2024 Taranaki Sports Awards
The stage is set for the 2024 Taranaki Sports Awards, where the region’s top athletes, coaches, volunteers, and clubs will be recognised for their contributions to the local and international sporting scene.
The 59th edition of the awards evening will be held at The Devon Hotel on Friday 22 November and promises to be a celebration of another memorable year for the Taranaki sporting and active community.
Sport Taranaki CEO Michael Carr says while the awards recognise national and international successes, a special part of the evening is also the chance to celebrate grassroots achievement and contributions vital to the Taranaki sporting scene.
“They recognize the invaluable contributions of coaches, officials, and volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes. These individuals are the backbone of our sporting community, and their efforts deserve to be celebrated just as much as the athletes they support.”
With strong support from across the region and an achievement period including the Paris Olympic Games and Paralympics there will be plenty of tricky choices facing the judging panel.
Among those likely to feature include last year’s overall sportsperson winner, Zoe Hobbs, who made history as the first New Zealand woman in nearly 50 years to qualify for an Olympic 100m event. Hobbs reached the semifinals at the Paris Olympics, where she narrowly missed out on the final. Michaela Blyde was also in the thick of Olympics action, turning in another gold medal winning performance with the Black Ferns Sevens.
Closer to home the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls title winning run under head coach Neil Barnes will be staking a claim for Team of the Year.
Opunake basketball star Oscar Goodman continues to turn heads on court, with his selection for the All Star Five at the FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey making him the first New Zealander in 22 years to win a spot in this team.
Race walker Toby O’Rorke is another athlete with a stellar season, cleaning up in the national U-20 race walking championships before earning national selection and finishing 48th in the world championship 10km U20 race in Turkey.
Surf life saving is set to have another swag of strong nominees following success across ages and disciplines while Melanie Visser is among the nominees for Game Official of the Year for her contributions to numerous national and regional competitions.
Also in the mix are Masters Athletes, like multi-sporter Bruce Jordan, who won Gold in the PTS5 World Multi Sport Champs – Duathlon, as well as in the PTS5 World Multisport Champs – Long Distance Triathlon.
Standing behind the awards, are dedicated sponsors who make invaluable contributions.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to have sponsors who understand the value of sport in our community,” Carr says.
The 2024 Taranaki Sports Awards categories are:
- Silks Audit Chartered Accountants Ltd: Overall Sportsperson
- The Floatation Sanctuary: Senior Sportswoman
- Business Distributors Limited (BDL): Senior Sportsman
- New Plymouth Physiotherapy: Senior Sports Team
- QP Sport Protection: Junior Sportswoman
- Taranaki Secondary School Sports Association: Junior Sportsman
- TimberCo:Junior Sports Team
- OurCloud:Masters
- WR Phillips: Coach
- Marsh: Game Official
- Clelands Construction: Volunteer
- Taranaki Associated Cleaners Ltd:Club
- Sport Taranaki: Impact Award
AWARDS DINNER
Friday 22 November 2024 at The Devon Hotel in New Plymouth.
Tickets: $80 per person (incl. three course meal)
Get in quick to secure your spot for a great sporting celebration. Tickets available from www.sporttaranaki.org.nz
GUEST SPEAKER
Silver Ferns legend, genuine good sort, and Balance is Better champion Irene van Dyk is looking forward to sharing yarns with us about her sporting journey and the impact sport can have across the community.