He won a bronze medal as an integral member of the New Zealand mixed relay triathlete team at the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast.
He was second in the elite men’s race at the ITU World Cup sprint distance tri in Antwerp.
And he just missed out on the podium — placing fourth — in the elite men’s division of the Oceania Cup sprint triathlon in Glenelg, South Australia.
While it did not fall in the allotted time period for consideration, Reid capped his year by winning the under-23 men’s race at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final on the Gold Coast in September.
Reid’s success is a reflection of the huge amount of work he has put in under the guidance of coach Stephen Sheldrake, who won the masters sportsperson category.
That will continue next year with his prime focus on earning a place in the New Zealand team for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
Reid, like all other awards finalists, could not speak highly enough of the vital support behind them as they chase their sporting dreams.
His network — known as Team Reid — is a large, vocal and staunchly enthusiastic group of family members and friends, who made their presence well and truly felt at the Commonwealth Games.
The only disappointing aspect of this year’s awards was that there was only one nomination received for the sportswoman category.
But the winner, lawn bowler Dayvinia Mills, worked hard and had to be at the top of her game in her successes — winning the 2018 national and regional NZ club championship singles titles, along with the 2017 Gisborne East Coast women’s open singles crown.
Phenomenal year for junior sportsman Michael PickettA phenomenal year in the pool for Michael Pickett was rewarded with the junior sportsman award. Pickett was sensational in winning multiple age group national titles in freestyle and butterfly, converted that success over the Tasman at the Australian age group nationals and Queensland sprint champs, set multiple New Zealand age group records and collected two freestyle silver medals at the New Zealand open champs.
Rising surf lifesaving star Olivia Corrin won the junior sportswoman category. Her busy season included several international events as a member of New Zealand teams and an Australian nationals under-19 board race title, and she gained selection in the Black Fins open team for the upcoming world championships in Adelaide.
Masters sportsperson winner Sheldrake practised what he preaches to Reid — winning the 40 to 44 years age group in the aquathlon and aquabike at the 2017 ITU World Multisport Championships in Canada, and also won his age group at the 2018 world championships national qualifying race.
Waikohu rugby team’s historic first premier club rugby title earned them the sports team category.
The Waikanae under-19 women’s board relay team, who won the open and u19 age groups at the nationals in Gisborne, won junior sports team.
Sharni Wainohu’s role in producing national championship-winning waka ama crews at sprint and long distance earned her the coach category honours.
International hockey umpire Amber Church won official, Poverty Bay Hockey Association — a driving force behind a significant increase in playing numbers and development pathways — won club, and Huringa Pai Charitable Trust won the community impact award for its hugely successful health and wellbeing initiatives.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand picked up the event excellence awards for the national championships held in Gisborne in March.
Waka ama pioneer Matahi Brightwell inducted into the Tairawhiti Legends of SportWaka ama pioneer Matahi Brightwell was recognised for his decades of contribution to his sport with induction into the Tairawhiti Legends of Sport.
Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti chief executive Stefan Pischief was rapt with the response to this year’s awards.
“We’re incredibly pleased to have had such a strong turn-out. The event sold out, with a record 340 attendees.
“Our independent judges had a hard job of selecting finalists and winners from some very strong nominations.
“The calibre of the finalists at this year’s event really highlights what incredible sporting talent our region produces
“We also received a number of quality nominations in our categories which recognise the great work of community organisations and clubs.
“The finalists of the event excellence, community impact and club of the year awards were all a testament to the strength of our regional sporting and health sectors.”
A new award, volunteer, was a welcome addition.
“We wanted to showcase the crucial role that volunteers play in enabling local sport and recreation.”
The community was asked to nominate volunteers through the Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti Facebook page.
The winner was boxing coach Kim-Maree Larbuy, who received 21 nominations which Pischief said “highlighted what an asset she is to her sport of boxing, and to our community”.
Pischief gave “a massive thank you” to chief sponsor Bronwyn Kay Agency “and all of the other sponsors who support this great event”.
More on the awards in The Herald next week
