Impressive nominees for sports award
A former New Zealand Olympic road and track cyclist will be the guest speaker at the Ingham Matamata-Piako District Sports Awards this year.
The awards will celebrate the success of athletes and volunteers from within the sporting community and will be held at Tatuanui Hall on November 10.
Sport Waikato area coordinator Lou Beer is thrilled with the nominations received this year, not only with the number of nominations, which proved to be a struggle last year, but also the calibre of those nominated.
‘‘Last year I had to chase every last nomination, this year they came in by themselves. There were a few who I would like to have seen that weren’t nominated.
‘‘The quality of the nominees is very impressive, there is a high standard of achievement this year and it makes me proud to be supporting sport in this district,’’ she says.
Among those nominations are Dwayne Barlow, Graeme Laing, Ron van de Molen, Logan Webber, Shaydene Begovich, Kevin Guest, Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts, Awhina Pearce, Hinuera Bowling Club, James Raymond, Matt Hyde and Thomas Raymond, Danielle Englebrecht, Jordan Rogers, Debbie White and Matthew Stan- ley.
Winners from the district awards become eligible for the judging and short listing of the Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards.
Another highlight of the awards evening will be speaker Cath Cheatley, a retired NZ pro- fessional road and track cyclist.
She won two New Zealand championship titles in both road race and individual track pursuit, and represented NZ at the 2008 Olympics.
Cheatley will be speaking about her experience at the Olympics as athlete support. Beer says no doubt her story will be an inspiration for many.
‘‘She will be interesting for anyone with aspirations for high performance sport,’’ says Beer.
From Matamata, the 2015 winners were bowling pair James Thompson and Kasey Garforth who won Team of the Year.
Andrew Kilham won Coach of the Year and the Master Sportsperson and Sporting Personality awards were won by Danie van der Linde.
Tickets are now available, online at sportwaikato.org.nz or through the council office for $25 each.