SPORTS AWARDS - Laura rides high in Kaipara

Laura Newman-Dempster and Jareth Cocking have been named Kaipara' s Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year at the annual Kaipara District Sports Awards.
An equestrian one-day eventer, Newman-Dempster is currently ranked fifth on the under-21 leaderboard and 29th on the national open leaderboard. She also plays polocross where she is ranked the best No.3 player in the country and is the youngest member selected in the NZ Open World Cup squad.
Cocking is a member of the NZ under-18 squad and the Northern region under-21 hockey team. He was the goalkeeper for Northland in the national hockey league and was named as the Maungakaramea Club's most valuable player.
Julie Harris was named masters sportsperson of the year for her wins in national and Australasian bodybuilding.
For their services to netball, Nikola Kemp was named administrator and Madelaine Moulds coach of the year. Both from Otamatea the two woman guided the North Blue under-17s to third place at the national championship.
Colleen Glass from Dargaville was recognised for her service to sport. Glass has held every honorary position on the Northern Wairoa Netball committee over the past 30 years and is current president of Netball North. She has umpired at all levels and has been known to have coached up to four teams in one season. This year she has coached the under-19 Blue reps. Jan Isaacs accepted the award on behalf of Mrs Glass who was unable to attend the presentation.
Karen Smales (swimming) received a special award for her outstanding contribution to secondary-school sport.
New Zealand title-holders, Kaipara rock 'n' roll dancers Fraser Langridge and Louise Matich were named best team.
Guest speaker was Otamatea triathlete and 2003 Kaipara Sportswoman Kelly Bruce who talked about her experiences training for the world championships at the Kiwi base camp in France. Bruce is ranked in the world's top five in her age group and is a member of the under-23 Elite World team.
Her debut at the World Cup in Hungary in August saw her finish eighth out of a field of 53, the best yet by a Kiwi woman.
"While one year's training in France has made a big difference to my racing, I encourage rural athletes to keep on reaching for their goals," she said. "Facilities help, but it is hard work that make you champions if you want to achieve ... you never push the snooze button."
The Otamatea High School 1st X1 hockey team received the Noel Radd Shield for fairplay, team and sportsmanship.
Kaipara Mayor Neil Tiller said it was pleasing to see Kaipara people living their dream and even more encouraging to see some forge a living from sport.
THE OTHER NOMINEES:
Sportswoman of the Year: Anna Bruce (triathlon), Jessica Moulds (netball) and Donna Randell (body building).
Sportsman: Lee Newman (golf), Andrew MacLennan (hockey), Shane Pumipi (rugby league) and Daniel Nash (squash).
Youth achievement: Bradley Kemp (swimming), Samara Foster (netball, rugby, athletics and basketball) Brett Robinson (bowls, golf and hockey), Ming Ming Edgar (powerlifting) and Hayley Gilchrist (athletics).
Administrator: Sally Parkinson (swimming) and Bill Walker (bowls)
Coach: Ingrid Carter (netball), Paula Jacques (gymnastics) and Kaye Moffatt (swimming).
Service to Sport: Derek Kirby.
Team: Dargaville Squash Men's E-Grade team, Mangawhai Bowls Sevens team, Te Kopuru Swimming Club and Otamatea High School Netball Team 1.