Nominations open for regional sports awards

Sport Wanganui event co-ordinators Rachel O'Connor and Clare Lynch put a little polish on the International Sportsperson of the Year trophy. PHOTO: GEMMA WILSON 300813WCSUP09

The silverware is getting a polish and the invitations are out for Wanganui sports people to get their names chiselled into the records.

Nominations will officially open on Monday for the 2013 Ray White Wanganui Sports Awards with Sport Wanganui being grateful for everyone to get active in putting worthy contenders forward.

This year's edition is also the 50th anniversary of the awards ceremony, which first began in 1963.

You've got to be in it to win it and the awards evening, which will be November 5 at the Wanganui Racecourse, will celebrate the achievements of those in the Wanganui, Rangitikei and Ruapehu region.

Not just the stars in their fields, the awards will recognise not only athletes but coaches, administrators, referees and volunteers.

Last year, at the urging of the judging panel, Sport Wanganui separated the junior and senior sportsperson of the year categories into both national and international level and that innovation continues this year to encourage a more diverse mix of candidates.

There were awards presented in 13 categories from 73 nominees in 2012 coming from a fair range including traditional areas such as cricket, rugby and squash, through to multisport, powerlifting and woolhandling/shearing.

"The success of the sports awards is highly dependent on the number of nominations, and Sport Wanganui urges the community to get their nominations in early," it said the press release.

"Anyone can submit a nomination and there is no limit to the number of nominations for each sport, providing the criteria is met."

Full details of all the categories is on the nomination form, which can be accessed from the Sport Wanganui offices in Maria Place beside Cooks Gardens, or on their website at www.sportwanganui.co.nz.

The time frame for consideration is achievements made between October 1, 2012 and September 30 this year.

Nominations will close at 5pm on Friday, October 12.

This year the Master of Ceremony for the awards night will be veteran sportswriter and broadcaster Phil Gifford.

The 2012 International Sportsperson of the Year and the Wanganui Chronicle Supreme Award winner was Olympic bronze and world silver medallist rower Rebecca Scown, who was also the 2011 winner.

Award categories for 2013: Dub.Dee.See.Youth Committee National Junior Sportsperson of the Year; Cycle Sport NZ/Trek International Junior Sportsperson of the Year; NZCT National Senior Sportsperson of the Year; Gilbertson Mitre 10 Mega International Senior Sportsperson of the Year; Stihl Shop Wanganui Club of the Year; Mars Petcare Coach of the Year; Treadwell Gordon Junior Team of the Year; Ali Arc Senior Team of the Year; Sports Edge Administrator of the Year; David Jones Motors Masters Award; More FM Whistler of the Year; Infusion Catering Outstanding Conduct Award; Lotto Sport Maker Roll of Honour.