International Junior Sportsperson trophy winner Jessica van Bentum with award sponsor Ron Cheatley
They were notable by their absences but the fact they cast giant shadows for their sports was recognised for a number of the other winners at the Ray White 2013 Wanganui Sports Awards on Friday night.
Rozy Rawlinson represented her husband Frank, who was the clear winner of the Administrator of the Year award for all his efforts in the development of the Harakeke Mountain Bike Park for their Wanganui club.
It was a short trip back to her table as Rawlinson quickly returned due to Wanganui Mountain Bike Club also picking up the Club of the Year gong.
Growing their membership to 353, hosting both schools and club championships, and the new 21 kilometres of track at Harakeke made a banner year.
Richard Murray's wife Julia said her husband still scarcely believes he too had such a great year to remember in the Group A Class of the New Zealand Jet Spring Championship with victory in the last two rounds bringing him from behind to become the first Ford-engine driver to win a national title.
This came after losing trusted navigator Kesty Manning from a burst eardrum in a hard crash in Hastings, with Murray carrying on with brother-in-law Ian Carter.
"He would be very honoured to receive this award, we were up against some fierce competition [in the series]," Julia said of her husband.
Emma Rowe is also used to supporting her star husband Wanganui and NZ Heartland rugby captain Peter Rowe but the tables turned slightly as it was Mrs Rowe who joined teammate Shey Rangihu on stage to accept the Senior Team of the Year award on behalf of the Ohakune Squash Rackets Club women's squad.
Rowe, Rangihu, Lauren Wikohika, Lucy Dowsett, Jane Parker, Kate Dahm, manager Marianne Thrupp and coach Brian Thrupp claimed the E-grade national crown in Wanganui in August.
"We're only two of seven amazing players and we can't even say we're the best two," Rangihu smiled.
Her husband's after-match skills have rubbed off as Rowe thanked the club, the Ruapehu community and their partners for all the support.
Others kept it short and sweet, such as World Masters Games squash gold medallist Kevin Ross receiving the Masters Award at the beginning of ceremony.
"I think you try to organise the old people first get on and get off."
Still, among those he thanked was his physiotherapist for looking after him for 40 years.
City College's giant judo exponent Sione Walker was much the same, as his story of turning around from school delinquency into working for a national title earned him the Outstanding Conduct Award.
"Shot to Mr Davies and the family. Thanks," said Walker, singling out coach Garry Davies.
Having officiated at the Men's Softball World Cup, Lance Brown also acknowledged his mentor Lindsay Edwards as he accepted the Whistler of the Year prize.
"I accept this award on behalf of softball in Wanganui," Brown proudly stated.
For Hall of Fame inductee Sean Johnson, it was an honour to receive his entry from fellow world championship-calibre bowler Peter Belliss, whom he said was like "a god" to him when he first took up the sport.
"This is just unbelievable. It doesn't seem like 26 years ago I walked into the Aramoho Bowling Club at 15."
Johnson also thanked fellow inductee Glen Osborne it was the future 19-test All Black running rings around him when they were both schoolboy fullbacks that made Johnson consider taking up another code.
But there was no beating Osborne himself on the one-liners, as the popular former player acknowledged event MC Phil Gifford's dress sense.
"It's really good to see famous people shopping at The Warehouse."
Osborne, who confirmed he will be moving home at the end of next year, said the induction brought him full circle having stood on the stage 22 years ago accepting a rugby players' trophy.
He thanked his aunt and his uncle Bill, another former All Black and hall of famer, while admitting his teenaged crush, another hall member in Phillipa Baker-Hogan.
Osborne said he was grateful rugby had taken him so many places the lad who got 13 per cent in School Certificate English is now a media personality as a host on Maori Television.
Other awards:
Tupoho Sports Scholarships: Gabrielle Hiri (tennis), Akira Marsters (basketball), Waimanawa Potaka Osborne Whanarere (touch), Pirihana Tamehana (waka ama).