Smith speeds to overall crown
Speed skater Tyla Smith claimed the supreme award at the Temuka Sports Awards last Friday.
She was named overall and intermediate sportsperson for the second consecutive year, after beating out Keanu Darby in 2016.
Smith had a very successful 2016 season on the skates, which saw her bag a swagger of podium finishes at the Oceania speed skating championships, national championships and bank track championships.
Her best efforts came at the Oceania championships against quality fields, which saw her win the junior women’s 15km elimination race, place second in the junior women’s 500m and third in both the junior women’s 300m and 300m time trial.
There were plenty of top two finishes at the other two national events.
Making her achievements more impressive was the fact her season had been hampered by injury.
Smith is also a talent on the hockey field having represented South Canterbury at under-18 level and is a key member of the Geraldine division one women’s side.
Temuka Sports Awards organiser Ali Talbot said Smith was a deserved winner.
‘‘It was the international exposure that won it for her. The Oceania championships and competing at them. There was a quality field of junior and intermediate candidates but that really stood out and was the difference.’’
Talbot said guest speaker Anna Grimaldi, who won gold at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, was fantastic.
‘‘Anna was really good, she was great with the crowd and everyone loved her. They wanted to take plenty of photos after the event with her.
‘‘She captivated the crowd with her life story so far and what lies ahead for her career. She spent the night talking with the kids and adults and proudly letting all hold and see her gold medal and answering questions on her challenges and what it meant to win it.’’
Talbot was pleased with the turnout as more than 100 people celebrated the occasion.
It was a successful night for the Temuka Football Club which picked up three awards. The Temuka Rockets were junior team of the year, the women’s side were named senior winners and Ray Morland was volunteer/administrator.
Marty Pow bagged the coach of the year crown, Hudson Swete was the junior sportsperson for his motocross deeds and Craig Duncan’s motorsport efforts won him open sportsperson.