"It is fantastic what Bay of Plenty athletes, coaches, officials and administrators are achieving," she said. "This year has highlighted the number of athletes performing on the international stage, and in particular the wide variety of sports and schools doing well."
The Junior Team of the Year award will be presented for the first time after judges recognised sport was changing and there was a need to develop a new category to accommodate the growing sector of young athletes between secondary school and open-age groups.
The Bay of Plenty Secondary School Sports Awards will also be presented on the night.
These awards recognise secondary school students who have achieved nationally or internationally and include the Waiariki Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards, Bay Office Products Depot Boys Team of the Year, Bay Cardiology Girls Team of the Year, Aurecon Best Student Contribution to Sport, CodeBlue Coach of the Year as well as Bay of Plenty Principals Association Secondary School Service to Sport Award.
Sports Bay of Plenty chief executive Heidi Lichtwark said the region had a "fantastic array of talent" and was home to many top sportsmen and women.
"It is a privilege to be able to honour our top athletes and officials at these annual awards. All those listed as finalists are a credit to their communities and our region and we look forward to following their continuing achievements in the future."
Tickets for the Bay of Plenty Sports Awards cost between $40 to $80 and will be available from November 12 via the Sport Bay of Plenty website, www.sportbop.co.nz
2014 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards finalists
Aurecon Secondary School Best Student Contribution to Sport
Rhys Hamilton, Basketball, Tauranga Boys' College
Rebecca Barnard, Volleyball, Tauranga Girls' College
Jordyn McKay, Football, Reporoa College
Ashley Wilson, Football, Mt Maunganui College
Beth Owen, Equestrian and Netball, Taupo Nui a Tia College
Bay Cardiology Secondary School Girls' Team of the Year
Tauranga Girls' College Canoe Slalom Team
Otumoetai College Volleyball Team
Tauranga Girls' College Cross Country Team
Tauranga Girls' College Athletics Team
Bay Office Products Depot Secondary School Boys' Team of the Year
Tauranga Boys' College C2 Canoe Slalom Team
Tauranga Boys' College Squash Team
Whakatane High School Rowing Team
Tauranga Boys' College Volleyball Team
AquaPlus Club of the Year
Canoe Slalom Bay of Plenty
Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service Inc
Devoy Squash & Fitness Centre
Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club
MoreFM Official of the Year
Glen Jackson, Rugby Union
Nick Briant, Rugby Union
Ross Merrett, Surf Life Saving
Ken Bow, Gymnastics
Rotorua Trust Team of the Year
Whitewater Rafting New Zealand Men's Team
BOP Cricket Senior Men's Team
Canoe Slalom C1 Women's U23 Team
Rangataua Sports & Cultural Club Men's 7's Rugby Team
Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club IRB Team
P2P Physio Junior Team of the Year (new category)
Midlands U18 Girls Hockey Team
Tauranga Boys' College C2 Canoe Slalom Team
Tauranga Girls' College White Water Rafting Team
Papamoa SLS Club Youth Team
BOP Golf Junior Interprovincial Team
CodeBlue Secondary School Coach of the Year
Ben Ormsby, Volleyball, Tauranga Boys' College
Damien Galvan, Squash and Surfing, Tauranga Boys' College
Graham Watt, Rowing, Whakatane High School
BayTrust Coach of the Year
Sir Gordon Tietjens, Rugby 7s
Sean Horan, Rugby 7s
Martin Hammer, Canoe Slalom
Aaron Osborne, Canoe Slalom
Scott Bartlett, Surf Life Saving
Waiariki Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportswoman of the Year
Ariana Moffatt, Surf Life Saving and Volleyball, Tauranga Girls' College
Paige Satchell, Football and Cross Country, John Paul College
Kirsty Burrows, Underwater Hockey, Aquathlon, Triathlon, Tauranga Girls' College
Sophie Stewart-Hobbs, Football, Tauranga Girls' College
Kelcy Ballantyne, Volleyball and Basketball, Otumoetai College
Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year
Callum Gilbert, Canoe Slalom
Ben Johnston, Surf Life Saving
Keegan Wright, Mountain Biking
Connor Hamilton, Mountain Biking
Kodi Harman, Athletics
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary School Sportsman of the Year
Patrick Washer, Canoe Slalom, Tauranga Boys' College
Trent Rippey, Sailing, Tauranga Boys' College
Ari Palsson, Rowing, Whakatane High School
Ben Cochrane, Surf Life Saving, Mount Maunganui College
Kyle Smith, Triathlon and Aquathon, Taupo Nui a Tia
Farmer Autovillage International Sportsperson of the Year
Mahe Drysdale, Rowing
Marc Jacobs, Kite Surfing
Gemma Flynn, Hockey
Valerie Adams, Athletics
Ryan Thomas, Football
Eves Realty Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Natalie Peat, Surf Life Saving
Amy Robinson, Hockey & Athletics
Haylee Dangen, Canoe Slalom
Rose Keddell, Hockey
Olivia Eaton, Surf Life Saving
Holland Beckett Lawyers Sportswoman of the Year
Samantha Charlton, Hockey
Lisa Carrington, Kayaking
Julia Edward, Rowing
Zoe Stevenson, Rowing
Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year
Nathan Harris, Rugby Union
Kane Williamson, Cricket
Sam Cane, Rugby Union
Curtis Rapley, Rowing
Peter Burling, Sailing
Corey Anderson, Cricket
