To be announced at a formal dinner on May 8, at the Lake Wānaka Centre, the awards, sponsored by Forsyth Barr, recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and teams from across Central Otago over the past year.
Sport Central sport and active recreation adviser Jo Knight says the calibre of this year’s nominations speaks volumes about the strength of sport in the region.
"The level of competition made it incredibly difficult for our judging panel to select finalists, let alone winners.
"It’s a wonderful reflection of the dedication and talent that exists across Central Otago," Knight says.
In the sportswoman of the year category, Queenstown ski racer Alice Robinson’s a finalist, alongside Wānaka snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Alexandra ice swimmer Sophie Winter.
Robinson’s head coach, Nils Coberger, is a finalist in the coach of the year category, as is SkyCity Stampede coach Cam Frear, Queenstown-based snowboarding coach Sean Thompson — other finalists in that category are Upper Clutha Rams rugby coach Alex Dickson, para skiing coach Dan Bogue, skiing coach Hamish McDougall, all of Wānaka, and national freeski coach Murray Buchan (Scotland/Lake Hawea).
Frear’s Stampede ice hockey team is a finalist in team of the year, as are the Wakatipu under-18 coxed quad scull rowers, the Wakatipu U17 boys double scull and the Wakatipu boys U18 double scull.
Other finalists there are the Upper Clutha Rams rugby team and the Wānaka Football Club.
Queenstowners also dominate the junior sportsman of the year — our finalists are Mason Clarke (cricket), James Weber (athletics), Lewis Laird (mountain biking), Charlie Manser (rowing), and brothers Noa and Dan Milburn (tennis).
They’re up against Cromwell’s Levi Casey (squash) and Wānaka’s Luke Harrold (freeski halfpipe).
In the junior sportswoman category, Queenstowners Brooke Hansen (freeride snowboard), Siena Mackley (running), Zara Hazledine (equestrian) and Rosa Dawson (gymnastics) are all finalists, alongside Wānaka’s Phoebe Laker (athletics), Mathilda Watterson (alpine ski racing) and Eva Small (freeride skiing), Cromwell’s Sky Sanders (rodeo) and Bella Breen (rowing) and Alexandra’s Heidi Winter (ice swimming).
And in the official of the year category, Queenstown ice hockey ref Adam Nagy will be up against Wānaka’s Flick Wallace (snowsports) and Central Otago rugby ref Craig Anderson.
Tickets for the awards night cost $75, via iticket.co.nz.
The event includes dinner and a presentation from Wānaka’s Dougal Allan, a world champion multisport and adventure racer and Team New Zealand cyclor.
