Mahe Drysdale's international prowess propelled him to the top of Auckland's sporting awards. Photo / Sarah Ivey
World champion rower Mahe Drysdale was last night named the overall winner at the Auckland sports awards.
A winner in 2005, Drysdale won the men's award ahead of Cameron Brown (ironman) and Doug Howlett (rugby) and the overall sporting excellence title after winning world championship single sculls gold
this year.
Ironman's Jo Lawn was named top sportswoman over Marina Erakovic (tennis) and Anna Richards (rugby).
Lawn won the New Zealand Ironman for the fifth time this year and finished in a record time for a NZ woman at the Hawaiian Ironman.
Tennis player Sacha Jones won the junior sportswoman category. Jones was a quarter-finalist at the United States Open juniors for the second year running and defied injury to gain a WTA senior world ranking of around 400 as well as make the semifinals of a US$25,000 ITF event in Spain.
Other finalists were Anna Longo (soccer) and Ramona Belmont (billiard sports).
NPC rugby player Winston Stanley held off strong challengers to win junior sportsman. Other finalists were Ben Dallas (karts), Jacob Mathews (soccer) and Henry Poor (rowing).
The Maori achievement award went to Ramona Belmont, Pat Lam took the coach of the year award and referee of the year award was won by rugby's Matt Stanish.
The unbeaten Auckland NPC rugby team, winners of the Air New Zealand Cup and Ranfurly Shield, topped the team of the year category.
Winners
Overall Sporting Excellence: Mahe Drysdale (rowing)
MoreFM Sportsman of the Year: Mahe Drysdale
Asics Sportswoman of the Year: Jo Lawn (ironman)
SPARC Junior Sportsman of the Year: Winston Stanley (rugby)
Pernod Ricard Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Sacha Jones (tennis)
South Auckland Motors Team of the Year: Auckland rugby team
Artcom Design & Print Referee of the Year: Matthew Stanish (rugby)
NZ Community Trust Coach of the Year: Pat Lam (rugby)
He Oranga Poutama Maori Achievement Award: Ramona Belmont (billiard sports)
