Zoi's on top Otago sport
ZOI SadowskiSynnott has complemented her global glory with local supremacy.
The 17yearold last night became the first junior athlete to win the supreme award at the Otago Sports Awards.
Also winner of the junior sportswoman of the year, the Wanaka snowboarder became the first female to win the award since Alison Shanks in 2009.
He win came on the back of her bronze medalwinning performance in the women’s big air final at the Winter Olympics in PyeonChang, New Zealand’s first Winter Olympic medal in 26 years.
At the time, she was the country’s youngest Olympic medallist.
However, she was surpassed hours later by fellow Wanaka snowboarder Nico Porteous.
He took bronze in the men’s halfpipe at just 16 years old and also claimed the junior sportsman of the year award.
The sportsman of the year award was also the result of success in South Korea.
Paraskier Adam Hall claimed the prize, having won Winter Paralympic gold in the slalom standing and bronze in the super combined standing.
Katey Martin ensured it was not a complete sweep for the winter sports.
The Otago Sparks wicketkeeperbatsman secured the sportswoman of the year award, after a strong season with the domestic side. She also put in some strong showings with the bat for the White Ferns.
The Southern Steel won the team of the year award after dominating the domestic netball scene in 2017.
It claimed both the ANZ Premiership and Super Club titles, going unbeaten through all 21 games
Snowsports picked up another one when New Zealand High Performance Park and Pipe coaching team was named coach of the year. Headed by Tom Willmott, the team also consisted of Tommy Pyatt, Sean Thompson, Mitch Brown, Mike Hanley and Bruce Wells.
Cricket umpire Chris Gaffaney won official of the year for the second year in a row.
His callup to stand in the middle during the Australia South Africa test series was seen as an indication he is among the best in the world.
The services to sport award went to Otago Rugby Union president Des Smith.
A teacher at Otago Boys’ High School for more than 25 years, Smith has an illustrious CV.
He was involved in launching the Edgar Centre in the early 1990s and has managed Otago and Highlanders rugby teams.
He spent seven years managing the Otago secondary schools sports association, while later advising for the New Zealand secondary schools sports association.
The award was last night rena med the Alistair McMurran Memorial Trophy. McMurran was a sports reporter at the Otago Daily Times for nearly 40 years and worked tirelessly for all sports. He died late last year.
The innovation in sport award went to multisport event Challenge Wanaka.
A crowd of 420 gathered at the Dunedin Town Hall for the ceremony last night at which double Olympic rowing gold medallist Eric Murray was the guest speaker.
A special presentation was made to fivetime supreme award winner Hamish Bond — Murray’s longtime partner in the men’s pairs.