Awards highlight climber's triumph

TABLE TALK: Sporting award announcements make for great dinner-table conversation.PHOTO/SUPPLIED 2014-SPORT-AWARDS

INSPIRATION is a major driving force in the success of any athlete and a theme for this year's Ray White Wanganui Sports Awards.

As well as a buffet dinner, music and dance, the awards night will feature guest MC Mark Inglis, a leading international motivational speaker and the only person living with a double amputation to have climbed Mt Everest.

Sport Whanganui's chief executive Danny Jonas says Inglis' outstanding achievement made him the ideal person to host the event.

"As well as providing the opportunity for our communities to come together to acknowledge and celebrate our region's sporting achievement, the Sports Awards are also about inspiring future achievement.

"Mark's amazing story demonstrates that if we're passionate enough, and willing to work hard enough no matter what the obstacles, we can overcome them and achieve our goals and dreams.

"We're urging our sport communities not to miss out on the opportunity to nominate someone they know whose sporting achievements deserve recognition, and to come along on the night and join us in supporting and celebrating these achievements."

Tickets will be available for purchase from Monday, October 12, at the Sport Whanganui office, 40 Maria Place Extension.

The tickets are $60 each, or $30 each for nominees. Tickets for a table of 10 people can be bought for $550.

The event will also feature the annual induction of members to the "Wanganui Sports Hall of Fame" (where the region's past outstanding sports achievers are acknowledged), and the "Sport Whanganui Roll of Honour", which recognises volunteers who have contributed 25-plus years of service to the region's sports.

Last year's event attracted about 100 nominations. This is the 52nd year the Wanganui Sports Awards has been held.

Organiser Sport Whanganui is a charitable trust working to develop, build and promote sport in the Whanganui, Rangitikei and Ruapehu districts.