Squash players make history

Bream Bay's Abbie Palmer helped create history last night. Photo / File

Squash players Abbie Palmer and Max Trimble made history last night at the ASB Northland Secondary Schools Sports Awards, as the duo became the first athletes from the same code to win the top awards.

The Bream Bay College student Palmer was named the ASB Northland Secondary Schools Sportswoman of the Year for the second consecutive year while Whangarei Boys' High School's Trimble helped complete the double in taking out the Sportsman of the Year Award.

It is the first time since the event was first staged by Sport Northland, 23 years ago, that the top two prizes have been won by athletes from the same sport.

Along with winning many squash events, including national under-17 and under-19 titles, Palmer represented New Zealand at the Oceania Championships while Trimble is the New Zealand Under-19 champion and the Oceania Junior Under-17 champion. He represented New Zealand at the World Junior Men's Squash Championships in Namibia.

Trimble was also named the Male All Rounder of the Year for his achievements in squash, cricket, athletics and badminton.

A total of 81 sport code winners, from sports that covered team and individual competition, were announced at the annual event held at the ASB Stadium last night.

A record attendance of more than 500 people proved how highly regarded this event has become with students, families and supporters.

"We have been really pleased this year with the response by schools to firstly nominate their students, and then actually attend the awards night with them," said Sport Northland regional sports director Robyn Richards. "We hope that this kind of interest in promoting our upcoming talent in Northland will continue."

ASB Sporting Excellence Awards for high performance in a sport not offered at Secondary School level went to Alannah Rihari, of Kerikeri High School, in crossfit and Bradley Laningan, from Taipa Area School, in rodeo.

Laningan was also named the Area School Sportsman of the Year while Kona-Ariki Hippolite from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kaikohe the Area Sportswoman Award.

Ella Poole-Crowe the Female All Rounder of the Year for her success in hockey, equestrian, adventure racing and orienteering.

The Kerikeri High School Sailing Team was named as the Team of the Year following their success of winning the New Zealand Secondary Schools event for the fifth consecutive year. They then went on to be one of three schools to represent New Zealand at the Interdominion Regatta in Australia where the Kerikeri High School Sailing team helped New Zealand win by being the top team overall.