SPARC Future Champions put NZ sport in good stead

Media release 7 December 2005

SPARC Future Champions put New Zealand sport in good stead

Ninety-seven athletes throughout New Zealand have been awarded the SPARC Future Champion Award.

The Award recognises sporting excellence of young people in schools at a national level.

“It’s a great honour to award the SPARC Future Champion Award to this group of highly talented and dedicated young athletes. With talent like this coming through, the future of New Zealand sport stands in good stead,” said SPARC Chief Executive, Nick Hill.

“Sixteen year-old Charlotte Harrison from Northland is a great example of the talent emerging in New Zealand sport. She had a fantastic debut for the New Zealand Women’s Hockey team when they beat Australia in the first test of the Oceania World Cup in October,” said Hill.

There were a total of 585 nominations selected from 193 schools: 147 athletes were awarded highly commended (second) and 341 athletes were finalists (third).

Seventy-one sports were represented, including the traditional sports of rugby, cricket and netball through to the more adventurous sports of snowboarding, kayaking and mountain biking.

Hill said that he was impressed with the calibre of the nominations and was pleased to see such a wide range of sports represented.

The SPARC judging panel comprised Don Tricker, SPARC’s High Performance Coaching Advisor and ex-Black Sox Coach; John Reid, SPARC’s Talent Development Advisor and ex-New Zealand cricket player; Nicky Sherriff, SPARC’s Strategy Advisor; and Jo Forbes, SPARC’s Education/Information Advisor.

For a full list of the SPARC Future Champions award recipients in your region visit www.sparc.org.nz/education/sportfit/sparc-future-champions-2005. For further information on the athletes contact the Regional Sports Director in your Regional Sports Trust. For a full list of Regional Sports Directors visit www.sparc.org.nz/education/sportfit/regional-sports-directors.

ENDS

SPARC is the crown entity responsible for promoting, encouraging and supporting sport and physical recreation in New Zealand. For more details, visit www.sparc.org.nz

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