Curry the supreme grassroots awards winner

Athletics was the main beneficiary at the Manawatu Grassroots Sports Awards, in particular Brian Curry.

Palmerston North Athletic and Harrier Club’s Curry was named the Manawatu sport maker of the year at the ceremony at the Palmerston North Convention Centre on Friday night, the major prize of the night.

He also won the all-rounder volunteer award and he accepted the organisational event award on behalf of the North Island Colgate Games organising committee, who ran the junior athletics event in Palmerston North in January.

An honoured Curry said afterwards he enjoys seeing young athletes learn how to do things and go on to succeed.

The 55-year-old has been involved in athletics since 1999, back when he was competing.

Now days he competes at masters level, but is also an administrator, coach and official, as well as doing other bits and pieces for the club like being a technical manager at events and checking equipment.

‘‘[on Thursday] I was running an officials’ training course, then [on Saturday] I’ll probably be officiating in Wellington and the athletes I coach will be competing as well,’’ he said.

As a coach, high jump and pole vault are his two specialties and he has about 10 athletes working with him.

Curry, who will compete at the North Island masters championships in Palmerston North next weekend, works on appliances at the freezing works.

The behind-the-scenesvolunteer award went to Kylie Jennings, who is involved in five different sports, but it was for her work with Horowhenua Junior Softball and Levin Swimming Club.

The frontline volunteer award went to Hokowhitu Football Club’s Phil Riley, who is heavily involved in coaching and administration.

Riley won the sportsmaker award in 2014.

In the other awards, Cafe Cuba won best sports partner, best fundraising initiative went to Squashgym Palmerston for their night at the races, and participation initiative went to Badminton Manawatu Association for their Shuttle Time coaching sessions.

The best-presented organisation was Hockey Manawatu, who also won the athlete development award.

There were merit awards for Paula Anderson of Marist junior rugby in the frontline volunteer category and for Manawatu Badminton in the athlete development category.

There were four super volunteers named for more than 25 years’ work in their sport.

Netball umpires Linda Liggins and Anne Blomfield were given awards, as well as Chris Paskins for his work in golf and John Strawbridge for athletics.