Awards: Gough equals cousin's record with four in a row

Regan Gough won a fourth consecutive Central Hawke's Bay Sportsperson of the Year award last night. Photo Paul Taylor

Olympian Regan Gough matched his cousin Westley Gough's record when he won the Central Hawke's Bay Sportsperson of the Year award for a fourth concecutive year in Waipukurau last night.

Eight time winner of the junior award at the annual Sport Hawke's Bay-organised function, Gough, 22, collected the premier award after earlier winning the senior award for the first time in front of a crowd of 360 in the AW Parsons Stadium. It has been another memorable year for Gough.

In late 2017, when the judging period for the awards began, Gough, competed at the world road championships in Bergen before tackling the world track championships in the Netherlands. After overcoming the restrictions of a recurring health issue which he continues to keep to keep private, Gough, regained his fitness to world class level in a relatively short period of time and competed at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Australia during April. He finished ninth in the points race and as a member of the New Zealand team pursuit track team qualified for the rideoff for bronze against Canada.

The Kiwis were disqualified for having an illegal bike on the start line. Despite being only 21 for most of this year year Gough was the senior rider in the Kiwi team.

"It's awesome to match Westley's record," Gough said afterwards.

He had only been back in the Bay for two days after returning from Canada.

"The Tokyo 2020 Olympics is the next big goal but there are some smaller stepoping stones before then starting with the Cambridge World Cup in January," Gough explained.
Because of the Cambridge event Gough is likely to miss the Napier-hosted road nationals in January.

"I would love to be in them but the training and preparation for Cambridge has to be the priority. Those nationals are a great event and I may be able to just do the time trial and a sport of the road race but it's not 100 per cent at this stage."

The memories flooded back for Gough at last night's function as he saw the latest sports academy intake.

"I remember when I was in it 11 years ago. The same people are behind it now and they have a great group of kids."

"If I had some advice for them it would be the sky is the limit and they should take every opportunity they get."

Gough beat masters award winner, triathlete Julie Boshier, junior team award winner, the Central Hawke's Bay College senior boys volleyball team, senior team award winner, the Otane senior men's rugby team, junior female award winner, equestrian Isobel Thomson, junior male award winner, swimmer Bevan Jacobs and fellow cyclist and senior award winner Amanda Jamieson for the premier award.

Earlier this year Gough won the junior award at the annual Hawke's Bay Sports awards function in Taradale.

Boshier finished fourth in her age group at the World Triathlon Grand Final on the Gold Coast in September. The CHB College volleyball team finished second in Hawke's Bay's division two competition last year and this year have recorded 13 wins, a draw and a loss.

The Otane rugby team was unbeaten in 18 games this season as they won the Bay's Town and Country and division two competitions before losing their promotion-relegation game against Tamatea. Thomson represented the New Zealand under-17 Mounted Games team at their world championships in Belgium.

Jacobs won bronze medals at the Queensland open water championships in the 10km and 7.5km sections and won his 15-19 years age group and finished second overall at the 2.5km Napier Port Ocean Swim. International rider Jamieson finished eighth at the Herald Sun Tour in Australia against riders from all over the globe and was seventh in the Bev May Tour, New Zealand's biggest women's event.

Former All Black and Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team player and coach Robbie Stuart was inducted into Central Hawke's Bay's Hall of Fame. He was impressed with the talented youngsters among the finalists.

"Train and practise hard until it hurts like hell. One day you could be inducted into the Central Hawke's Bay Sports Hall of Fame," he told them

Two-time world champion Black Fern and Sky Sports television presenter Melodie Robinson was an entertaining guest speaker.
Award winners:
CDP Print Hall of Fame: Robbie Stuart (Rugby).
Crowe Horwath Administrator: Yvonne Parry (Golf).
HB Today Official: Claire Jamieson (Netball).
Aqua Management Club: Otane Sports Club.
AMP Leith Mackie Masters: Julie Boshier (Triathlon).
Central FM Coach: Shannan Chase (Rugby) and Bridie Tippett (Netball).
Sloans Saddlery Service: Robyn Cudby (Netball), Vikki Graham (Netball), Maureen James (Squash), Yvonne Parry (Golf), Angela Severinson (Karate).
Caltex Waipukurau Junior Team: CHB College Senior Boys Voleyball.
CHB Plus Rehab Senior Team: Otane Senior Men's Rugby.
New World Waipukurau Emerging Talent: Ella Jamieson (Swimming).
Unichem Pharmacy Junior Female: Isobel Thomson (Equestrian).
Wright Wool Ltd Junior Male: Bevan Jacobs (Swimming).
DAC Legal Senior Female: Amanda Jamieson (Cycling).
Ruahine Motors Ford Senior Male: Regan Gough (Cycling).
CHB Mail Premier Sportsperson of the Year: Regan Gough (Cycling).