Prior scoops major honours at school sports awards night

History repeated itself when Rathkeale College student William Prior took away the Sports Personality of the Year trophy at the Wairarapa secondary school sports awards last night.
It was the second year in a row Prior, 17, had won the major prize along with the Sportsman of the Year category, and even a cursory glance at his achievements again made him the obvious choice.
The top-ranked middle-to-long distance freestyle swimmer (200m, 400m and 1500m) in his age group in New Zealand, Prior is also in the top four in his age group in Australasia in both in the 200m and 400m freestyle.
At the New Zealand youth and open championships held in April, Prior won the 16yrs 200m and 400m freestyle events and qualified for the national development squad for the third successive year and he was selected in the New Zealand junior Olympic Cup team to compete in Japan for the second successive year.
Immediately following his successful national championship programme Prior flew to Australia to represent his country at the Australian age group champs where he was placed fourth in the 400m freestyle final, beaten by just a touch for third.
Wairarapa short and long course records have fallen to Prior on a regular basis over the past year, including one previously held by Olympian Jonathan Winter and another which had stood since 1989, the year that Prior was born!
Making these results even more remarkable is that Prior has been diagnosed with a debilitating injury in both shoulders and was, in fact, forced to take two months off training early this year to assist the recovery process.
In fact, he had only done one month's full training before the New Zealand youth championships.
A recurrence of his injuries meant he had to rest for a further four months this winter while he has undergone rehabilitation to his shoulders, thereby making him unavailable for the Japan trip.
He resumed training in early September.
Contesting against Prior for the Sportsman of the Year award at last night's function were the three other finalists, Myles Collins (Wairarapa College), Tyson Hullena (Chanel College) and Michael Wilson (Kuranui College).
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Winner of the Sportswoman of the Year trophy was Ashley McDougall of St Matthews Collegiate.
She too made her mark in swimming over the past year, her results including a first in the 200m butterfly at the New Zealand youth championships, an event in which she also registered two seconds, one third and two fourths. At the national open championships she swam in four finals and placed third in the 800m freestyle.
On the international scene McDougall qualified for the Australian age group champs in six events and also qualified for the Australian open water 5000m championships.
Swimming though is not her only sporting forte, she is also an accomplished netballer, being part of the highly successful St Matthews Collegiate senior A side for the past three seasons.
The other finalists for the Sportswoman of the Year award were Wendy Hull (Wairarapa College) Ngahuia Kapene (St Matthews Collegiate) and Kelsi Rutene (Wairarapa College).
JUNIOR AWARD
Talented golfer Ben Campbell of Wairarapa College won the Junior Sports Personality of the Year award.
A two handicapper. Campbell was only 14yrs when he represented the Wellingtoin under-19 golf team against Auckland and he was also part of the Wairarapa senior men's team in their annual game against Wellington.
Campbell made the semi-finals of the Wellington match play tournament and has attended the New Zealand development regional coaching school .
Joining Campbell among the four finalists for the junior award were Corrina Paine (Wairarapa College), Te Ata Phillips (Kuranui College) and Amy Sutherland (Makoura College).
EMERGING SPORT AWARD
The Berry sisters from St Matthews Collegiate, Sarah and Emmy, won the Emerging Sport award after a series of outstanding performances in the sport of sailing.
They placed third in the silver fleet section while representing their country at the world open championships as well as taking the trophy for the youngest competitors there and they claimed 21 st placing at the world youth (under-19) championships.
On the domestic scene they were first at the New Zealand youth trials and fourth at the national open women's qualifying event.
Other finalists for the Emerging Sport award were Chris Atkinson (Wairarapa College), Ryan O'Hara (Wairarapa College) and Mason Wilkie (Wairarapa College).
CONTRIBUTION TO SPORT
AWARD
Jessica Matthews of Chanel College won the Contribution to Sport award.
She was captain of her school's first XI hockey side, vice-captain of their senior A netball team and their mixed hockey team which won their section at national tournament.
She was also a coach and referee in canoe polo and a participant in athletics, girls cricket and girls rugby.
The three other finalists for this award were Victoria Green (Wairarapa College), Daniel Haxton (Wairarapa College) and Taasha Henson (St Matthews Collegiate).
SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR
Rathkeale College's first X1 cricket side were deserved winners of the Sports Team of the Year award after placing third in the New Zealand Gillette Cup secondary schools knockout competition last season.
On the way to that distinction they beat off challenges from the top secondary school sides in Horowhenua, Manawatu, Wanganui and Wellington.
The St Matthews Collegiate softball team, the Wairarapa College first X1 boys hockey team and the Wairarapa College 1st XI girls hockey team were the other finalists for this award.