2017 Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards finalists

Woman aiming for basketball net. Photo / Supplied

Winners from the finalists will be announced at the 2017 Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards, which celebrates and acknowledges sporting excellence and service in the greater Waikato region. The event finalists showcase achievement from local grassroots clubs through to high performance level, and were selected from the winners and judges' recommendations of all the eight District Sports Awards held throughout November.

Sport Waikato CEO Matthew Cooper explained a high calibre of finalists within the categories came from another busy sporting year for the Waikato region.

"Our region always has such high levels of success from athletes across a broad range of sports locally, nationally and internationally. From the traditional sports like rugby and netball to yachting, motocross and wheelchair rugby - our finalists are achieving at every level in every type of sport," Cooper said.

World champion athletes, international and world class coaches, administrators and officials feature in this year's finalist list. Sport Waikato Regional Capability & Events Advisor Gilly Alexander commented on the tough job the judges had this year.

"The judges have included additional finalists in some categories this year as they found the judging exceptionally hard - finding a winner with such a high standard of finalists is not easy and I commend them for their hard work" Alexander said.

Winners will be announced on Thursday 1st February, 2018 at Claudelands Conference & Exhibition Centre, Hamilton. Tickets are $95 each and can be purchased from www.sportwaikato.org.nz or Sport Waikato, 51 Akoranga Road, Hamilton, Ph. 07 858 5388.

2017 Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards finalists

Administrator

Mike Barnett, Shearing, New Zealand Shearing Championships,Waitomo

Cath Cheatley, Cycling - Road, Te Awamutu Cycling Club, Waipa

Roz Lesch, Rugby Union, Ngatea Rugby & Sports Club, Hauraki

Damien Puddle, Parkour, New Zealand Parkour Association, Hamilton

Tjitte (TJ) Weistra, Badminton, Waikato Badminton Association, Hamilton

Club, , , ,

Hockey, Great Lake Taupo Hockey, Taupo

, Cycling - BMX, Hamilton BMX Club Incorporated, Hamilton

, Waka Ama, Nga Hau E Wha Whanau Hoe Inc, South Waikato

, Rugby League, Taniwharau Rugby League, Waikato

, Rock Climbing, Waikato Climbing Club, Hamilton

Community Coach

Hutana Coffin, Rugby Union, Otorohanga Sports Club, Otorohanga

Rebecca Gabel, Netball, Hamilton City Netball Centre, Hamilton

Aaron Scott, Football, Hamilton Boys' High School, Hamilton

Matt Teokotai-White , Swimming, Hillcrest Swim Club, Hamilton

Martin Van de Wetering, Shooting, Hauraki Plains College, Hauraki

Club Team

Cambridge Football Club Men's 1st XV, Football, Cambridge Football Club, Waipa

Hamilton Old Boys Premier A Rugby , Rugby Union, Hamilton Old Boys , Hamilton

Hinuera Bowling Club Ladies Premier A Interclub , Bowls, Hinuera Bowling Club, Matamata-Piako

Pockets Ladies , , Cue Sports , Pockets 8 Ball Club, South Waikato

Whangamata Under 23 Men's Surf Rowing , Surf Lifesaving, Whangamata Surf Lifesaving club, Thames-Coromandel

Performance Coach

Jon Andrews, Cycling – Track, Cycling New Zealand, Waipa

Calvin Ferguson, Rowing, Rowing New Zealand, Waipa

Anthony Peden, Cycling-Track, Cycling New Zealand, Waipa

Joanne Williams, Squash, Squash Waikato, Waipa

Emerging Talent

Luke Jacobson, Rugby Union, Waikato Rugby Union, Waipa

Kelly Jury, Netball, Waikato BOP Magic, Hamilton

Cheyelle Robins-Reti, Rugby Union, The University of Waikato, Hamilton

Sam Weatherly, Horse Racing, Matamata Racing Club, Matamata Piako

Micah, Wilkinson, Yachting, Ngaroto Sailing Club, Waipa

Rebecca, Petch, Cycling – BMX, Te Awamutu BMX Club, Waipa

Official

Glenn Carson, Squash, Squash Waikato, Hamilton

Stephen Holdsworth, Cycling – Road, Taupo Cycling Club, Taupo

Peter Lange, Shearing, New Zealand Shearing Championships, Waitomo

Heather O'Hagan, Athletics, Athletics Waikato – Bay of Plenty, Hauraki

Michael Winter, Rugby Union, Waikato Rugby Union, Hamilton

Sportswoman

Brooke Donoghue, Rowing, Waikato Rowing Club , Waipa

Joelle King, Squash, Squash Waikato, Waipa

Toka Natua, Rugby Union, Waikato Rugby Union, South Waikato

Jaime Nielsen, Cycling – Road, Te Awamutu Sports Cycling Club, Waipa

Stacey Waaka, Rugby Union, Waikato Rugby Union, Hamilton

Sportsman

Sam Gaze, Cycling – MTB, Cycling New Zealand, Waipa

Dylan Kennett, Cycling – Road, Te Awamutu Sports Cycling Club, Waipa

Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Rugby Union, Waikato Rugby Union, Hamilton

Damien McKenzie, Rugby Union, Waikato Rugby Union, Hamilton

Mitchell Santner, Cricket, Northern Districts Cricket, Hamilton

Team

Bayleys Midlands NHL Women's Hockey Team, Hockey, Midlands Hockey, Hamilton

DG Sport Waikato Stampede, Wheelchair Rugby, Parafed Waikato , Hamilton

Waikato Senior Women's Volleyball Team, Volleyball, Waikato Regional Volleyball Association, Hamilton

Secondary School Sportswoman

Ellesse Andrews, Cycling - Track, St Peter's School (Cambridge), Waipa

Tatiana Kaumoana, Athletics, Te Aroha College, Matamata Piako

Hannah Knighton, Triathlon, Waikato Diocesan School for Girls , Hamilton

Charlisse Leger-Walker, Basketball, St Peter's School (Cambridge), Waipa

Charli Miller, Athletics, St Peter's School (Cambridge), Waipa

Jessie Smith, Cycling - BMX, Hillcrest High School, Hamilton

Secondary School Sportsman

Cailen Calkin, Cycling - BMX, Hamilton Boys' High School, Matamata Piako

Brodie Connolly, Motocross, Matamata College, Matamata Piako

Andrew Jeffcoat, Swimming, Hamilton Boys' High School, Hamilton

Timothy Neild, Hockey, Hamilton Boys' High School, Hamilton

Isaiah Priddey, Athletics, Hamilton Boys' High School, Hamilton

Quinn Tupaea, Rugby Union, Hamilton Boys' High School, Hamilton

Raiki Willison, Touch Rugby, Hamilton Boys' High School, Hamilton

Secondary School Team

Hamilton Boys' High School Football 1st XI, Football, Hamilton Boys' High School, Hamilton

Hamilton Boys' High School Rugby Sevens, Rugby Union, Hamilton Boys' High School, Hamilton

St Paul's Collegiate Girl's Coxed Rowing Four, Rowing, St Paul's Collegiate , Hamilton

Waikato Diocesan School for Girls Senior A Cycling, Cycling - Road, Waikato Diocesan School for Girls , Hamilton

Waikato Diocesan School for Girls Open A Netball , Netball , Waikato Diocesan School for Girls , Hamilton

Innovation in Sport and Recreation

Cambridge Twilight Cycling Festival, Cambridge Twilight Cycling Group, Waipa

Kihikihi Polo Club International Events, Kihikihi Polo Club, Waipa

Waipa Fun Run, St Peter's Catholic School, Waipa

The Waterboy, Thomas Nabbs - The Waterboy, Hamilton