Hard case steals the show

One, set your goals high but make sure, you need to be careful what you fish for; and two, have your parents' support.Trevor Shailer, Commonwealth bronze medallist and Olympic boxer A HARD case speech by Trevor Shailer at the Far North District Council's Sports Awards 2012 on Friday night was virtually worth the price of admission alone.

On the night designed to celebrate the sporting achievements from the region over the past 12 months, Shailer's memorable speech about a veritable lifetime involved in sport at Olympic level capped off an enjoyable evening while other highlights included a moving performance by the Muriwhenua kapa haka group, a fine banquet dinner and a fast-moving ceremony.

Now 41, Shailer has represented New Zealand in the light-welterweight class at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, boxed his way to a bronze medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria and was New Zealand's cultural adviser and athlete support person at the 2012 London Olympics.

As guest speaker at the annual awards ceremony (held for the second consecutive year in Kaitaia), he also proved to be a real character with a unique blend of self-deprecating humour, anecdotes from the inner sanctum of the Olympics and straight shooting advice. Introducing himself by noting his surname was a "good strong Maori name", Shailer emphasised the importance for young aspiring athletes to set their goals early on in their career.

"When I was 11 and wrote down my goal, it was, 'I want to go to the Olympics'." Shailer contested his only Olympics in Barcelona in '92 - featuring in the New Zealand boxing team alongside a certain David Tua - where he lost his opening fight on points after three three-minute rounds. He recalled his despair after the fight.

"I had been training for this moment for 10 years and it was all done and dusted and finished in nine minutes. I went from the highest high to the lowest low," he said, admitting a later reassessment allowed him to realise he had got everything he had asked for. He recommended that athletes set two priorities for themselves.

"One, set your goals high but make sure, you need to be careful what you fish for; and two, have your parents' support." Of the latter point, Shailer recalled how as an impressionable 11-year-old, he eavesdropped while his impressed boxing coach told his parents they had a "thoroughbred" in their midst.

"That taught me, you must never underestimate what you say to a young person," said Shailer, noting that after notching 177 fights on his belt, "My life revolved around boxing." He also told of his work involved with the 2012 New Zealand Olympic team and the various "tools" applied to motivate them to medal winning efforts, and shared revealing insights and photos from the various Olympics he'd attended.

BIZARRELY, it was also revealed on Friday night that Shailer's defining life moment mirrored what had inspired Blair Tuke to take up sailing as a youngster. Shortly after Daniel Tuke had accepted the sailing code award, sportsman of the year and overall sportsperson of the year titles on behalf of his younger brother at the FNDC awards, Blair's mother Karin recalled the moment when an 11-year-old Blair arrived home after taking part in a sail day while in Year 6 at Riverview Primary School. The day was run by Dennis Hewitt who later rang Tuke's parents and suggested they get their son a boat. They duly bought him a P Class for Christmas that year, said Karin adding, "He took his mates sailing that day and they all capsized," and the rest is history ...

Back at the awards evening at Te Ahu on Friday, perhaps the most unfortunate aspect of the evening was the number of athletes conspicuous by their absence from this year's ceremony which was almost embarrassing. It was the second year in a row Tuke had been unable to accept the overall sportsperson of the year title in person but he came in via a video link to explain he was competing in an A-Class series in Florida.

Obviously for many, attendance was beyond their means and/or circumstances such as Tuke, and rodeo code award winner, Klay Lanigan, in Australia contesting a transtasman rodeo challenge. But the audience's frustration as the number of no-shows grew throughout the evening was summed up by one punter who was unable to resist asking, "Why don't we take a photo of all the award winners who aren't here?"

There were still 17 nearly-full tables on the night, each with more than its fair share of amazing tales to tell. Organisers ensured the night ran smoothly, guests enjoyed fine fare and complementary refreshments, and Te Ikanui Kingi Waiaua proved the consummate MC.

The full list of award winners features elsewhere in today's edition while photos from the evening can be viewed on the Northland Age website.