Finalists ready for big awards night
There is a strong expectation Matamata-Piako finalists will be among the winners at the Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards.
Five finalists from the district will contest the region’s top sports awards at a special event in Hamilton on Thursday night.
Matamata-Piako finalists include Graeme Laing (community coach); Morrinsville Bulls Rugby League Club (club of the year); Tarryn Davey (emerging talent); Cailen Calkin (secondary school - sportsman) and Te Miro Mountain Bike Club (innovation in sport and recreation).
For hockey player Tarryn Davey the awards event caps of a stellar year, captaining the Midlands U21 team to success and playing four games against Malaysia for the Black Sticks.
‘‘I was very excited to be nominated as a finalist and I feel very privileged to be up against athletes of such a high calibre,’’ said Davey
Swimming Coach Graeme Laing remains humble calling his nomination for the Community Coach Award a ‘‘great honour’’.
‘‘Sport in the Waikato is going through a good time at the moment, there are so many good people out there,’’ said Laing.
Matamata-Piako’s five finalists is the most for a number of years and Sport Waikato district coordinator Lou Beer is hopeful the district will win at least one category.
She was confident the sport organisations in her district had performed well enough to win.
‘‘Organisations like Te Miro Mountain Bike Club has shown what the volunteers can do by working together to create a fabulous recreational asset and maintain it to very high standards,’’ said Beer.
‘‘Showing true community spirit, The Morrinsville Bulls Rugby League Club overcame several obstacles to meet the rapidly growing members’ needs and the needs of the game. The whanau spirit that has grown with the club was a deciding factor in their win at the district awards,’’ he said.
An indication of how healthy sport is in the district is Cailen Calkin with Beer claiming the youngster’s skill and drive to make it to the top of BMX as the ‘‘one to watch’’.