An 11th hour review of the rule book and nomination form has seen considerable changes made to the junior sportsperson nomination categories of the 2013 Ray White Wanganui Sports Awards.
Judging panel chairwoman Philippa Baker-Hogan, requested a meeting with fellow judges Keith Smith and Jared Smith at the Wanganui Rugby Union yesterday to select a different winner for the National Junior Sportsperson award.
As part of this review, over half a dozen competitors in this category were moved over to the International Junior Sportsperson group, increasing it to around 20 nominees, on the basis that competing overseas for New Zealand was among their highlights over the past 12 months.
The nominees, or the people who put them forward, were told of the change by Sport Wanganui staff this week.
CEO Danny Jonas had met with Hogan to discuss the matter as the nomination forms did come with a disclaimer where competing offshore meant nominees could not be considered for the national award, even if winning a New Zealand title was their best success.