Paerata Abraham is nominated for Tai Pakeke Tane. PHOTOS/FILE
SPORTS AWARDS
CHRIS COGDALE
[email protected]
Competitive scootering, men’s netball and kapa haka are the 41 nominations for the upcoming Wairarapa Maori Sports Awards.
The awards – hosted by Whaiora – were developed in 2007 by the late Jeff Workman and this year’s ceremony will take place at Copthorne Resort Solway Park on November 28
Workman developed the awards to celebrate Wairarapa Maori sporting participation, achievement and excellence within Wairarapa, and to showcase positive role models within the region.
There are nine categories, which recognise sports participation, achievement, excellence, commitment, and impact.
Young baseball star Ian McRae, motocross exponent Jamie Griggs, wrestlers Spencer Telford and Wairangi Sargent, and Genuine Savaliga [rugby and baseball] are the nominees in the Tai Tamariki Tane [male primary and intermediate] category.
The nominees for the Tai Tamariki Wahine [female primary and intermediate] category are Aurora Manaia Cockburn Carswell [athletics, swimming, hockey] Awatea Carswell [athletics, swimming, netball, hockey], and Reinga Ranger [darts].
The rising sport of competitive scootering is represented by Joel McRae in the Tai Ohi Tane [secondary school male] category. Athlete Josh Taylor, netballer Vyktah Tamihana, swimmer Tommy Travers, and rugby player Waylon Mason round out the nominees.
The Tai Ohi Wahine [secondary school female] category has nominations for softball star Beau-Leah Karaitiana, Wairarapa United footballer Dylen Pirihira Kingi, Camryn-Sophie Potangaroa [Poe] for netball, Ocean Bartlett [cricket, netball], and Aaliyah Allen [netball, rugby, touch, waka ama].
The Tai Pakeke Tane [male] category has a strong list of nominees. Wairarapa-Bush rugby stars James Goodger and Logan Prendeville-Heberton are joined by Lawrence Matthews [crossfit], shearer Paerata Abraham and netballer Te Kapua Haira.
The Tai Pakeke Wahine [female] category will be decided from netballer Antonia-Joy [AJ] Aporo, Debbie Louise Donald [athletics] and Central Hinds cricketer Georgia Atkinson.
The Kaiarahi category recognises a volunteer who has shown time and dedication to the “craft” of coaching via clinics, mentorship, and professional development in one or more sports. The nominees are NZ Rugby Heartland XV coach Mark Rutene and Georgia Atkinson for cricket.
The Tino Tautoko category, recognises any person for outstanding contribution as a volunteer to sport.
Martha Manaena [netball], Dannii Sargent [wrestling, Robert Algie Trust], Shari Taylor [kapa haka], Keely Riwai-Couch [netball, basketball], Makere Sargent [wrestling] and Geraldine Carroll [netball] make up a strong group of nominees.
Seven nominees are included in Te Roopu Hakinakina o Te Tau team award.
The Pioneer Under-11s JAB team, the successful Featherston Amateur Wrestling Club, the champion Harcourts Premier One Netball team, the Maungaraki Junior and Youth Darts, Undisputed MMA – Masterton, and Te Rangiura o Wairarapa and Wairarapa ki Uta Wairarapa ki Tai, for kapa haka.
The Taumata Hakinakina – the Overall Sports Person of the Year Award, will be selected from the nine category winners.
The People’s Choice Award for the Jeff Workman Memorial Award – will be awarded to the nominee with the most public votes.
A poll is running on Whaiora’s Facebook page, where people can place one vote from the list of 41 nominees.
