Hawke's Bay Sport Awards the largest ever

Ticket sales close tomorrow and are available from www.sporthb.net.nz or the Sport Hawke's Bay head office at Pettigrew Green Arena. Photo / Supplied

More than 500 tickets have been sold for the Hawke's Bay Sport Awards, which will be held at Pettigrew Green Arena in Taradale on Saturday May 26 - a record number for the event.

Sport Hawke's Bay commercial manager Ryan Hambleton said this year's event will be the largest celebration of sporting achievement, with only a day left to buy tickets if people want to mix and mingle with the region's sporting elite.

"This is our biggest sport awards yet and there is a lot to celebrate with our sporting talent achieving some amazing feats locally, nationally and internationally," he said.

"The awards are always a special occasion that brings the sporting community together to also recognise those that freely give their valuable time to contribute to sport and recreation."

Radio personality and former Hastings Boys High School student Nathan Rarere will MC the event with fellow Radio Sport producer Marc Peard. They will be joined by local radio presenters Adam Green and Megan Banks from The Hits.

A total of 55 individuals, teams and clubs are contesting across 14 categories, culminating in the evening's big award – the Hawke's Bay Today Hawke's Bay Sportsperson of the Year.

Hambleton said The Hits People's Choice Award with finalists Brad Weber (rugby union), Piera Hudson (skiing), Jarrod Kenny (basketball) and Kyrsten Cottrell (rugby union) have drawn a large voter turnout.

"There's just a couple of days to go but the voting has been the strongest it's ever been."

Another feature of the evening will be the induction of motorsport legend Greg Murphy and softball icon Thomas Makea Jnr to the Hawke's Bay Sports Hall of Fame.

Ticket sales close tomorrowand are available from www.sporthb.net.nz or the Sport Hawke's Bay head office at Pettigrew Green Arena.

Tickets are $95 per seat or $900 for a table of 10 and include a three-course meal from Orton Tailored Cuisine, with drinks provided by Zeelandt Brewery, Vidal Estate and Three Wise Birds cider.