Georgia Atkinson … up for two awards. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Strong field of finalists for Maori Sport Awards
MAORI SPORTS AWARDS
CHRIS COGDALE
[email protected]
A strong field of finalists have been named ahead of the upcoming Wairarapa Maori Sports Awards.
The awards – hosted by Whaiora – will take place at Copthorne Resort Solway Park on November 28.
Tai Tamariki Tane [primary/intermediate schoolboys]
Ian McRae played for the Wellington Under-12 baseball team at the Gold Coast Classic and the Pony International in Japan.
Wairangi Sargent is the New Zealand wrestling champion for his age and weight.
Genuine Savaliga represented Wellington at the Pony International baseball tournament held in Japan.
Tai Tamariki Wahine [primary/intermediate schoolgirls]
Aurora Manaia Cockburn Carswell had an outstanding year in swimming, athletics, and hockey.
Multi-talented Awatea Carswell is an athlete, a swimmer, and played hockey for the Wairarapa girls hockey team.
Reinga Ranger won the junior girls singles title at the national junior and youth darts championships.
Tai Ohi Tane [secondary schoolboys]
Vyktah Tamihana was picked for the national men’s Under-20 netball squad for next year’s world championships in Perth.
Joshua Taylor was first in the 400m and scored three other placings at the national secondary schools athletics championships.
Tommy Travers swam at the national age group championships in the 50m and 100m freestyle.
Tai Ohi Wahine [secondary schoolgirls]
Ocean Bartlett is in the St Matthews Collegiate First XI cricket team that qualified for the national Gillette Venus Cup. She is in the Central Districts Under-18 and Under-21 teams and the Central Hinds training squad.
Beau-Leah Karaitiana was selected for the national diamond sports Under-16 girls’ softball team for three tournaments in California.
Dylen Pirihira Kingi was in the Wairarapa United Women’s team that finished second in this year’s W-League and is in the Capital Football national women’s league wider training squad.
Tai Pakeke Tane [senior male]
Paerata Abraham has won many speed shear competitions and is in the national team that will compete in Australia.
James Goodger played for the Heartland XV against Samoa at Eden Park in August and was in the Wairarapa-Bush rugby team that made the semifinals of the Meads Cup.
Logan Prendeville-Heberton played on the wing for Wairarapa-Bush this season and was picked for the national Heartland Under-19 team.
Tai Pakeke Wahine [senior female]
Antonia-Joy Aporo [AJ] won the 2019 Carterton netball senior player of the year award.
Georgia Atkinson was in the Central Hinds team which won the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and made the national development team.
Debbie Louise Donald led from start to finish to win the national tough girl championship.
Kaiarahi [coach]
Georgia Atkinson coached the Wairarapa Under-13 girls cricket team.
Mark Rutene is head coach of the 2019 Heartland XV and assistant coach for the Horowhenua-Kapiti Heartland team.
Tino Tautoko [volunteer]
Keely Riwai-Couch coached one of the MIS netball teams and the Under-15 Wairarapa team. She also ran the Wairarapa intermediate basketball league.
Dannii Sargent has given much support to the Featherston Wrestling Club for the past seven years.
Shari Taylor has devoted her time tutoring various kapa haka roopu in Wairarapa, encouraging the growth of kapa haka and Te Ao Maori in schools.
Te Roopu Hakinakina O Te Tau [team]
Featherston Amateur Wrestling received the 2019 Civic Award for services to sport, the Wairarapa Times-Age Junior Sports Team of the Year award and were Sports Club of the Year.
The Maungariki junior and youth darts team won the girls’ junior singles and were runners-up in the mixed pairs at the national junior and youth championships.
Wairarapa ki Uta Wairarapa ki Tai features pupils from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Wairarapa, Makoura, Chanel, Wairarapa, Kuranui, and Rathkeale colleges and will compete at the next year’s nationals.
