Finalists for Wellington Sportsperson of the Year 2014

Media Release
16 May 2014

Finalists announced for The Dominion Post Wellington
Sportsperson of the Year Awards 2014

Sport Wellington has announced the finalists for The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year Awards 2014. Six external and independent judges deliberated over 200 nominations from 26 different sports to compile the list of 46 finalists. Every district in the region was represented through the nominations submitted.

Finalists have been announced in 11 categories covering Sportspersons, Coaches, Officials, Administrators, Clubs and Teams. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony held Thursday 12 June at TSB Banks Arena. From these category winners will come the supreme winner; The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year 2014. Past winners of the supreme award include Peter Taylor, Conrad Smith and Ricki Hebert.

One winner has also been selected as to receive the Lifetime Contribution to Sport award. The winner of this award will be revealed at the awards ceremony. As well as the categories named, the Personality of the Year award will be put to a public vote with finalists announced in The Dominion Post for this category in late May.

Amongst the finalists, Rugby, Cricket, Swimming, Basketball, Hockey and Athletics feature repeatedly with a few less renowned sports making an appearance such as Equestrian, Shooting and Barefoot Water-skiing.

Sport Wellington Chief Executive Phil Gibbons said “this has been yet another great year for the number of nominations received. The quality of the nominees and their level of achievement are outstanding. The judges had a very difficult task in separating the finalists in each category. The range of sports recognised really highlights the diversity of Wellingtons sporting landscape with 20 different sports recognised within the finalists alone. Every corner of our region is recognised and we can all be justifiably proud of the finalists announced today.”

Sport Wellington has also announced New Zealand television broadcaster and TVNZ Sports Icon Geoff Bryan as the host for the evening. Growing up in Wellington, Bryan has worked as a presenter across several local media channels. Bryan has covered five Commonwealth Games, numerous Rugby, Cricket and Football World Cups and a wide variety of other sports at top level.

Established in 1969, the awards ceremony is attended by many of Wellingtons top sporting achievers and is now recognised as the most prestigious event on Wellingtons sporting calendar. The Awards dinner will also include the 2014 induction of the Sports Legends of Wellington. Once inducted the Legends will have plaques unveiled in their honour at the ASB Sports Centre in Kilbirnie on the morning after the awards.

Tickets for the awards can be purchased through Sport Wellington by phoning (04) 380 0228 or email julief@sportwellington.org.nz, or visit www.wellingtonsportsawards.co.nz.

MEDIA RELEASE ENDS

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