It’s time to get nominating local sports stars, teams and clubs that have done the region proud over the last 12 months.

This is the call from Sport Hawke’s Bay chief executive Mark Aspden, who hopes to see record nominations for the 2018 Hawke’s Bay Sport Awards.

“There have been some amazing performances over the last year. You only have to look at teams like the Hastings Boys High School first fifteen as well as individual performances from the likes of golfer Stuart Duff.”

“We’ve got a lot of talent in the Bay and it’s really important that we don’t miss any of these achievements locally, nationally or internationally.”

“It’s also important to nominate those that volunteer in sport. We’ve got several categories that acknowledge the contribution of those that act selflessly to help others achieve.”

The judging panel this year includes Shane Hurndell, Marcus Agnew, Ross Holden, Charissa Barnham, Terry Parkin, Carl Paton and Jarrod Wilkinson-Smith.

There are 14 categories with the overall Sportsperson of the Year Award decided from the main categories of Junior, Disabled, Masters and Senior Sportsperson and Junior and Senior Team of the Year.

Finalists will be announced on Thursday 26th April and the winners will be announced at the awards gala dinner at Pettigrew.Green Arena on Saturday 26th May.

One category has been renamed. The Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc. Impact on Māori Sport is open to any individual athlete, administrator, coach, manager or group, and recognises influence in growing Māori (or Māori in sport) in the Te Matau a Māui rohe.

World Champion canoeist Aimee Fisher who won the Hawke’s Bay Sportsperson of the Year award in 2016 and was a finalist in the Gemco Senior Sportsperson of the Year award in 2017 says “In 2014 I attended the Hawke’s Bay Sports Awards to speak on behalf of the STARS foundation recipients. At the end of the night they announced the supreme winner and I remember thinking ‘one day that will be me’”.

“It meant so much to win it in 2016 against nominees of such high calibre. I’m so proud to be a Hawke’s Bay athlete and to be recognised as the top performer that year was a real honour” she said.

To nominate visit the Community Sport page on the Sport Hawke’s Bay website – www.sporthb.net.nz

A full list of categories can be found below…

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR
Significant contribution by a club, organisation, marae or sport event administrator or manager (paid or unpaid) within the qualifying period.
NIMON AND SONS SPORTS ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR
Outstanding performance by a sports organisation, in terms of improving its capability and capacity within the qualifying period.
ZEELANDT BREWERY GRASSROOTS CLUB OF THE YEAR
Outstanding contribution to grassroots sport by a club by way of providing playing opportunities and facilities that allow members to prosper. Nominations should focus on activities that have come to fruition during the qualifying period.
SBS BANK INNOVATION IN SPORT
The Innovation in Sport Award includes innovative individuals or organisations that have made a significant contribution to the field of sport due to any pioneering initiative they have created and undertaken. These can include but are not limited to; administration, management. sport science, facility development. marketing, event management. sport capability, coaching, community initiatives or similar fields. The initiative must have effect on Hawke's Bay.
BREBNER PRINT OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
Outstanding performance by a referee, umpire or judge within the qualifying period.
KENNEDY PARK RESORT NAPIER MASTER SPORTSPERSON/SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR
Open to any individual or team who has excelled within the qualifying period. Nominees must be competing at a master's level of competition.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Outstanding performance by a coach within the qualifying period.
SPARK DIGITAL LIFETIME CONTRIBUTION TO SPORT
Open to an individual to honour their past or present contributions to sport. Those who have previously received this award will not be eligible. Minimum of 20 year service to an organisation or a sport (although under special circumstances, an exemption to the eligibility criteria will be considered). For service as administrator, coach, manager, official. event manager or other service to sport. Volunteers. paid staff, amateurs and professionals are all eligible for the award.
NGATI KAHUNGUNGU IWI INC. IMPACT ON MAORI SPORT
Open to any individual. be it athlete, administrator, coach. manager, official. Marae or Te Roopu Hapori - Community Group recognising influence in growing Maori sport (or Maori in sport) in the Te Matau a Maui rohe.
CSG LIMITED JUNIOR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Nominees must be at 20 years of age or under at the time of their performance and 14 years or over at the time of their performance.
EIT JUNIOR SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR
Open to any individual (male or female) who has excelled in one or more sports within the qualifying period. Nominees must be 20 years of age or under at the time of their performances and 14 years or over at the time of their performance.
YOUTHTOWN DISABLED SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR
Open to any male or female athlete who has excelled as an individual or in a team in one or more sports as a disabled sportsperson within the qualifying period.
GEMCO SENIOR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Outstanding performance by a team of two or more persons within the qualifying period. Nominees must be over 21 years of age or older at the time of their performance.
HAWKE’S BAY TODAY SENIOR SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR
Open to any individual (male or female) who has excelled in one or more sports within the qualifying period. Nominees must be 21 years of age or older at the time of their performances.

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