The Wright stuff: Big lift for winner
Delighted and nearly speechless: Luke powers to the golden fore at sports awards
CHBpowerlifter Luke Wright picked up the supreme award at the 2020 CHB Mail Central Hawke’s Bay Sports Awards on Friday, in front of a packed house at the AW Parsons Stadium in Waipukurau.
Luke had earlier won the Ruahine Motors Senior Sportsperson of the Year, ahead of triathlete Bram DeBoeck and speedway driver Randal Tarrant, to put himin the running for the supreme award.
Delighted and nearly speechless, Luke said he had not expected to win the title.
Luke has a training regime that sees him in the gym up to three hours a day, four to five times a week.
Hehas been climbing the national powerlifting ranks, winning at local, regional and national events and claimed gold at the Asia Pacific Championships in Hong Kong in December of last year.
He also won gold at the open men’s World Powerlifting Federation nationals in Christchurch in August last year and is widely recognised at Hawke’s Bay’s best male lifter.
Luke has been instrumental in establishing a CHB power lifting team and is helping aspiring locals to compete on anational level. Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 lockdown he has continued his training and has further goals he wants to achieve.
On accepting the award, Luke stepped from the stage to a rousing haka from his friends and supporters.
“I didn’t think Iwould win anything, itwas a shock,” he said. “It was a good end to the night.” Luke says while powerlifting might look like an individual sport, it takes a team.
“I have to thank my coach Joseph Whittaker andmy nutritionist Nick Reynold for their ongoing help, and my supporters and helpers, Michelle and her team at the AW Parsons complex and
I didn’t think I would win anything, it was a shock. It was a good end to the night Luke Wright
myfamily for supporting me through my time a way training and competing, and especially for all the support through recent health issues.
“Powerlifting can be a rugged sport and Idon’t do it on my own.” The Senior Sportswoman of the Year went to showjumper Brooke Edgecombe, ahead of fellow finalists netballer Olivia Tilyard and cyclist Sandy Wiggins, while Olympic equestrian Mary Derby was inducted into the Central Design and Print Hall of Fame.
The annual awards recognise the “outstanding achievements” of the district’s athletes, coaches and officials.
They also recognise innovation, excellence and contribution to sport and active recreation in Central Hawke’s Bay from grassroots through to elite level.
Part of the evening’s presentations included the induction of Mary Darby into the Central Design& Print Central Hawke’s Bay Hall of Fame.
Geoff Bryan officiated.