Dannevirke Tigers top sports awards

THE Dannevirke Tigers were among the big winners at the Sport Manawatu Grassroots Sports Awards. PHOTO: SPORT MANAWATU

The Dannevirke Tigers Rugby League Club cleaned up at last week's Sport Manawatu Grassroots Sports Awards, taking home the most prestigious accolades.

The club was awarded Sports Organisation Of The Year and Participation Initiative Of The Year. Club chair Naioma Chase also scooped two awards — Regional Sport Maker Of The Year and All Round Volunteer Of The Year.

The awards, held at the Palmerston North Conference and Function Centre last Friday night, recognised organisations and volunteers across the region who had made a significant impact within a sports organisation.

Mrs Chase said she was elated to have the club recognised and had not expected such a win. She has been actively involved with the club for almost two years and said the community was determined to get behind them.

"I want people to know it's not just me who has brought this club back ... it's every parent and family member who has given their time and decided they wanted to be a part of this."

The club had deteriorated over time but Mrs Chase and another parent, Belinda Crosswell, decided to revive it.

"I think it comes back to our two boys who are best friends. They just wanted to play. They are league mad and they just kept pestering us, so we thought why not?" They took their first team to a Manawatu Rugby League tournament and won.

"We then wanted to go home and promote the game so we took the trophy to all of the schools where the players went, and gave them their certificate and trophy. "We wanted to show these kids you are as good as others in the big city, and maybe create pathways for them too." They held their first muster day and received so much interest they were able to fill seven teams.

"Then all the parents and family members wanted to play, so we made a prem team, a women's team and two netball teams, who also play in the prem grades."

The club has grown significantly and Mrs Chase says that comes down to the passion of the players, coaches and those on the sidelines.

"We wanted to re-ignite that passion for those whose parents had played here. My father and brothers all played for this club and there were so many who wanted to get back into it, but didn't know how."

The club holds its second Muster Day this Sunday at the Dannevirke Domain from 9am. Bring boots and a mouthguard to take part.

List of winners:

Organisation Event of the Year — Special Olympics Manawatu

Participation Initiative of the Year — Dannevirke Tigers Rugby League Club

Volunteer Development Initiative of the Year — Central Football

Business Partner of the Year — New Zealand Specialised Coatings

Behind the Scenes Volunteer of the Year — Brenda Baker

Behind the Scenes Volunteer of the Year Merit Award — Phil Pirie

Front Line Volunteer of the Year — Phil Riley

Front Line Volunteer of the Year Merit Award — Malcolm Nicol

All Rounder Volunteer of the Year Award — Naioma Chase

Youth Volunteer of the Year — Malcolm Boyd

Youth Volunteer of the Year Merit Award — Ethan Riley

Youth Volunteer of the Year Merit Award — Caleb Hansen

Regional Sport Maker of the Year — Naioma Chase

Sports Organisation of the Year — Dannevirke Tigers Rugby League CLub