Masterton Athletics Club marked the end of a successful season with several young competitors picking up trophies in an awards ceremony on the weekend.
Among the six athletes recognised was Wairarapa junior sportsperson of the year Stevie Paine, whose consistency on a weekly basis saw her take home the coveted Oakly
Cup.
Coach Mark Harris also found himself up for an entirely separate award after club delegate Tony Creagh nominated him for Wairarapa coach of the month for February.
"Mark's experience at a high level in the New Zealand Athletics Council and as a runner has injected the club with the enthusiasm to take us forward confidently," Creagh said.
"He's been fantastic to have involved and his professionalism and commitment has been unmatched."
Harris said he was totally caught off guard by the award, but was rapt with the recognition.
"You do all the work but you don't expect to be recognised for it so it's quite cool when you are," he said.
"It's been a fantastic season with some really amazing results and I'm proud to have been apart of it."
Though Harris was reluctant to name any single highlight from the season, he cited the achievements of Chris Girling-McLean and Michael Wilson in reaching the national ranking list as "well up there".
"To reach the ranking list you have to put in a lot of hard work and as a coach to see them make it was very rewarding.
"Ultimately I want to see these kids grow into world class adult runners because that's where it gets really exciting with the Olympics and Commonwealth games."
Aside from Paine, other winners in the club included Courtnay Fafeita and Josh Grieg who each claimed the Sutherland Cup for senior female and male field respectively.
The MAAC Junior 100m Champion went to Isaac Manava while Croydon Hall and Sophie George won the Len Frances Cup and John Eccles Cup respectively for male and female participation
