The grassroots contribution of several Gisborne people was acknowledged at Hockey NZ’s 2024 Community and Service Awards held in Auckland.
Respected coach Wade Manson and youngsters Bree Thompson and Hunter Cumming won awards while a Poverty Bay club was a finalist in another section.
The awards celebrate the outstandingcontributions and dedication of individuals and organisations within the hockey community.
Manson, who coaches the Gisborne Boys’ High School First XI but has been heavily involved in the sport up to regional level for several years, jointly won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Coaching. Hawke’s Bay’s Joe Hanks was the other recipient.
Cumming, who finished at Gisborne Intermediate School this year and is the son of international umpire Jo Cumming, won the Outstanding Young Person of the Year award alongside Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Whatatutu student Bree Thompson.
Bree Thompson was part of a Gisborne double in the Outstanding Young Person of the Year category.
Lytton Paikea Sports Club - an amalgamation of Lytton Old Boys and Paikea clubs - was a finalist in the Club of the Year section won by Omanu Beach.
The awards were held the same weekend of the Premier Hockey League finals at North Harbour Hockey Stadium.
Recently crowned Māori Sports Awards Umpire of the Year Amber Church blew the whistle over the finals weekend while former Tolaga Bay boy Mac Wilcox - son of Tolaga Bay couple Marsha and Neil Wilcox - was in the Central Falcons team beaten 7-4 by Alpiners in the men’s final.
Meanwhile, Gisborne Boys’ High students Ollie Egan and Francois Louw turned out for Hawke’s Bay in the Under-18s age group division of the national indoor champs in Auckland early December. Hawke’s Bay finished second.
Hunter Cumming, holding the Upshot Memorial Shield which recognises an outstanding junior in Poverty Bay hockey, was joint winner of the Outstanding Young Person of the Year category at the Hockey NZ Community and Service Awards.
