Which local sports star will join the likes of kayaker Aimee Fisher, cyclists Regan and Westley Gough and All Black Israel Dagg and have their name etched onto the Sportperson of the Year Award trophy in 2019?

Nominations are now open to local sports stars, teams and clubs that have done the region proud over the last 12 months.

Sport Hawke’s Bay Chief Executive Mark Aspden says “2018 was a huge year for many of the region’s individuals and teams and I expect this will lead to a large number of nominations for the 2019 Hawke’s Bay Sport Awards”.

“There have once again been some amazing performances over the past 12 months. 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.”

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 Wednesday April 24 and the winners will be announced at the awards gala dinner at Pettigrew.Green Arena on Saturday May 25. Last year’s event was a sell out.

Last year’s winners included NZ Tall Blacks coach Paul Henare, current World Champion cyclist Regan Gough as well as two-time winner and world champion canoeist Aimee Fisher along with key sports administrators such as Ivan Aplin and Julie Tangaere.

Ryan Hambleton, Sport Hawke’s Bay Commercial Manager says, “it is great to have a number of local businesses back on board for 2019, some organisations such as Nimons and Tremains who have been sponsoring the awards for over 15 years and others such as Ngāti Kahungungu Iwi Inc. and NZME who have been long-time supporters of sport in the region.”

“We have a number of opportunities for local business to get on board with the awards. It would be great to talk with any interested parties as we lead up to what is an outstanding night of celebrating sport in the Bay”

To nominate visit the Hawke’s Bay Sports Awards www.hbsportsawards.co.nz. The awards will recognise achievements between 16th April 2018 – 31st March 2019.

A full list of categories can be found below…

SPORTSGROUND.CO.NZ 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.
THREE WISE BIRDS 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.
VIDAL ESTATE COACH OF THE YEAR
Outstanding performance by a coach within the qualifying period.
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.
YOUTHTOWN 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.
PALADIN 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.
TREMAINS 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.
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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