Northland sport's finest up for glittering prizes

An impressive list of high-achieving finalists has been named for tonight's annual Konica Minolta Northland Sports Awards at Kensington Stadium.
After an outstanding sporting year in the province, it is anyone's guess who will claim the various divisional titles and the overall sportsperson of the year, selected from the code nominees.
It is difficult to overlook the Black Sticks women's achievements, and in particular, winning silver at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Northland's Anna Thorpe, who has been in the Black Sticks squad all year, is a finalist for the women's hockey ASB code award, with Laura Douglas and Alana Millington.
After winning the prestigious double last season - the Plunket Shield and the domestic one day competition - Northern Knights' Joseph Yovich and James Marshall are finalists for the cricket code award, with Black Caps bowler Tim Southee.
Rugby players across the board have put their hand up for top honours - Rene Ranger made his All Blacks debut, while Bronson Murray had a strong Centenary Series with the New Zealand Maori team and Jake Heenan made the NZ Secondary Schools team.
Basketball has made a strong comeback in Northland this year and the Northland Suns' Justin Friedrich, Travis McIlroy and Atama O'Donnell are finalists for the male code award, while Megan Craig, Karlene Kingi and Jaimee-Lee Tito are named in the female code award for basketball.
The 2010 US1 Women's Championship winning North Force Women's football team, Northland women's National Hockey League side, Whangarei and Districts Rugby League Competition premiers Kaikohe Lions, the Northland Water Ski Team and yachting's Black Sheep Racing team will be strong contenders in the Dudley and Dennis Team of the Year category.
A long list of deserving contenders has been nominated for the various other categories, which include the Brian Maunsell Memorial Award for Service to Sport, Gen-i Masters Sportsperson of the Year, Courier Post Coach of the Year, Pacific Motor Group Official of the Year, and Rowsells Collision Repair Administrator of the Year, all to be awarded at tonight's ceremony.
NORTHLAND SPORTS AWARDS FINALISTS
ASB Code Awards
Athletics: Hayley Gilchrist, Ady Ngawati, Melissa Simpson, Ian Calder, Chris Portch, Ryan Slater.
Badminton: Kareen Hansard, Michelle Nuttall, Craig Ogden, Aaron Spence.
Basketball: Megan Craig, Karlene Kingi, Jaimee-lee Tito, Justin Friedrich, Travis Mcilroy, Atama O'Donnell.
Bike: Chubby Hale, Fiona Southorn, Harley Going, Lee Johnstone.
Boccia: Michelle Batchelor, Kayela Benseman, Kimberley McLean, Scott Burdett, Chris Keay, Andrew Phillips.
Cricket: Nicci Anderson, Emily Bailey, James Marshall, Tim Southee, Joseph Yovich.
Equestrian: Amanda Wilson, Vicki Wilson.
Football: Nikki Couling, Kelsey Evans, Kelsey Stein, Scott Burgess, Chris Peck, Mark Ruddell.
Golf: Caroline Bon, Phoebe Perrin, Rachael Williams, Kevin Kruze, Sean Masters, Kadin Neho.
Hockey: Laura Douglas, Alana Millington, Anna Thorpe, Dave Adams, John Child, Sam Webb.
Indoor Bowls: Lyn Brittain, Lillian Christini, Trudy Watson, Noel Bailey, Noel Bethel, Chris Watson.
Karate: Nicky Roberts, Matthew Baird, Matt Burns.
Mounted Games: Kerry Clotworthy, Dana Genefaas, Emma Harkness, Dee Cherrington, Gaarryn Smith.
Outdoor Bowls: Bunty Barron, Patricia Murray, Manu Timoti, Barry Allison, Mike Butler, Monte Pawa.
Rugby League: Jordan Rau, Tane Ravlick, William Wiki.
Rugby Union: Jake Heenan, Bronson Murray, Rene Ranger.
Swimming: Hayley Jensen, Carla Marsh, Melita Raravula, Bradley Kemp.
Squash: Dolly Desmond, Fiona Moselen, Sacha Pou-Tito, Tate Matson, Daniel Notton, Bruce Smith.
Triathlon: Samantha Warriner, Tom Andrews, Mike Hardiman.
Water Skiing: Toni Atkinson.
Wood Chopping: Jason Semenoff, Jack Torrington.
Yachting: Antje Muller, Samantha Osborne, Maree Sharp, Andrew Murdoch, Blair Tuke.
Gen-I Masters Sportsperson of the Year
(Athletics) Ian Calder; (Bike) Lee Johnstone; (Mounted Games) Hugh Clotworthy; (Hockey) Sheryl Thorne; (Indoor Bowls) Kia Ward; (Triathlon) Christine Fraser.
Courier Post Coach of the Year
(Athletics) Chris Portch; (Basketball) Mata Cameron; (Boccia) Annette Hawkins; (Hockey) Angeline Waetford; (Outdoor Bowls) Dave Dalton; (Outdoor Bowls) Glennis Ansley; (Rugby League) Rangi "Benson" Selwyn.
Pacific Motor Group Official of the Year
(Boccia) Erica Phillips; (Golf) Warren Allen; (Hockey) Melanie Oakden; (Outdoor Bowls) Margaret Wildbore; (Swimming) Barbara Linton.
Rowsells Collision Repair Administrator of the Year
(Athletics) Catherine Ryan; (Boccia) Kathy Bingham; (Golf ) Bronnie Winter; (Outdoor Bowls) Gwen Lawson; (Outdoor Bowls) Ngaire Watts; (Rugby Union) Wayne Peters; (Squash) Sharon Crawford; (Swimming) Geraldine Gorman.
Dudley and Dennis Team of the Year
(Football) North Force Women's Team; (Hockey) Mark Crombie Holden Northland Women's National Hockey League Team; (Outdoor Bowls) Coopers Beach Pairs; (Outdoor Bowls) Kensington/Whangarei Division 2 Interclub Sevens; (Rugby League) Kaikohe Lions; (Water Ski) Northland Water Ski Team; (Yachting) Black Sheep Racing.
Brian Maunsell Memorial Award for Service to Sport
(GymSports) Janet McLay; (Netball) Eileen Schick, deceased; (Outdoor Bowls) Selwyn Hargreaves; (Rugby League) Sharon Bird; (Woodchopping) Bruce Alexander.