Rowing: Edward wins top award at BOP Sports Awards

Julia Edward

Rotorua rower Julia Edward has won the Supreme Award at the annual Bay of Plenty Sports Awards.

The world champion rower was awarded the top honour during the awards evening at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua tonight.

Edward and rowing partner Sophie MacKenzie (Blenheim) not only won gold at the rowing world championships in Amsterdam in August, but they also smashed the world record in the women's lightweight double scull event.

It marked the first time Edward had won a gold medal at the world championships.
Edward, 23, is now focussed on going further in the New Zealand lightweight double scull boat and has her eyes set on the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Edward was awarded the Holland Beckett Lawyers Sportswoman of the Year award earlier in the night, beating other nominees Samantha Charlton (hockey), Lisa Carrington (kayaking) and Zoe Stevenson (rowing).

The Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year award went to Peter Burling (sailing) and the Farmer AutoVillage International Sportsperson of the Year award was presented to Valerie Adams (shotput).

Water sports shone through this year with multiple accolades for surf life saving, rowing and sailing.

Internationally recognised rugby referee Glen Jackson was awarded the MoreFM Official of the Year for the second year in a row.

The AquaPlus Club of the Year was awarded to the Devoy Squash and Fitness Club in Tauranga which has undergone significant membership growth and event planning over the past 12 months.

Hosted by Sport Bay of Plenty, the 2014 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement by Bay of Plenty athletes, coaches and officials over the past 12 months.

More than 450 guests attended the awards last night.

Full list of award winners:
¦ Sport Bay of Plenty Supreme Award 2014:
Julia Edward (rowing)

¦ Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year:
Peter Burling (sailing)

¦ Holland Beckett Lawyers Sportswoman of the Year:
Julia Edward (rowing)

¦ Eves Realty Junior Sportswoman of the Year:
Natalie Peat (surf life saving)

¦ Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year:
Ben Johnston (surf life saving)

¦ Farmer AutoVillage International Sportsperson of the Year:
Valerie Adams (athletics)

¦ BayTrust Coach of the Year:
Scott Bartlett (surf life saving)

¦ MoreFM Official of the Year:
Glen Jackson (rugby)

¦ Rotorua Trust Team of the Year:
Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club IRB team

¦ P2P Physio Junior Team of the Year:
Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club youth team

¦ AquaPlus Club of the Year:
Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre

¦ Dudfield Bryce Printers Open Service to Sport:
Pam Clayton (netball), Gwenda Ruegg (swimming), Sue Clarke (canoe slalom), Jennie Taylor (hockey), Ray Wells (football), Rob Beckett (rugby), Lyn Govenlock (cricket)

¦ Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Principals' Association Secondary School Service to Sport:
Kim Stevenson (athletics/cross country)

¦ Aurecon Secondary School Student Contribution to Sport:
Rhys Hamilton (Tauranga Boys' College) basketball

¦ Bay Cardiology Secondary School Girls' Team of the Year:
Tauranga Girls' College canoe slalom team

¦ Bay Office Products Depot Secondary Schools Boys' Team of the Year:
Whakatane High School rowing team

¦ CodeBlue Secondary School Coach of the Year:
Graham Watt (Whakatane High School)

¦ Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Secondary School Sportsman of the Year:
Ari Palsson (Whakatane High School) rowing

¦ Waiariki Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportswoman of the Year:
Paige Satchell (John Paul College) football and cross country