From triathlon to waka ama
Sport in Porirua and Tawa never sleeps.
We could almost fill a newspaper each week with the sport – from school to elite level – that comes across our desk, and 2015 was another bumper year.
The standout was Daniel Hillier.
His list of trophies and accolades is long and there is optimism the 17-year-old Aotea College student can keep it going in 2016.
He was the young sportsman of the year at the Porirua Sports Awards and narrowly missed out to outstanding triathlete Ngarama Milner-Olsen for the overall title.
Another high-profile sports personality was darts player Craig Caldwell, from Titahi Bay. He won the televised SkyCity tournament in July and that really set him on his way.
It was a mixed season for the winter codes – Northern United’s women’s side won the club rugby title, but their male counterparts did not make the second-tier Hardham Cup semi-finals.
Tawa, meanwhile, fell agonisingly close to making the Jubilee Cup final, but could be reasonably happy with their season.
In rugby league, premier reserve side Titahi Bay Marlins outshone their Porirua premier counterparts by making their final, and may be looking at premier status next season.
Two sports stories that also graced our news pages involved Porirua City Council – its takeover of the management of the Bernie Wood Turf, and the Porirua Sports Awards.
Elsewhere, Porirua City United sit atop the Wellington softball standings going into the Christmas break, Tawa College were crowned the national secondary school girls cricket champions and 16-year-old Ayesha Leti I’iga and three other Norths players made rugby’s Black Ferns.
Tawa-Lyndhurst’s men’s tennis side are top of the interclub standings, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and Whitney Souness continue to make great strides in netball and Pauatahanui Golf Course opened its new holes to general acclaim.
Steve Kent and Marty
YEAR IN REVIEW
McDowell dominated in surf lifesaving and kayaking, Aotea College girls and Bishop Viard boys won their respective rugby competitions and Judgeford’s golf team were outstanding in their first tilt at the premier level.
Marama Elkington was brilliant at the waka ama nationals and, just as impressively, Kayla Imrie booked her spot in the K4 team at next
year’s Olympic Games.