ASB Young Sportsperson of the Year winners 1991-2014

Each week until the annual ASB YSPOTY awards dinner in November, we will profile past winners as we count down to the 25th annual event which honours the top young college sportspeople in the region. Joy Ngawati, to name a few. It was so inspirational seeing these young talented women at school who led by example on and off the court, and all of these players went on to represent New Zealand in netball, rugby, league and touch. My first coach was Te Aroha Keenan (now at MAGS). Being in this environment at school, it was only natural for me to pursue netball.

“My memories of the sports awards in 1995 are quite vivid. It was so far from my mind to ever think that I would be even considered for the overall sportswoman of the year. I was hoping to get the netball prize and be very happy with that. I was very surprised when they called out my name. Apart from the initial shock, the next thing that came to my mind was my parents, who were both there. With all of their support as my netball journey started to evolve, it was nice to give something back to them . . .”

The trophy had such names as Beatrice Faumuina and Jonah Lomu engraved on it. “I was really honoured to have my name alongside some of the world’s greatest athletes.”

Clarke went on to play for the Silver Ferns and Samoa, and in the semiprofessional ANZ Championship. Top of the list was winning the 2003 world champs with the Ferns, and the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold.

Now Sheryl Scanlan, the 37-yearold lives in Brisbane with husband Malcolm and son Jafeth.

“I’ve been here for nearly three years and love it. I’m coaching four teams at different levels of netball and also do specialist defensive sessions. I am working at Stuartholme School, a private school for girls, as the assistant in the sports department and looking after the netball programme there,” she says.