Rio Bound Kayaker Wins Top Hawke’s Bay Sportsperson Of The Year Award

Rio Olympic bound kayaker Aimee Fisher is Hawke’s Bay’s top sportsperson for 2016.

Fisher won gold in the K4 500m at the World Cup round in Portugal in 2015 and then qualified for Rio in the same event by making the finals at the World Championships in Milan.

Along with Jaimee Lovett, Caitlin Ryan and Kayla Imrie, the four will be the first crew to qualify for New Zealand in the K4 in 24 years.

The former Karamu High School student first represented New Zealand as a teenager and is still the youngest in the kayak team at 21 years of age. She is one of five New Zealand kayakers making her debut in Rio.

Aimee won the overall Hawke’s Bay Today / Radio Sport Hawke’s Bay Sportsperson of the Year award ahead of the other favourites Hawke’s Bay Magpies and alpine ski racer Piera Hudson.

The Magpies won the Tremains Senior Team of the Year, while Hudson won the Lion Foundation Junior Sportsperson of the Year in a hotly contested category at the gala dinner held at Pettigrew.Green Arena last night in front of 445 guests.

Sport Hawke’s Bay chief executive Mark Aspden said the judges had a tough time selecting all the category winners and Aimee as the overall winner.

“Hawke’s Bay has plenty of sporting talent both in teams and individuals. The Magpies and Piera Hudson have had stella performances over the year, but Aimee’s record was very impressive.”

Six people were recognised for their service to sport including former Napier Boys High School headmaster Ross Brown and his wife Anne for services to school sport. The other recipients of the Spark Digital Service to Sport were Waka Leonard (rugby league), Craig Waterhouse (softball), Yvonne Gardiner (netball) and Vicky Lassen.

In a new category NZME People’s Choice Award, Magpie prop and stock car racer Jason Long recevied the most votes, ahead of William Trubridge, Bill Robertson, football; Emma Twigg, rowing; Shea McAleese, hockey; and Doug Bracewell, cricket.

For a full list of winners please see below.

Full list of winners

Sportsground.co.nz Adminsitrator of the Year

Ivan Aplin – Cycling

Nimon and Sons RSO/Club of the Year

Hawke’s Bay Netball

SBS Bank Innovation in Sport and Recreation

Patu Aotearoa

Brebner Print Official of the Year

Chris Pollock – Rugby Union

Kennedy Park Resort Napier Master Sportsperon of the Year

Myka Nuku – Water water rafting

Sileni Estate Coach of the Year

Paul Henare – Basketball

NZME People’s Choice Award

Jason Long – Speedway and Rugby Union

Spark Digital Service to Sport

Waka Leonard – Rugby League

Vicky Lassen – Netball

Yvonne Gardiner – Netball

Craig Waterhouse – Softball

Ross and Anne Brown – School Sport

Konica Minolta Junior Team of the Year

Havelock North High School Junior Orienteering team

Lion Foundation Junior Sportsperson of the Year

Piera Hudson – Alpine Ski Racing

Tremains Senior Team of the Year

Hawke’s Bay Magpies

Conroy Removals Senior Sportsperson of the Year

Aimee Fisher – Kayak

Hawke’s Bay Today/Radio Sport Hawke’s Bay Sportsperson of the Year

Aimee Fisher - Kayak

ENDS

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