Lucy van Dalen PHOTOS/FILE
The nominations have all been tabulated and 84 entries from over 15 different sports will reflect a diverse mix at the 2013 Ray White Wanganui Sports Awards.
This year's Sports Wanganui-run ceremony at the Wanganui Racecourse on November 15 will also mark the 50th anniversary of the awards, going back to their original conception in 1963.
Writer and broadcaster Phil Gifford, as the Master of Ceremony, will no doubt have plenty of anecdotes and stories around the different sports codes on show, with wider-Wanganui athletes, coaches and administrators having been amongst it at both national and international level for the previous year.
Not surprisingly, it is youth to the fore with 14 entries in the National Junior category and a further 14 in the International Junior section.
National track and cross country champion Geordie Beamish, netballer and rower Sammy Murphy, boys and girls representative team cricketer Jessica Watkin and the tennis stars of the Butters family Kyle and Paris are just some of the names that feature.
Internationally, the kayaking pair of Aiden Nossiter and Max Brown went around the world and back again, as did speed skater Jessica van Bentum and runner William Smart all of whom were also recognised at the Secondary Schools Sports Awards this week.
In the Senior category, there is a strong rugby presence with Darren Munro, Fraser Hammond, Mark Davis, Nick Cranston and Peter Rowe all nominated for making the New Zealand Heartland XV tour to Samoa, while Rowe was also named Heartland Player of the Year at the NZRFU awards.
Their competition includes perennial favourite Lucy van Dalen and national jetsprint champion Richard Murray.
For the seniors, rower Rebecca Scown will finally be able to attend a ceremony with her fellow nominees this year, which includes world-ranked mountain biker Sam Blenkinsop and professional cyclist Hayley Marie Giddens.
Given the number of his charges that appear in other categories, Alec McNabb is again a likely contender for coach of the year, but that is not to discount what David Downes (football) and Lisa Murphy (netball) accomplished this year in moulding their teams into champions.
With two national championships, squash features prominently in the team of the year category after both the Ohakune and Wanganui Squash Club won the E-grade titles this year.
In the Masters category, both World Masters Games gold medallist Kevin Ross (badminton) and Australian-New Zealand double national champion Rod Bannister (squash) had banner years.
Facing a tough task, the judging panel of Philippa Baker-Hogan, Grant McKinnon, Keith Smith and Jared Smith met on October 24 at the Sport Wanganui offices to select the winners.
The awards nominees for 2013 are:
National Junior Sportsperson: Brad Mathas (Athletics), Daniel Kauika (Waka Ama), Eden Smith (Speed Skating), Erica Tanner (Kayaking), Geordie Beamish (Athletics/Cross-Country), Hayden Smith (Motor Cross), James Wright (Triathlon), Jessica Watkin (Cricket), Jonathan Maples (Gymnastics), Kyle Butters (Tennis), Paris Butters (Tennis), Regan Davey (Kayaking), Ruhia Tamati (Netball, Touch), Sammy Murphy (Rowing, Netball), Sione Walker (Judo).
International Junior Sportsperson: Aiden Nossiter (Sprint Kayaking), Henry Collier (Cricket), Jessica van Bentum (Inline Speed Skating), Kerri Gowler (Rowing), Lachie Cromar (Kayaking), Lachlan Hughes (Croquet), Lily Meade (Water Skiing and Tournament Water Skiing), Max Brown (Sprint Kayaking), Monique Cleeve (Speed Skating), Nicolas Blundell (Cricket), Nicole Travers (Inline Speed Skating), Rebecca Smith (Inline Speed Skating), Tobias Brooke (Kayaking), William Smart (Athletics).
National Senior Sportsperson: Lucy van Dalen (Athletics), Clay Winter (Tree Climbing), Darren Munro (Rugby), Fraser Hammond (Rugby), Mark Davis (Rugby), Nick Cranston (Rugby), Peter Rowe (Rugby), Richard Murray (Jetsprints), Shaun McDonough (Rugby).
International Senior Sportsperson Antoine Rahier (Judo), Hayley Marie Giddens (Cycling), Rebecca Scown (Rowing), Sam Blenkinsop (Mountain Biking), Christine Strichen (Petanque).
Wanganui Club: Kaierau Netball Club, Wanganui Squash Club, Wanganui Mountain Bike Club, Wanganui Multisport Club, Rangitikei Hockey Association.
Coach: Alec McNabb (Athletics/Cross-Country), David Downes (Football), Dominic Patea (Touch/Rugby League), Hine Lambert (Netball), Ian Weenink (Rowing), John Roestenburg (Squash), Kelly Taylor-Ward (Gymnastics), Lisa Murphy (Netball), Melissa Hylton (Hockey), Garry Davies (Judo).
Junior Team: Huntley School U13 Rugby team, Phillips Electrical WHS A1 Netball team, Netball Wanganui U17 Rep team, Nga Tawa U17 Rowing pair, AWRC Womens Novice Rowing Crew, WHS 1st XV Rugby team, Aiden Nossiter and Max Brown Sprint Kayaking team.
Senior Team: E Grade Womens Team Ohakune Squash Club, Ruapehu Rugby & Sports Club, Wanganui E Grade Squash Team, Wanganui Athletic FC Women's 1st XI, Wanganui Athletic Womens' Travelling Team.
Administrator: Anne Pawson (Rowing), Elisabeth Munroe (Gymnastics), Frank Rawlinson (Mountain Biking), Keita Quader (Netball), Mark Kennedy (Mountain Biking).
Masters: Allan Luff (Cycling), Kevin Ross (Badminton), Rod Bannister (Squash), AWRC Masters Rowing Team.
Whistler: Diane Limbrey (Judo), Lance Brown (Softball), Rebekah Gribbon (Netball).
Outstanding Conduct Award: Nga Tawa Senior A Netball Team, Sione Walker (Judo).