Accolades for Bay's sporting heroes

TRIO: Sarah Raheem (left), Kane Williamson, and Peter Blackwell at the Bay of Plenty Sports Awards.PHOTOS/ANDREW WARNER

Kayak champion Lisa Carrington reigned supreme at the annual Bay of Plenty Sports Awards held at ASB Arena last night.

Carrington beat Black Caps record-breaking batsman Kane Williamson for the prestigious Supreme Award. It was the second time she has won the top honour after winning in 2012 following her Olympic gold medal success in London.

Williamson was named Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year ahead of world champion sailor Peter Burling, All Black Sam Cane and golfer Danny Lee.

Carrington was also awarded the Holland Beckett Lawyers Sportswoman of the Year award ahead of Sarah Walker (BMX), Julia Edward (rowing), Zoe Stevenson (rowing) and Luuka Jones (canoe slalom).

"I am really honoured to win this [supreme] award and am proud to receive it, especially as I don't spend as much time at home as I would like to. So it is always nice to be recognised by the place where I am from," Carrington said.

"We don't really strive to win these awards. Everyone has done amazing in their sports so it is all about recognising how well everyone has achieved over the year."

Her achievements for the year include gold medals in both the women's K1 500m and K1 200m at the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Milan, three gold medals in the World Cup series women's K1 500m and K1 200m, plus making the team for next year's Rio Olympic Games.

More than 450 guests attended the gala evening hosted by Sport Bay of Plenty with celebrated Rotorua cyclist Julian Dean as MC.

"The calibre of nominations never fails to amaze me, and it is fantastic what Bay of Plenty athletes, coaches, officials and administrators are achieving," Sport Bay of Plenty sport manager and judging convenor Megan Cleverley said.

"This year has highlighted the number of athletes performing on the international stage, and in particular the wide variety of sports and schools doing well. This makes the judging job even more difficult but I guess it's a good problem to have."

International rugby referee Glen Jackson was awarded the MORE FM Official of the Year for the third year in a row. The Farmer AutoVillage International Sportsperson of the Year went to Rotorua golfer Danny Lee, who was named in Presidents Cup Team and was runner up at the PGA Tour Championship. The AquaPlus Club of the Year was awarded to the Harbourside Netball Centre which delivered a wide range of weekly netball competitions to 4200 players.

NZ Women's Sevens coach Sean Horan was named BayTrust Coach of the Year, NZ Under-20 rugby player Aidan Ross the Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year and hockey and athletics dual international Amy Robinson took home the Eves Realty Junior Sportswoman of the Year award.

Sport Bay of Plenty chief executive Heidi Lichtwark said it was a privilege to be able to honour the Bay's top athletes and officials.

"We look forward to following their continuing achievements in the future, while also celebrating their contributions to date," she said. "We are proud to continue to host the Bay of Plenty Sports Awards, which have been celebrating sporting excellence since 1969."

The Service to Sport category acknowledged 10 recipients from a wide variety of sports, including Kellie Low (water polo), Rob Sperling (canoe slalom), Gill Gemming (hockey), Paul Ake (volleyball), Fred and Julia Kleve (tennis), Debra Kuka (tennis) and Maree Body (netball).

Tauranga Girls' College canoe slalom team won the Bay Cardiology Secondary School Girls' Team of the Year, Mount Maunganui College rugby referee George Haswell the Aurecon Secondary School Student Contribution to Sport award and Aquinas College golfer Alanna Campbell took home the Secondary School Sportswoman award.