Impressive lineup confirmed for ILT Southland Sports Awards
An impressive 16 sports will be represented at the 2017/2018 ILT Southland Sports Awards on June 8.
The finalists for the annual celebration of Southland sport were unveiled at a function at ILT Stadium Southland tonight, with a wide range of codes recognised by the selection panel.
Sport Southland runs the awards on behalf of the Southland Amateur Sports Trust and chief executive Brendon McDermott said this year’s finalists reflected the impressive calibre of athletes that our region continues to produce.
Photo: World single saw champion Bobby Dowling chats with MC Nick Jeffrey. Pic: Nathan Burdon
“Across the categories we have Southlanders who are achieving at national and international level and there are some great stories of resilience and fortitude amongst them,” McDermott said.
“It’s also good to see some so-called minority and less traditional sports, like woodchopping and disc golf, recognised this year,” McDermott said.
The aim of the awards is to inspire the Southland community, recognise and honour achievement and promote positive role models for Southlanders, McDermott said.
“We are a small, but very proud sporting community and every year these awards prove that there is nothing stopping Southlanders from getting to the top of their chosen sport. These finalists are great role models who make us proud to be Southlanders.”
The judging period for this year’s awards was from April 1, 2017 until March 31, 2018.
Category winners will be unveiled at the ILT Southland Sports Awards on June 8, with former World and Commonwealth Games track cycling champion Alison Shanks as guest speaker. Information on ticket sales will be released soon.
ILT SPORTS AWARDS FINALISTS
ILT Sportsperson of the year:
Eddie Dawkins (cycling)
Robert Dowling (woodchopping)
Wendy Frew (netball)
Patricia Hopcroft (touch)
Kirstie James (cycling)
Liam MacDonald (motorsport)
Vodafone Junior sportsperson of the year:
Josh Burnett (mountainbiking)
Ben Lockrose (cricket)
Alena Saili (sevens)
Tom Sexton (cycling)
Dyani Shepherd-Oates (athletics)
Ella Smith (badminton)
Corbin Strong (cycling)
Southland Kia Team of the year:
Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel (netball)
Southland Hawke Cup cricket team (cricket)
Graham and Jan Low (indoor bowls)
Emma Cumming and Natasha Hansen (cycling)
Ricoh Southland Coach of the year:
Reinga Bloxham (netball)
Sid Cumming (cycling)
Stephen Jackson (cricket)
BDO Administrator of the year:
Jason Domigan (cricket)
Martin Conway (disc golf)
Elaine Karsten (softball)
Creation Signs Official of the year:
Peter Pasco (cricket)
Paul Tomlinson (cycling)
Kristie Simpson (netball)
NZME Masters achievement:
Robyn Boniface (golf)
Erin Criglington (cycling)
Lynn Dickie (hockey)
Gail Kirkman (athletics)
