AWARDS: Captain and coach shine for HBHS

Shane Hurndell
Hawke's Bay's New Zealand secondary schools rugby captain Hika Elliot capped a memorable year by winning the Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools Sportsperson of the Year award last night.
The Hastings Boys' High School Sportsperson of the Year received it at the annual Sport Hawke's Bay organised-ASB Bank-sponsored function attended by 350 people at Napier's Century Theatre.
A member of the world championship-winning New Zealand under-19 rugby side, Elliot, captained the New Zealand Secondary Schools team to victory over Australia, Fiji and Japan during the season. He is about to sign another Hawke's Bay Rugby Academy contract and intends remaining in the Bay with the Magpies expected return to first division in 2006 his carrot.
Hastings Rugby and Sports have secured the talented hooker's services for next year.
Elliot's Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV coach Craig McCracken captured the coach award for the first time. McCracken has a long history of coaching at HBHS.
"It's been an excellent year and it's nice to get a pat on the back like this," said McCracken.
He coached HBHS to a top four finish in the New Zealand Secondary Schools 1st XV Knockout competition and his team won their Super 8 competition for the first time.
McCracken's troops also held the Moascar Cup - the "Ranfurly Shield" of New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby during the season.
Napier Boys' High School's cross country team took out the team award. This team produced a gutsy third placing at the national championships.
At the start of the nationals the team was placed in lane one. Once the gun went the field converged into this lane causing all three members to be knocked to the ground, one member of the team was even knocked down twice.
Instead of throwing in the towel the team picked themselves up and battled from 80th place to secure their third placing.
Napier Boys' High School's second award came when hockey umpire Sam Moroney picked up the officiating award. Moroney was a reserve umpire for the national under-15 final and one of three umpires selected for the New Zealand Tiger Turf Squad.
He has also been a judge for national league matches and umpired at Hatch Cup quadrangulars, Hawke's Bay Masters Games matches and in Hawke's Bay premier and secondary school competitions.
William Colenso College's senior boys basketball team took home the Fair Play award. This team was committed to a "Fair Play" attitude this season and won the same award at their school's prize-giving.
This team never missed a duty in the Bay's secondary schools competition, never missed a duty and even completed duty when other teams defaulted. Team members consistently displayed the principles of Fair Play throughout the entire season.
Olympic board sailor Barbara Kendall, Tall Black basketballer Paora Winitana and former All Black Liam Barry were the guest speakers at the function.