Tainui Waka Sports Awards To Showcase Elite

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE
3 November 2008

Tainui Waka Sports Awards To Showcase Elite And Recognise Up And Coming Stars

Waikato-Tainui today announced the finalists for the 2008 Tainui Waka Sports Awards, to be presented at a dinner hosted at the Tainui Endowed College on Friday 14 November.

Director of Tainui Sports Ltd, Sonny Wilson says this year’s programme will not only showcase the elite in national and international sporting arenas, but will also provide an opportunity “for our junior up and coming stars to feature alongside their sporting role models”.

“The awards are designed to recognise outstanding sporting achievements of our people of Hauraki, Maniapoto, Raukawa and Waikato,” said Mr Wilson. “This will be the third year Waikato-Tainui have hosted the awards with support from major sponsors Waikato Raupatu Lands Trust, Mighty River Power and Tainui Sports Ltd.”

Mr Wilson says each year the extremely high caliber of nominees makes it a difficult task for the awards committee and judges to select finalists and winners, particularly in the junior categories.

“Tainui Waka has a long and proud history of sporting excellence, and that future continues through our youth. This year there is greater recognition of younger sportspeople who, with the support of their whaanau, achieve excellence in their age groups and in some cases excel in many codes before entering professional careers.

“We have decided to invite selected junior athletes to the awards dinner to acknowledge their achievements over the past couple of years. I’m pleased we can provide an opportunity for youth to engage with their sporting heroes, and participate in a celebration of excellence with their iwi. Tribal pride is a huge factor because aside from their love for sport, all of our athletes and support people have something else in common, and that is that they are linked through their Maaori heritage. This is truly something to be celebrated.”

Waikato-Tainui Sports Coordinator and Awards Committee member Heremaia Samson says this year’s finalists were selected from a pool of nominations received, and a judging committee made up of well-known Tainui sporting personalities were invited to select category winners.

“Our judges this year are: Rugby League Legend and Maori TV personality, Tawera Nikau; former Silver Fern and TVNZ sports commentator, Jenny-May Coffin; Sevens International and former All Black, Dallas Seymour; and national title winning Netball Coach, Nicole Dryden. As always we have a high quality of finalists so I expect it’s tough for our judges to pick the winners,” said Mr Samson. “On behalf of the awards committee, I’d like to thank them for their time and congratulate all nominees and finalists for their commitment to, and achievement in sport. I look forward to the awards dinner to see the outcome.”

2008 Tainui Waka Sports Awards Finalists

Administrator of the Year
Alex Henry Waikato Rugby
Rangimarie Morgan ‐ Simon Waikato Waka Ama
Jeff Stockman Waikato/Maniapoto Jetski Racing and Squash

Coach of the Year
Jamie Joseph Maniapoto Rugby
Taheretikitiki Morunga Waikato Rugby League
Paula Wanakore Maniapoto Touch Rugby

Sports Umpire/Referee of the Year
Gavin Whiu Waikato Basketball Tania Scott Maniapoto Netball
Wiremu Tamaki Waikato/Raukawa Softball

Junior Sportsman of the Year
Kevin Proctor Maniapoto Rugby League
Sam Rapira Waikato Rugby League
Holdin Stockman Waikato/Maniapoto Jetski Racer
Jackson Willison Waikato Rugby

Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Keshia Grant Waikato Javelin, Netball
Tamara Hemara Maniapoto Volleyball
Hayley Palmer Waikato Swimming
Jordan Rogers ‐ Rhind Waikato Touch Rugby

Senior Sportsman of the Year
Dion Crouch Waikato Muay Thai Kickboxing
Richard Kahui Maniapoto Rugby
Jason Wynyard Maniapoto Wood Chopping

Senior Sportswoman of the Year
Sarah Jarvis Maniapoto Alpine Ski Racing
Amigene Metcalfe Maniapoto Netball
Vesna Radonich Maniapoto Waka Ama Outriggers

Service to Sports Awards
Janet Haggie Waikato Rugby League
Brian Hotu Maniapoto Golf
Pokaia Nepia Waikato Rugby League
Jim Ngati Raukawa Rugby, Rugby League,
Men's Netball, Snooker,
Boxing, Kick Boxing, Volleyball
Sid Smith Maniapoto Waka Ama
Hotu Taane Maniapoto Rugby
George Tukere Waikato Rugby League
Mita Tupaea Waikato Touch Rugby

ENDS

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