Dane Lett in action against Spain in the World Hockey League in Madrid. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
CHRIS COGDALE
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Black Stick and Gold Coast silver medallist Dane Lett is the winner of the Supreme Award at the 2019 Wairarapa Times-Age Sports’ Awards and the Back in Action Senior Sport’s Personality of the Year.
The awards ceremony was held at Copthorne Hotel and Resort on Wednesday night.
It was double joy for Lett as the Wairarapa United women’s football team for whom his partner Kelsi Rutene plays, won the Team of the Year Award.
Speaking from Paris during a break in the World Hockey League before the Black Sticks play Britain in their final game on Saturday, Lett said he was thrilled to receive the award.
“I feel very humble and privileged to receive the award,” Lett said.
“I would like to thank all my family and my amazing partner for all the support they give me so I can travel around the world to play hockey.
“I have a lot of pride in coming from Wairarapa and I’m very proud I’ve been able to achieve what I have done from here.”
Since being recalled to the Black Sticks in 2017, Lett has not missed an international match and has now amassed more than 50 appearances.
He was part of the team which won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April last year, losing to Australia in the final.
Lett was MVP for the National Hockey League tournament in September 2018, in which he captained the winning Capital Cobras’ side.
As well, Lett is the player-coach of Dalefield, placed second in the Wellington Premiership.
He was an integral part of the revival of the Wairarapa-based club who had languished in the bottom echelons of the top Wellington championship for many years.
Since then, the team have won two championships – in 2015 and 2016 – and finished runners-up in 2017 and 2018.
Lett played in the World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India, last year and has been part of the team who have competed in the inaugural World Hockey Pro league which started in January this year.
The Black Sticks are eighth in the league from four drawn matches.
Despite the position, Lett said the competition is important for the side’s development.
“It’s difficult to get teams such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain to come down to New Zealand.
“This competition has given us the chance to play the top eight teams regularly, and in the end, that’s got to be good for us.”
Lett will return after Saturday’s match to hopefully assist Dalefield to their third title in five years.
ROLL OF HONOUR
Supreme Award
Dane Lett
Senior Sports Personality of the Year
Dane Lett [hockey]
Disabled Sports Personality of the Year
Josh Taylor [athletics]
Youth Personality of the Year
Sam Smith [rugby]
Junior Personality of the Year
Amelia Malcolm-Solly [equestrian]
Senior Sports Team of the Year
Wairarapa United women’s football team
Youth Sports Team of the Year
Wairarapa-Wellington Area Pony Club mounted games team.
Junior Sports Team of the Year
Featherston Wrestling Club tournament team
Coach of the Year
Mark Harris [athletics].
Official of the Year
Rebecca Mahoney [rugby]
Junior Official of the Year
Alex Dahlberg [football]
Administrator of the Year
Simon Roseingrave [cricket]
Volunteer of the Year
Ian Buick [shooting]
Sports Club of the Year
Featherston Amateur Wrestling Club
Primary School of the Year
Douglas Park School
College of the Year
Solway College
Lifetime Achievement Award
Murray Nielsen
