Olympian gives advice to up and coming sportspeople

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE

Olympian gives advice to up and coming sportspeople

Click for big version.

30 October 2013, Karaka. Strathallan celebrated a year of sporting success at its annual Sports Awards evening this week. The prestigious Sports Person of the Year award went to Caitlin Benzie for her stand out performance in equestrian. Junior Sportsperson of the Year went to Year 8 student, Brooke Varney, and her sister Courtney Varney, Year 10, was named All Rounder of the Year.

Olympic equestrian Grant Cashmore was the guest speaker, providing words of encouragement, motivation and inspiration.

“Hearing first hand from an Olympian on what it takes to get to that position, the work and the determination, provides reality and inspiration,” says ACG Strathallan principal Robin Kirkham.

Caitlin Benzie, Year 13, has achieved a number of national and regional titles, including National Champion and Reserve Champion in the Level 1 Championship at the New Zealand Young Rider National Championships, and 3rd overall in the Level 5 Championship. Caitlin also competed at the NZ Pony Club Dressage Championships, winning the NZ Senior Individual Championship, and the NZ Secondary School Championship. At the Dressage New Zealand Young Rider National Performance Awards, she also won the Auckland Young Rider Championship and the NZ National Level 1 Young Rider Championship.

Junior Sports Person of the Year, Brooke Varney, is an outstanding cross-country runner, winning 1st place in all meets from school through to Counties level. She was placed second at the Champion of Champions competition and second at the Auckland Cross Country Championships, and was named runner-up in the Franklin Young Achiever of the Year awards. Brooke is currently the Auckland Road Champion for her age group and was also placed at the NZ Championships.

Many other students were also honoured on the night. Sports Team of the Year was jointly won by the Equestrian Open team and the Boys' First XI Hockey team and Regional Team of the Year went to the Badminton A-Grade team. Robin Kirkham is quick to recognise that with their success comes a lot of hard work as well as a lot of support on the side-lines, from coaches, friends and family.

ENDS

© Scoop Media