Sports Awards: Olympians, Paralympians to feature in awards night

Brooke Neal will be receiving her Olympic pin as a first time Olympian at the Konica Minolta CSG Northland Sports Awards. Photo/Photosport.nz

A number of Olympians and Paralympians feature in the list of finalists that have been announced by Sport Northland for the 2016 Konica Minolta CSG Northland Sports Awards which will be held at the ASB Stadium tomorrow on Friday night.

The awards acknowledge sporting excellence in the Northland region for achievements between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.

Sport Northland's community sport manager Stuart Middleton said the quality of the nominees was impressive.

"We are really pleased with the quality of the nominations again this year with a number of Northlanders having outstanding performances on the national and international stage, who will be in line to take out the Supreme Award," he said.

Following the presentation to the winners from each respective sports code, there will be the announcement of the major award winners - the Steinlager Pure Northland Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year and the Konica Minolta CSG Supreme Award.

The Olympic theme will continue through the night and will see hockey star Brooke Neal and Northland-born BMX rider Trent Jones awarded their Olympic pins, as first-time Olympians, by Olympic gold medallist Ian Fergusson.

Well-known TV sports presenter Scotty 'Sumo' Stevenson will also conduct interviews with some of the Northland Olympians and Paralympians who competed at Rio. this year.

This year's event will also see the induction of two further sportspeople as Northland Legends of Sport. Sport Northland's business development manager Colleen Atchison, who co-ordinates the selection panel, said it was amazing to see the talent Northland had produced over the years.

"Sport Northland has inducted 26 Northland champions since the programme was developed in 2004, so it is great to have another two champions to induct this year", she said.

The Northern Advocate People's Choice Award will also be awarded on the night after the result of public voting, which is now closed. One of five 'Favourite Olympic Moments' will have been chosen via the Northern Advocate's website and social media.

This year's finalists are Blair Tuke winning Olympic gold (yachting), Chris Sharp (Paralympic yachting), Emma Foy winning silver (Paralympic cycling), Cameron Leslie winning gold and breaking his world record (swimming) and Brooke Neal and Stacey Michelson (hockey) beating Australia at the Olympics.

The Konica Minolta CSG Northland Sports Awards will be held on Friday, December 2 at the ASB Stadium, Whangarei with tickets available from Sport Northland.