Finalists for Wellington Sportsperson of the Year

MEDIA RELEASE:

EMBARGOED UNTIL 10.05.2010

Finalists announced for
The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year Awards 2010

A record 198 nominations were received over thirteen categories for The Dominion Post 2010 Wellington Sportsperson of the Year Awards.

The list of finalists comes from a mixture of 19 different sports, with Football leading the way with strong representation from Wellington Phoenix and Wellington Olympic AFC.

Among the other finalists are NZOC Secretary General, Barry Maister, in the Angus Inn Administrator of the Year category and SPARC boss, Peter Miskimmin who is a finalist in the Gibson Sheat Lawyers Coach of the Year category after taking the Junior Black Sticks to fourth place at the World Championships in Malaysia.

Sport Wellington Chief Executive Paul Cameron said “It’s great to see such a large number of clubs and regional sports organisations putting their volunteers and administrators forward for the awards. It shows how valued these people are and The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year awards provides a forum to publicly thank them. Every single nominee, especially from these two categories, has gone over and above what could be reasonably expected of them and this has made the judges’ job, of selecting four finalists, very difficult”.

Mr Cameron goes on to say “For the first time in the history of the awards the judges have decided to divide the emerging category into two categories in their own right; the Emerging Sportsman of the Year and the Emerging Sportswoman of the Year. This clearly shows how many immensely talented young people there are coming through the ranks in our region”.

The winners of each category, plus three very worthy inductees into the Legends of Wellington, will be announced at a gala awards dinner at the Wellington Town Hall on Thursday 3rd June.

A feature of the evening will be the presence of Sir Murray Halberg who this year celebrates 50 years since winning an Olympic gold medal in the 5000m in Rome.

Tickets for the awards can be purchased through Sport Wellington by phoning 04 380 2070 or email julief@sportwellington.org.nz

Finalists by category are;
Tui Sportsman of the Year
Reyon Kay Speed Skating
Karl Purdie Yachting
Peter Taylor Rowing
Mark Paston Football
Te Kairanga Sportswoman of the Year
Sophie Devine Cricket
Natasha Hind Swimming
Kate McIlroy Triathlon
Paula Tesoriero Cycling
Gibson Sheat Lawyers Coach of the Year
Doug Bracewell Cricket
Simon George & Craig Hopkins Football
Ricki Herbert Football
Peter Miskimmin Hockey
Wellington City Council Team of the Year
Hutt Valley Women's Softball Team Softball
Wellington Lancers Men Softball Team Softball
Wellington Phoenix Football
Photography by Woolf Emerging Sportsman of the Year
Josh Junior Yachting
Reyon Kay Speed Skating
Peter Spearman-Burn Golf
Photography by Woolf Emerging Sportswoman of the Year
Letitia Carr Karate
Sophie Devine Cricket & Hockey
Samantha Lee Swimming & Surf Lifesaving
Les Mills Personality of the Year
Paul Ifill Football
Cory Jane Rugby
John McBeth Sports Commentator
Melissa Moon Athletics
Pak ‘n Save Kilbirnie Club Team of the Year
Eastern Suburbs Premier Cricket Team Cricket
Te Aroha Softball Premier Women's Team Softball
Wellington Olympic AFC Football
New Zealand Community Trust Volunteer of the Year
Mark Harris Athletics
Geoff Henry Athletics
Michelle Laurenson Para Sports
Trevor Martin Multiple Sports
Pelorus Trust Disabled Athlete of the Year
Samantha Eddie Handcycling
Gavin Rolton Wheelchair Rugby
Paula Tesoriero Cycling
BDO Wellington Official of the Year
Jamie Cross Football
Devendra Patel Hockey
Zac Prendergast Cycling
The Angus Inn Administrator of the Year
John Dow Football
Pam Edwards Swimming
Tony Pignata Football
Barry Maister NZOC

The Carlton Party Hire Wellington Fair Play and The Community Trust of Wellington Lifetime Contribution to Sport awards will also be awarded on the evening. No finalists, only winners are named in these categories.

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