Pikiao
10. Danny Lee keeps his tour card (golf)
After winning the US Amateur in 2008, Danny Lee was meant to be the next big thing in golf. However, the Rotorua golfer struggled to cement his place on the world's toughest golf tour - The PGA Tour. After earning a place for the 2013/2014 season he performed well and managed to keep his tour card this year. He has since started the 2014/2015 season brightly with the highlight so far a third place effort at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in November.
9. Central win Baywide T20 title (cricket)
Rotorua Central won the Baywide T20 title in March, marking their first piece of silverware in the Bay of Plenty premier cricket competition since 2007. They defeated Mt Maunganui in the final with Central batsmen Kyle Blanchard and Jason Trembath both reaching the 60s.
8. The Adams family
Superstars in New Zealand - brother and sister combination Valerie (shot put) and Steven Adams (basketball) had to make this list. Hailing from Rotorua they have made history in New Zealand sport. This year, Valerie won her third Commonwealth Games gold medal and Steven made it to the NBA semifinals with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
7. Ngongotaha AFC's Chatham Cup run (football)
Ngongotaha's Chatham Cup run really got the Rotorua football community excited. After beating Pukekohe and South Auckland Rangers in the first two rounds they were drawn against a strong Hibiscus Coast team. Without a handful of first team players, Ngongotaha went north and shocked everybody by winning 3-2 to make the top 16. By far the lowest ranked team left in the competition, Ngongy attracted a big home crowd for their match against Melville United (Hamilton) losing 2-1.
6. Landyn Edwards does the double (golf)
Rotorua amateur golfer Landyn Edwards won the Rotorua Open and the Springfield Open - the two biggest golf tournaments in the city. He chased down Victor Janin (Rotorua) to win the Springfield Open in January then won impressively at the Rotorua Open in March. A rare feat for any golfer to achieve the double.
5. Rotorua Boys' High School win national titles in touch and sevens
Rotorua Boys' High School missed out on the semifinals of the national first XV rugby championships. But their top players went on to achieve some great results. Rotorua Boys' won the Condor National Sevens title in Auckland in November, followed by the national secondary schools touch title in December.
4. Whakarewarewa v Te Puke round 16 (rugby)
The day Whakarewarewa defeated Te Puke 67-17, the news shot around the Bay of Plenty faster than lightning. Te Puke have been the benchmark team in the Baywide premier rugby competition for years. So for Whaka to thump them by 50 points proved the Rotorua side really meant business. Te Puke would miss out on the Baywide grand final while Whaka went on to qualify for the big dance (losing 26-23 to Mount in a thriller).
3. Julia Edward wins gold at the world champs (rowing)
Julia Edward's best finish at the World Rowing Championships before 2014 was fifth. This year she rose to become number one in the world in the lightweight double scull boat, alongside rowing partner Sophie MacKenzie (Blenheim). Following an incredible season of ups and downs, Edward joined up with MacKenzie for the world champs in August and the pair not only won gold in the final but broke the world record in the process.
2. Mervyn Church beats the world number one (bull riding)
Rerewhakaaitu's Mervyn Church was at the heart of one of the great underdog stories this year. Aged 19, he was given a wild card entry into the first ever PBR (Professional Bull Riders) event held in New Zealand. The top event attracted national champions from around the world including world number one Silvano Alves from Brazil. Church was supposed to make up the numbers but he shocked everyone when he qualified first into the final then took out the title.
1. Pikiao v Pacific, Bay of Plenty District Rugby League grand final
The most enjoyable game of local sport I have watched this year. Half of Tokoroa travelled over to cheer on their team (Pacific) at Puketawhero Park while thousands of league supporters from Rotorua cheered on Pikiao. With only five minutes left and down by eight points, Pikiao launched the best comeback of the year. Halfback Te Kaiaotea "Bully" Tahuriorangi led the charge and what unfolded in that last five minutes was priceless. Pikiao won the match 30-26.