of the Year: Olivia Corrin – Midway, Casie Fyall – Waikanae.
Emerging U19 Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year: Louis Birkhead – Wainui, Travis Mitchell – Waikanae, Jacob Corrin – Midway.
Pacific Medicare Volunteer Lifeguard of the Year: Andrew Shelton – Waikanae, Chris Niven – Midway, Louis Birkhead – Wainui.
Regional Lifeguard of the Year: Colby Putnam – Wainui, Matt Walters – Brighton SLSC, Fern Stuart – Waikanae.
Patrol Captain of the Year: Rama Robertson – Midway, Belinda Slement – Wainui, Eric Clearwater – Waikanae.
Instructor of the Year: Michelle Mitchell – Waikanae, John Minogue – Wainui.
Beach Ed Instructor of the Year: Sonia Keepa – Wainui, Steffan John – Midway SLSC.
Examiner of the Year: Andrew Shelton – Waikanae, Jeremy Lockwood – Wainui.
Volunteer of the Year: Nigel Hope – Waikanae, David Corrin – Midway, Salvatore Zame – Wainui.
BP Rescue of the Year: Waikanae – January 8, 2018, Ngati Porou – February 17, 2018, Waikanae – January 20, 2018.