Talent pool headache for judges

A record entry ensured the judges had more than the usual headaches in selecting the five winners of the 2005 New Zealand Herald Junior Sports Awards.

Again, a wide range of sports and the age of the nominees had to be considered before they named their winners. Given the wide cross-section of applicants and the standard of entries, it was decided to highly commend four applicants rather than the usual three.

The judges are 1952 Olympic gold medallist Yvette Corlett (nee Williams), former New Zealand women's cricket captain Emily Drumm, former hockey international David Appleby, Julie Clist, from the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health and Terry Maddaford from the Herald's sports staff.

For the first time in many years water polo is recognised, with national team member Lynlee Smith convincing the judges of her ability.

Smith, 18, first trialled for a national team as a 14-year-old. Within a short time, as a 16-year-old, she had forced her way into the New Zealand senior squad. She became the youngest player to represent her country as a member of last year's team who contested the world championships in Canada.

Ranked 20th, New Zealand finished 12th and later, with Smith again in the team, scored an historic 8-7 win over Australia. They later beat Japan for the first time.

Smith, who attended Westlake Girls High and is to take up a scholarship at the University of Hawaii, was last year's ASB Young Sportswoman of the Year.

Thomas Abercrombie , from nearby Westlake Boys High, has his talents as a basketballer and volleyball player recognised.

Abercrombie, 18, had an outstanding year. He was selected for, but was unable to play in, the under-19 volleyball team at the Youth Olympics in Sydney - preferring to play basketball at the same Games where he was named in the all-tournament team (five players).

He later played for the Junior Tall Blacks in the United States and was named in the Tall Blacks training squad. He joined the NZ Breakers on their team development tour to China in April.

Abercrombie led his school basketball team to a number of honours, including the national title. They ended their year with a 35-0 record. He also won his school's high jump, long jump and triple jump championships.

Clinton Avery will have little time to reflect on his award.

Within days of the awards function at the Millennium Institute on March 3, Avery will be in Melbourne preparing for the Commonwealth Games as a member of the mountain bike team.

Avery, 18, from Rotorua, has been in outstanding form in both road cycling and mountain biking.

He won last year's under-19 mountain bike series (six races), the national under-19 championship, and the Oceania under-19 championship in Australia.

On the road, Avery won the three-day Te Awamutu junior tour and competed in road tours in France, Germany and Belgium.

Blair McLay continues the strong hand yachtsmen and women have had over the 39 years of the awards.

McLay, 18, joins previous winners Dean Barker, Chris Dickson and Sarah Macky, among others

His biggest win came in Brazil when he won the Laser Radial Youth World Championships by one point. He also finished third in the Radial Open World Championships.

McLay followed Barker as the only sailor to be selected in the New Zealand Laser team while still a youth.

Hamish Baron is another who continues a strong hand for his sport in these awards.

He joins father and son Jeff and Ryan Archibald and Hockey New Zealand chief executive Ramesh Patel as a hockey player to be recognised by the judges.

Baron, 19, played five matches for the New Zealand team at the Azlan Shah Cup tournament in Kuala Lumpur in June after first being selected for the national development squad in December 2004 and later playing in four home tests against Malaysia - scoring his first senior international goal in the last of those tests.

He also played for New Zealand Universities and Auckland, emerging as the equal leading goalscorer in the NHL. He is in the national squad from which the Commonwealth Games and World Cup qualifying tournament teams will be named.

Baron also had success as coach of the St Cuthberts under-16 team, who finished second in their competition.

The judges highly commend the following four applicants: Phillis Meti, 18, who was outstanding in track and field, netball, waka ama and golf; Jessica McCormack, 16, who made her mark in basketball; Rebecca Spence, 17, who continued her world class efforts in duathlon and triathlon; and Ben Windsor, 18, who is impressive as one of New Zealand's best trampolinists.

All winners, their parents, coaches/nominators will be guests at the lunch and will receive $1500 training grants, engraved medallions and product.