Sports Awards winners
McCarroll also named Sportswoman of the Year at Dargaville celebration
Shooter Carlisa McCarroll hit the target at the Silver Fern Farms Kaipara Sports Awards, winning three of the top gongs. The awards were held in Dargaville on Friday evening.
McCarroll won the Junior Sportsperson of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year and the Supreme Award. She was also recognised on the night as the ASB Secondary Schools code winner for shooting.
McCarroll was selected in the New Zealand open ladies Mackintosh team after a strong showing at the NZ DTL Open National Championships earlier this year. She was first in the ladies point score trophy match at that competition.
The teen is the ladies’ Northland Provincial Champion and captain of the Tauraroa Area School girls shooting team, who are the North Island champions. She was also top scorer in her team that finished first in the New Zealand Kilwell Gambore Postal Shoot.
Northland Taniwha Matt Matich, who also played for the Chiefs in Super Rugby this year, was named Sportsman of the Year. He also played for the Penguins Rugby Club at the Hong Kong International 10s Tournament.
A new award for Disabled Sportsperson of the Year went to power chair footballer Brennan
Massey. He captained the New Zealand power chair football team in Australia.
Carlrine Gillespie was named Official of the Year for her exploits in swimming, Mangawhai Surf Lifesaving Club’s Inez MacDonald was awarded the Leadership award and swimming coach Glen Smith was Coach of the Year.
Athletics maestro Kirsten Mason was named Masters Sportsperson of the Year.
A special merit was also awarded to Grace Christey for her achievements internationally in aerobics.
The more than 200 people who attended acknowledged the recipients of the 21 ASB code and youth awards, two team and 11 volunteer awards that were presented.
The Maungaturoto men’s bowls team took the senior team award and the Rodney College golf team won the junior team award for the second consecutive year. Southern Rugby, Squash and Netball Club won the community impact award.
Hamish Watson, Brian Armstrong, Jeff Dyer, Jeremy Hutchinson and Evan Paxton were all recognised with a service award for their many years of contribution to sport in the Kaipara region.
The contribution to club sport award was presented to Bronwyn Williamson, Viliami Aloua and Jake Mau.
Gaz Whiter’s drift team car was on display at the Town Hall. Whiter was recognised for his success winning the inaugural Red Bull Liverpool Drift Championship.
Sport Northland’s community connector and event organiser Roxanne Kelly said nominations and attendance were the highest ever in Dargaville.
“It amazes me every year, the amazing talent that we have here in the Kaipara and the fantastic support for these awards,” she said.
“The achievements of people in the Kaipara continue on the local, national and international stage. This is the 11th year Silver Fern Farms have been involved in supporting this event, which is fantastic.”