Who will win ILT Senior Sportsperson of the Year for 2019?

National and international success by Southland’s senior athletes will be on show at tonight’s ILT Southland Sports Awards. 

The ILT Senior Sportsperson of the Year award includes six finalists, with cycling featuring strongly. 

Track cyclist Eddie Dawkins, the long-time anchor for the New Zealand men’s sprint team, had an excellent Commonwealth Games, returning home with gold, silver and bronze. He was the top male competitor at the elite nationals and switched briefly to the endurance ranks to help the Southland men’s team pursuit record the fastest ever ride by a provincial team. 

Natasha Hansen won two silvers and a bronze medal on the track at the Commonwealth Games and, along with Emma Cumming, climbed to a world ranking of fourth, the highest ever by a New Zealand women’s team sprint pairing. 

Like Hansen, Kirstie James continues to repay the support shown to her during her time in Invercargill by riding for Southland at national level. James is a key rider in the New Zealand women’s team pursuit which won bronze at the 2019 world championships, and was fourth in the individual pursuit. 

International indoor bowls representative Gary Low claimed a third-straight men’s singles title at the Clubs NZ championship, along with a pairs title, in a year which included winning the NZ Open singles and finishing runner-up in the fours. Low also represented New Zealand at the inaugural International Carpet Bowls event. 

Fifteen podium finishes in 16 races saw Jordan Michels take out the Formula 1600 motorsport title on the last lap of the last race and add his name a trophy which includes some of the greats of New Zealand racing. 

Finally, Tom Scully made history by becoming the first Southlander to ride in the Tour de France, cycling’s greatest showpiece, adding to previous starts in the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España.

Here’s a quick recap of the finalists:

ILT Senior sportsperson of the year

Eddie Dawkins (track cycling)

Tom Scully (road cycling)

Kirstie James (track cycling)

Natasha Hansen (track cycling)

Jordan Michels (motorsport)

Gary Low (indoor bowls)

Vodafone Junior sportsperson of the year

 Alena Saili (rugby and sevens)

Corbin Strong (track and road cycling)

Tom Sexton (track cycling)

Josh Burnett (mountain biking)

Flynn Thomas (rugby)

Aaliyah Dunn (netball)

Sam Hodges (volleyball)

Jaxon Taylor (triathlon)

Ella Smith (badminton)

Southland Kia Team of the Year

Natasha Hansen and Emma Cumming (track cycling)

Southland Sharks (basketball)

Southern Steel (netball)

Ricoh Coach of the Year

Jack Allan (rowing)

Reinga Bloxham (netball)

Sid Cumming (cycling)

Judd Flavell (basketball)

Chris Knight (athletics)

Creation Signs Official of the Year

Erin Criglington (cycling)

Kristie Simpson (netball)

NZME Masters Achievement

Robyn Boniface (golf)

Neil Familton (track cycling)

James Jubb (track cycling)

Debbie Telfer (athletics)

BDO Administrator of the Year

Rex Capil (softball)

Nigel Skelt (badminton)

Jill Bolger (basketball)

Jo Smith (tennis)