Twenty-nine individuals and teams were nominated for Clutha district sports awards in seven categories, but a Popotunoa bowler stole the show, winning two categories and the overall title.
Winner Wynette McLachlan, who lives about 40km northwest of Balclutha and has been playing bowls for more than 30 years, was named overall winner, senior sportswoman of the year, and also won the team category with fellow bowler Marilyn Paterson.
Last Saturday Mrs McLachlan returned from Malaysia, where she represented New Zealand in bowls. She was selected for the New Zealand team after winning the women's singles title at the national club bowls championships in April - which she won despite nursing a left arm broken in a quad-bike accident.
She said last night she was "overwhelmed" with her title.
Nine times Coast to Coast multisport race winner Steve Gurney, and Balclutha-raised elite triathlete Tony Dodds, of Wanaka, attended last night's awards as special guests.
The qualifying period for the awards was from September 1, 2009 to August 31, 2011.
Results.-
Athlete with a disability: Winner: Jenny Affleck (para-equestrian). Nominated, Aaron Craig (aquatics/indoor bowls/bocce).
Coach: winner: Roger Cotton (rugby). Nominated: Glen Ward (special Olympics).
Team: Winners: Wynette McLachlan and Marilyn Paterson (bowls). Nominated: Lawrence Ladies Golf, Lawrence Premier Rugby, SOHS Alpha (netball), Tapanui Golf Club men's intermediate pennant team, Tapanui Womens Golf pennant team.
Junior sportswoman: Winner: Sam Hollows (touch/athletics/netball/crosscountry). Nominated: Mikayla Latta (touch/netball/rugby/gymnastics), Greer Muir (rugby), Alanna Preddy (indoor bowls), Ashleigh White (netball/athletics/cricket), Amanda Williamson (netball).
Junior sportsman: Winner: Andrew Whyte (athletics). Nominated: Gavin Stark (rugby/athletics/swimming), Kayne Wardell (golf), Brayden Wilson (touch/rugby), Sam Wyber (rugby).
Senior sportsperson: Winner: Wynette McLachlan (bowls).
Nominated: Jenny Affleck (para-equestrian), Paul Davis (golf) Scott McKenzie (ploughing), Anne Mitchell (archery), Robert Wilson (indoor bowls), Sam Wyber (rugby).
Service to sport: Winners: Bill Beatty (rugby) and Glen Ward (special Olympics). Nominated: Penny Batchelor (netball/hockey), Rowena Paterson (rugby).
Overall winner: Wynette McLachlan.
