Saturday, November 23, 2019

All Blacks loose forward Sam Cane has capped off a remarkable 12 months by winning the Supreme Award at the 2019 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards.

Cane, who also won the Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year award at Friday night’s celebration, staged a seemingly impossible comeback this season after suffering a broken neck during a game against South Africa in October 2018. He recovered from surgery and went on to be part of the Bledisloe Cup winning side and captain of the All Blacks in Argentina. His impressive return was ratified when he was selected for the world cup squad in Japan.

Sport Bay of Plenty sport manager Nick Chambers said Cane’s return to the top level of competition impressed the judges.

“Sam faced some tough competition for the Sportsman of the Year and Supreme Award, but what made him stand out was the fact he managed to return to the field so quickly and post some impressive results after suffering an horrific injury.

“He’s a hard-working athlete that’s gone from Reporoa to the world stage and we’re honoured to recognise his sporting achievements.”

Hosted by Sport Bay of Plenty, the 2019 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards were held at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre on Friday, November 22 to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements by Bay of Plenty athletes, coaches and officials over the past 12 months.

Black Sticks player Samantha Charlton was named Holland Beckett Law Sportswoman of the Year after clocking up 19 Tests in 12 months, being part of the 2019 Oceania Cup winning squad and captaining Midlands in the National Hockey League.

Luuka Jones from canoe slalom won the Donelley Sawmillers International Sportsperson of the Year award. Jones had a stellar year by winning bronze in the K1 at the Canoe Slalom World Championships and qualifying for her fourth Olympics.

Water sports featured heavily in other categories with water polo’s Shinae Carrington winning the EVES Realty Junior Sportswoman of the Year and the Open Women’s Whitewater Rafting Racing Team taking out the University of Waikato Adam’s Centre for High Performance Team of the Year award after being crowned the 2019 World Rafting Champions.

Whakatāne triathlete Hayden Wilde was again named the Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year after winning the same award in 2017.

Numerous volunteers, 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 Chris Willett who won the Baytrust Coach of the Year award.

Nine volunteers also received a YMCA Service to Sport award in recognition of their many years of volunteering at local sports clubs, and Maurice Stone from Rotorua won the Bay of Plenty Principal’s Association Secondary School Service to Sport for his work in rugby, touch and kī-o-rahi at Rotorua Boys’ High School.

Sport Bay of Plenty CEO Heidi Lichtwark offered her congratulations to all 2019 finalists and winners: “It’s a real testament to the depth of talent and dedication in our region, and it’s great to see a range of sports being represented.

“The awards are a wonderful opportunity to honour the region’s top athletes alongside the many community volunteers who help make our local sport system so strong.”

2019 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards winners

Sport Bay of Plenty Supreme Award
Sam Cane Rugby Union

Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year
Sam Cane Rugby Union

Holland Beckett Law Sportswoman of the Year
Samantha Charlton Hockey

Donelley Sawmillers International Sportsperson of the Year
Luuka Jones Canoe Slalom

BayTrust Coach of the Year
Chris Willett Triathlon

Advocate Print Official of the Year
Kelly Hudson Hockey

University of Waikato Adams Centre for High Performance Team of the Year
Open Women's Whitewater Rafting Racing Team

Eves Realty Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Shinae Carrington Water Polo

Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year
Hayden Wilde Triathlon

Ebbett Tauranga Club of the Year
Lake City Athletic Club Athletics

YMCA Open Service to Sport
Warren Belk Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club
Ruth Tuiraviravi Bellevue Athletic Club
Shirley Hooper Synchronised Swimming NZ & Netball NZ
Graeme Fair Waikato Bays Judo
Jill Allely Mid Island Gymsports
Barbara Jenks Rotorua Mountain Bike Club
Ian Spraggon Bay of Plenty Rugby
Yvonne Wicks Waihi Beach Tennis Club

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportswoman of the Year
Olivia Cummings Otumoetai College Cross Country / Triathlon

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportsman of the Year
Jack Egan Aquinas College Canoe Slalom

NZCT Secondary School Coach of the Year
Ben Ormsby Tauranga Boys’ College Volleyball

Bay Cardiology Secondary School Girls’ Team of the Year
Tauranga Girls’ College Rowing

Bay Office Products Depot Secondary School Boys’ Team of the Year
Tauranga Boys' College Senior A Volleyball

Aurecon Secondary School Student Contribution to Sport
Lucy Turner Katikati College Netball

BOP Principals Association Secondary School Service to Sport
Maurice Stone Rotorua Boys’ High School Rugby / Touch / Kī o rahi

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