A new Grassroots Club Award will be a feature of the Hawke's Bay Sports Awards function to be held next month.
The Nimons Grassroots Club Award has been introduced to recognise on-field performances of club teams at junior or senior level in the province.
"There have been many great on-fieldperformances by local club teams and it's important that we acknowledge their performances," Sport Hawke's Bay chief executive Colin Stone said yesterday. Nominations close today, finalists will be announced later this month and winners revealed at an awards' celebration dinner on May 24 at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena. The awards recognise outstanding achievements by Hawke's Bay athletes, teams, regional sports organisations, clubs and officials over the past 12 months. Nominations can be made online at www.sporthb.net.nz
Stone said the awards also acknowledge members of the community who have made a significant contribution to a sport or the sector through the Gen-i Service to Sport awards. He pointed out there has been a change to the IMS Payroll RSO/Club Operations of the Year Award, which will now recognise outstanding performance by a sports organisation or club in terms of improving its capability and capacity within the qualifying period.
Stone also hopes to announce a new naming rights sponsor for the awards soon, following the completion of a sponsorship arrangement with UnisonFibre. Tickets will be on sale from April 14 at Sport Hawke's Bay - Pettigrew-Green Arena.
