RUBI PERANO: With the James Mulligan Memorial Shield. Pictures supplied
ALL-round sportswoman Rubi Perano was surprised and delighted to receive the James Mulligan Memorial Shield at Badminton Eastland’s awards night at Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club.
The shield is awarded to the junior player showing qualities of sportsmanship, effort, attitude and co-operation.
It is not presented every year. The last time was in 2010, to Scott MacLellan.
Perano, 14, is also a footballer and cricketer of note. Presentation of the shield to her was especially significant for the Perano family as Rubi’s mother Gabrielle received it in 1991 (as Gabrielle Wright).
In the awards for 2017, Gabrielle Perano was also, with Debbie Brown, in the team of the year.
Rubi’s sister Stella, 11, was on the prize list, too. Stella won the award for Junior Outstanding Performance of the Year, for her performances in junior competition, but was not present. She was in hospital awaiting hip surgery, and now has a nine-month recovery period ahead of her.
Badminton Eastland president Hamish Ledger welcomed those attending the annual awards night, and thanked sponsors and volunteers for their contribution to badminton in Gisborne.
Masters team manager Debbie Brown said the team had a good year, finishing third in the nine-team Division 3 interprovincial masters’ competition.
She thanked coach Hamish Ledger, and presented badges and ribbons.
Team members for 2017 were David Colbert, Justin Kent, Gary Teague (Manawatu), Mark Beard, Alica Richardson-Marr, Debbie Brown, Gabrielle Perano, Makuini Winiata, Hayley Ledger and Gill Blair.
Super-veterans team manager Linda White made the presentations to her team.
They were placed fifth in the 2017 super-veterans’ Division 2 interprovincial competition. She thanked Ron Prebble, who helped manage the team, and the players who worked on their fitness and took part in other clubs’ competition nights as well as their own, to keep their matchplay at a good level.
The super-veterans were Ron Prebble, Kevin Lee, Matheus Batlajeri (Manawatu), Linda White, Sheree Gray, Annabelle Riwaka, Ruth Ledger, Helen Morley, Ian Williamson (Auckland) and Peter Conray (Auckland).
Association life member Bruce Ledger presented the Badminton Eastland end-of-year awards. They were —
John Chamberlain Memorial Trophy for Administrator of the Year: Ruth Ledger, in recognition of 31 years (1986 to 2017) as treasurer of Patutahi Badminton Club.
Volunteer of the Year: Vera Wilson, for maintaining and updating the Badminton Eastland website.
Court Official of the Year (donated by the White family): Cynthia Sidney, for her ongoing work with Uawa junior players in the development of their knowledge of the rules of the game, and her encouragement of them to umpire.
Coach of the Year: Hamish Ledger, for his role in coaching the masters team and his help in the running of the junior club.
Club of the Year: Social Morning Club for consistency in membership, their ongoing support of Badminton Eastland and for the support of some of their players for the two BIZminton competitions during the year.
Junior Outstanding Performance of the Year: Stella Perano, for winning the under-13 singles and girls’ doubles at the junior badminton tournament.She was also a member of Te Wharau Girls, who won the primary interschool competition, playing as No.1 in the team and winning all her matches.
Senior Outstanding Performance of the Year: Justin Kent, a member of the Badminton Eastland masters team. He won 17 of his 21 representative matches during the season. His was the best overall Badminton Eastland performance, based on Badminton NZ ranking list. Nicknamed “the retriever”.
Team of the Year (donated by Bruce and Ruth Ledger): Debbie Brown and Gabrielle Perano, the No.1 women’s doubles pairing in the Badminton Eastland masters team. They won seven matches out of seven during the year.
James Mulligan Memorial Shield, awarded to the junior player showing qualities of sportsmanship, effort, attitude and co-operation: Rubi Perano, for contribution to Junior Badminton Club, mercantile badminton and the junior badminton tournament as a player and court official.
After Badminton Eastland’s presentations, Patutahi Badminton Club president Ron Prebble reviewed the year.Despite low numbers, club nights had produced competitive games.
A highlight had been the annual matches against Te Puke, held in Rotorua this year. With the help of Gisborne players who travelled to make up the numbers, Patutahi had won this event.
Badminton New Zealand had recognised Patutahi members Linda White and Ron Prebble.
White received the trophy for Outstanding Contribution to Badminton in New Zealand, while Prebble was named Badminton New Zealand Administrator of the Year.
Prebble and club secretary Sheree Gray presented the Patutahi awards —
Men’s doubles, winners: Alan Ledger and Robert Cameron. Runners-up: Ivan Blair and Hamish Ledger.
Women’s doubles “with a difference”: Hayley Warman and Annabelle Riwaka.
A Grade mixed doubles, winners: Ron Prebble and Ruth Ledger. Runners-up: Hamish Ledger and Kahu Brown.