Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards decided for 2017

Kelly Brazier won the Tauranga City Council Sports Person of the Year. PHOTO/FILE

The 2017 Carrus Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards evening was held at the ASB Stadium Lounge on Wednesday night.

The evening celebrated and recognised the success, efforts and achievements of players, coaches, referees and volunteers in front of a well-attended audience of teammates, family, supporters and sponsors.

Te Puke Sports and Recreation Club's Deborah Keenleyside and Ashley Peat collected the Carrus Bay of Plenty Rugby Supreme Award. Keenleyside and Peat, life members of Te Puke Sports and Recreation Club, have completed 21 continuous years in their respective positions as president and club administrator.

Their achievements have included the establishment of the Old Pirates supporters club, installation of night-lighting, introducing basketball, Kiwi volleyball and competitive women's netball. To top their achievements is the introduction of rugby charity matches supporting breast cancer and anti-domestic violence campaign "It's Not Ok", with both charity matches having a specially designed jersey.

Black Ferns and NZ Sevens player Kelly Brazier was voted the Tauranga City Council Sports Person of the year. The Bay of Plenty Volcanix's confirmation in the Mitre 10 Farah Palmer Cup Championship final secured the team the Staples Rodway Representative Team of the year.

Tom Franklin was the standout for the Steamers, collecting the Rotorua Central Mall Steamers Player of the Year alongside the Seeka Steamers Players Player and McFall Steamers Forward of the Year awards.

2017 Carrus Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards

Community Awards:
Vodafone Service to Sport:
Gary Lonergan - Judea Rugby Club, Ashley Peat & Deborah Keenleyside - Te Puke Sports and Recreation Club, Mark White Edmonds QSM - Rotorua Girls High School, Rangiuru, Bay of Plenty Under-18s and Matt Welsh - Mount Maunganui Sports

Secondary School Awards:
Toi Ohomai Secondary School Programme of the Year: Rotorua Girls' High School
Bethlehem Coachlines Secondary School Coach of the Year: Steve Orr (John Paul College)

Club Awards:
Craigs Investment Partners Administrator of the Year: Jodi Hepburn and Debra Mikaere - Whakarewarewa JAB
Vodafone Female Club Player of the Year: Kaci James - Whakarewarewa
Vodafone Male Club Player of the Year: Baden Wardlaw: Rotoiti
Page Macrae Club Team of the Year: Waikite Women
Cooney Lees Morgan Club Coach of the Year: Rodney Voullaire - Mount Maunganui Sports
Cooney Lees Morgan Highly Commended Club Team of the Year: Edgecumbe Rugby Club
Cooney Lees Morgan Club of the Year: Arataki

Referee Awards:
Lawrence Award Best Premier Referee as voted by the Premier Team Coaches: Jamie Bell
Martin Toe Shield-Best Referee as voted by the Referee Coaches: Jamie Bell
Bill Sparks Memorial Award-Best Assistant Referee as voted by the Premier Referees: Cameron Russell
Allan Oates Memorial Trophy-Best Referee Coach as voted by the referees: Pat Rae and John Donnelly
John Cormack Trophy for Most Improved Referee: Nick Burton
George Woodroffe Trophy for highest exam result: Ryan Waite and Cameron Russell
Flays Cup-Best Referee up to Division 1: If Seumanutafa

Representative Awards:
Rotorua Lakes Council Bay of Plenty Pasifika Player of the Year: Joe Toai-Key
Te Hiku o te Ika Team of the Tournament Trophy: Te Warariki Tane
Te Hiku o te Ika Tournament Player of the Year: Whakataki Cunningham
Te Waiariki Highly Commended Player of the Year: Peter Smith
Te Waiariki Player of the Year: William Warbrick
New Zealand Community Trust 2017 Under-16 Player of the Year: Kahi Borrel
NZCT Under 18 Male Player of the Year: Bailey Williams
Body in Motion Under 19 Player of the Year: Stan Van Den Hoven
Bethlehem Coachlines Bay of Plenty Under-18 Female Player of the Year: Tynealle Fitzgerald
Harvey Norman Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Michaela Blyde
Distinction Hotel Men's Sevens Player of the Year: Regan Ware
Four Winds Foundation Volcanix Forward of the Year: Christie Yule
Four Winds Foundation Volcanix Back of the Year: Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly
Harvey Norman Volcanix Player of the Year: Kaci James
Farmer Autovillage Fan Favourite: Mike Delany
McFall Fuel Steamers Forward of the Year: Tom Franklin
Bayleys Steamers Back of the Year: Monty Ioane
Steamers Rookie of the Year: Richard Judd
Seeka Steamers Players Player Award: Tom Franklin
Rotorua Central Mall Steamers Player of the Year: Tom Franklin
Highly Commended Vodafone Community Player Award: Julia Buescher and Aidan Ross
Vodafone Award for Player Community Service: Elijah Nicholas
WASPS Emerging Representative Player of the Year: Tynealle Fitzgerald
Staples Rodway 2017 Representative Team of the Year: Volcanix
HOBEC Representative Coach of the Year: Victoria Grant
Tauranga City Council Sports Person of the Year Award: Kelly Brazier
Carrus Supreme Award: Ashley Peat & Deborah Keenleyside - Te Puke Sports and Recreation