Rotorua triathlete Oliver Shaw was named Bay of Plenty Junior Sportsman of the Year at the sports
awards finals in Tauranga last night.
Rotorua triathlete Oliver Shaw was named Bay of Plenty Junior Sportsman of the Year at the sports
awards finals in Tauranga last night.
Promising Rotorua triathlete Oliver Shaw capped off a sterling year to be named the Bay of Plenty junior sportsman of the year at the Bay of Plenty Sports Awards.
The 21-year-old Xterra world champion was the only Rotorua athlete to win a major award at last nights ceremony in Tauranga.
Shaw turned professional earlier in the year after claiming his first world title in the men's 20-24 years Xterra world championship triathlon in Hawaii.
The depth of athletic talent in the region was highlighted at the gala evening at Bay Park with world champion 49er sailor Peter Burling winning the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Supreme Award from all other finalists.
Burling, of Tauranga, had earlier in the night collected the Sportsman of the Year award for the second time.
Whakatane's Olympic Games gold medallist Lisa Carrington, won the Sportswoman of the Year.
Burling cemented the award after a spectacular Olympic Games in 2012 and went from strength to strength to win the World Sailing Championships, the European Championships, and Red Bull Youth America's Cup.
The Youth America's Cup and the 49er World's had been his two big goals in what has been a busy year, he said.
Other award winners were Scotland rugby coach, Vern Cotter (International Sportsperson the Year), 49er sailing World Champion Molly Meech (Junior Sportswoman of the Year), internationally recognized rugby referee Glen Jackson (Official of the Year) and Volleyball Tauranga (Club of the Year).
Lisa Carrington was named Sportswoman of the Year.
Super 15 championship winners, the Chiefs, took out the Team of the Year for the second year in a row.
Sport Bay of Plenty sport manager Megan Cleverley said it was another challenging year of judging for the panel of judges.
"The most impressive aspect from this year's finalists and winners is the wide range of sporting codes involved, as well as highlighting the many world champions in the Bay of Plenty".
The gala evening combined both the secondary school sports awards, and along with the open categories, was a great celebration of the sporting prowess across all schools and codes, she said.
Six secondary school categories provided inspiration to the up and coming athletes and teams and this year in particular it was noted how many different schools from around the region are represented in the finalist list.
The student contribution to sport category highlighted a student within the school system who has provided an outstanding service to sport in their school and community. Award winner Kale Grahame, of Reporoa College is a volunteer coach at the Reporoa swimming club, and Reporoa College senior A girls basketball team.
Mr Grahame recently won overall Taupo District Youth Awards for outstanding all-rounder.
The service to sport category acknowledged people who have been involved in their chosen sport for at least 10 years and have made a significant contribution at either regional or national level.
Seven recipients were from a wide variety of sport, including bowls, rugby, surf lifesaving, hockey, and disability sport amongst others.
The opportunity to recognise these stalwarts of the sporting sector is a highlight of the evening as they are unaware until the award is presented on the night.
"To see the contribution and achievement of those in the Bay of Plenty is truly inspirational.
"It is great to be able to celebrate these achievements and recognize the sporting talent that our region produces," said Sport Bay of Plenty chief executive Wayne Werder.
"We are thankful to our family of sponsors who make these awards possible and appreciate their continued support."
In addition to celebrating our regions sporting champions the awards recognise the contribution of our coaches and volunteers, said Ms Cleverly.
Each year awards in both the open and secondary school categories salute their input and show appreciation for the hours of time our coaches and volunteers put in to make sport happen, she said.
Canon Open Service to Sport; Laurie McLeay (bowls), John Brophy (rugby), Barry Leabourn (cricket, boxing, rugby surf lifesaving), Rob Leslie (hockey), Beryl Harvey (netball), John Mickell (tennis), David and Kath Monk (disability sport). Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Principals' Association Secondary School Service to Sport: Sam Kirk (secondary school volleyball)
Open Award Winners:
AquaPlus Club of the Year, Volleyball Tauranga; Bay SportsMed Team of the Year, The Chiefs; MoreFM Official of the Year, Glen Jackson; BayTrust Coach of the Year, Sir Gordon Tietjens; Farmers AutoVillage International Sportsperson of the Year, Vern Cotter; Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year, Oliver Shaw; Eves Realty Junior Sportswoman of the Year, Molly Meech; ASB Sportswoman of the Year, Lisa Carrington; Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year, Peter Burling; Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Supreme Award 2013, Peter Burling.
Aurecon Secondary School Student Contribution to Sport, Kale Grahame; Bay Cardiology Secondary School Girls' Team of the Year, Otumoetai College Senior A Volleyball Team; Bay Office Products Depot Secondary Schools Boys' Team of the Year, Tauranga Boys College C2 Canoe Slalom Team; CodeBlue Secondary School Coach of the Year, Graham Watt; Waiariki Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportsman of the Year, Kieran Coates; Waiariki Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportswoman, Nicole Van der Kaay.
