Finalists announced for Wellington Sportsperson of the Year

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY 17 May

Finalists announced for The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year Awards 2013

The finalists have been found for The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year Awards 2013. Esteemed judges, experts in their sporting and sports media fields, had the tough job of whittling down the 230 nominations to 41 deserving finalists. From these finalists 13 categories winners will be chosen, and from these category winners will come the supreme winner; The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year 2013.

The finalists come from 19 different sports, and this range of sports represented highlights the diversity of Wellington’s sporting landscape. Some of the smaller, emerging sports represented this year include Muay Thai Kickboxing, Squash, Wheelchair Rugby and Wheelchair Basketball.

Sports which have multiple nominations include Softball (3), Cricket (4), Football (4), Rowing (4), Athletics (5), and Swimming (6). Multiple Paralympic medalist Mary Fisher accounts for three of swimming’s tally, appearing as a finalist in the Disabled athlete, Sportswoman and Personality of the Year Categories.

Sport Wellington Chief Executive Phil Gibbons said “this has been yet another great year for the number of nominations received for The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year Awards. It is very humbling indeed to see just what has been achieved by administrators, elite athletes and teams; the majority of whom are volunteers. The quality of the nominations and the quality of achievement is outstanding. The judging panel noted this was especially so in the large number of quality nominations received for the categories of Wellington City Council Emerging Sportsman and Emerging Sportswoman. There are some very exciting young people with huge talent from our region achieving some great things both nationally and internationally. Many of the finalists in these two categories have won awards in the most recent College Sport Wellington Awards and the AMI Masterton Wairarapa Secondary School Sports Awards. Our region can be justifiably proud of all 230 nominations but even more so of the finalists announced today” said Gibbons.

A people’s choice promotion to find the Super Colour Personality of the Year Award will be run in The Dominion Post, starting Thursday 23 May. Finalists for this category include New Zealand Olympic flag bearer Nick Willis, Netballer Katrina Grant, Rower Peter Taylor and Paralympian Mary Fisher. The public will be able to vote for their pick at Dompost.co.nz.

The winners of each category will be announced at a gala awards dinner at the Wellington Town Hall on Thursday 13 June. Special guest at the Awards Dinner is Cricket legend Bob Blair, who will be speaking to Bryan Waddle about his life in cricket. The Awards dinner will also include the 2013 induction of the Sports Legends of Wellington. Once inducted the Legends will have plaques unveiled in their honour at the ASB Sports Centre in Kilbirnie.

Tickets for the awards are always highly sought after, and can be purchased through Sport Wellington by phoning (04) 380 0228 or email julief@sportwellington.org.nz.

Finalists by category are:

Steinlager Sportsman of the Year
Rhys Casley Softball
Peter Taylor Rowing
Nick Willis Athletics

Wither Hills Sportswoman of the Year
Mary Fisher Para Swimming
Kate McIlroy Triathlon
Anita Punt Hockey

Hiremaster Team of the Year
Petone Rowing Club – Coxless Quad Scull Rowing
Squash Wellington Men's Team Squash
Wellington Blaze Cricket

Gibson Sheat Lawyers Coach of the Year
Gary Hurring Swimming
Waimarama Taumaunu Netball
Dave Workman Softball

Wellington City Council Emerging Sportsman of the Year
Steven Adams Basketball
Louis Fenton Football
Stephen Jenness Hockey
Ardie Savea Rugby Union

Wellington City Council Emerging Sportswoman of the Year
Julianne Alvarez Golf
Samantha Lucie-Smith Swimming
Eseta Manesa Muay Thai Kickboxing
Samara Sheppard Mountain Biking

Super Colour Personality of the Year*
Mary Fisher Para Swimming
Katrina Grant Netball
Peter Taylor Rowing
Nick Willis Athletics
*The Super Colour Personality of the Year is decided by a people’s choice promotion run through The Dominion Post, starting on Thursday 23 May

PAK'nSAVE Kilbirnie Club Team of the Year
Eastern Suburbs Cricket
Hutt Valley Dodgers Softball
Lower Hutt City Football
Wellington Scottish – Senior Men's A Team Athletics

Pelorus Trust Disabled Athlete of the Year
Mary Fisher Para Swimming
Gavin Rolton Wheelchair Rugby
Marcus Thompson Wheelchair Basketball

New Zealand Community Trust Volunteer of the Year
Kay Brown Gymsports
Alan Greer Rowing
Helen Mallon Football
Gaylene van Wijk Swimming

BDO Official of the Year
Kathy Cross Cricket
Zac Prendergast Cycling
Peter Wrigley Athletics

The Angus Inn Administrator of the Year
Gordon Dry Cricket
Louise Evans -McDonald Athletics
Helen Mallon Football

The Wellington Community Trust Lifetime Contribution to Sport award will be presented in the evening.

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