News & Results

News
Results

Lisa Carrington wins top honour at 2021 Forsyth Barr Bay of Plenty Sports Awards

Five time Olympic gold medallist Lisa Carrington has been crowned the Supreme Winner of the 2021 Forsyth Barr Bay of Plenty Sports Awards during an online ceremony on Friday night.

Carrington, who also won the Holland Beckett Law Sportswoman of the Year award, had a remarkable performance at this year’s Tokyo Olympics where she took home three gold medals in kayak sprint competition.

Hosted by Sport Bay of Plenty, the awards this year were the first with Forsyth Barr as naming rights sponsor. Sport Bay of Plenty CEO Heidi Lichtwark said the team were extremely grateful for Forsyth Barr’s support and recognition of the importance of sport and recreation for the wellbeing of the Bay of Plenty community.

“It has been a tough year, but we’re pleased to have been able to hold the awards again after their cancellation in 2020 due to Covid-19, and would like to thank all sponsors for their unwavering support,” Lichtwark said.

Throughout the night international stars were honoured alongside community volunteers. Paralympian Lisa Adams from Rotorua was recognised for her record-breaking and gold medal shot put performance at the Tokyo Paralympics when she won the Canon Bay of Plenty Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award.

Other high-profile winners included Black Caps captain Kane Williamson who was named Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year after steering the team to victory in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in June. Williamson was up against Olympic bronze medallist Hayden Wilde and silver medallist Scott Curry for the award.

The junior athlete categories were dominated by runners, with the under 18 national road race champion Hannah Gapes from Rotorua winning the EVES Realty Young Sportswoman of the Year and Olympian Samuel Tanner from Tauranga taking out the Young Sportsman of the Year award. Bailey Conlon, also from Rotorua, was crowned the Young Disabled Sportsperson of the Year in recognition of his gold, silver and bronze at the 2021 AON New Zealand Swimming Championships.

On the teams’ front, the Upper Central Rugby League Stallions were named the Volcanic Hills Team of the Year in recognition of them winning the National Women’s Rugby League Championship in late 2020. Mount Maunganui College Premiere 1 Girls Volleyball won the Redspot Creative Secondary School Girls’ Team of the Year, while the Rotorua Boys’ High School Touch Team took out the Bay Office Products Depot Secondary School Boys’ Team of the Year award.

Coaches and officials were also honoured on the night, including hockey official Kelly Hudson who won the Advocate Print Official of the Year award, and Alan Bunting and Cory Sweeney who won the Baytrust Coach of the Year award.

The awards also had a distinct community flavour, with six volunteers honoured with a Forsyth Barr Community Service to Sport and Recreation. Recipients included rugby volunteer Don Te Maipi from Te Teko and walking group convenor Lin Wallbrink from Ōpōtiki.

Rotorua Mountain Bike Club received the Ebbett Tauranga Community Organisation of the Year in honour of their Share the Ride programme and First Response Unit. Geyser City Sports & Cultural Club were awarded with the inaugural Aurecon Innovation in Sport and Recreation award after the judges commended their innovative efforts to create and support new school cricket teams connected to the club.

A full list of winners can be found below.

2021 Forsyth Barr Bay of Plenty Sports Awards winners

Forsyth Barr Supreme Award - Lisa Carrington -Kayaking

Holland Beckett Law Sportswoman of the Year - Lisa Carrington -Kayaking

Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year - Kane Williamson - Cricket

Aurecon Innovation in Sport and Recreation - Geyser City Sports & Cultural Club

Advocate Print Official of the Year - Kelly Hudson - Hockey

Ebbett Tauranga Community Organisation of the Year - Rotorua Mountain Bike Club

BayTrust Coach of the Year - Alan Bunting and Cory Sweeney - Rugby sevens

Young Sportsman of the Year - Samuel Tanner - Athletics

EVES Realty Young Sportswoman of the Year - Hannah Gapes - Athletics

Canon Bay of Plenty Disabled Sportsperson of the Year - Lisa Adams - Shot put