Looking to the future was the theme of the Youthtown Waitaki Sports Awards held at the Oamaru Opera House last night, organised jointly by the North Otago Sports Bodies Association and Sport Waitaki.
The overall Waitaki Sportsperson of the Year, selected from section winners, was motocross champion Courtney Duncan (14), who has already represented New Zealand at the FIM junior world championships, where she gained a sixth place and was the first Kiwi rider home.
This made Courtney the top-finishing girl to compete at a junior world event.
Courtney also won the junior sportsperson of the year title, adding to the 2008 title she already had.
The bright prospects for young North Otago athletes was reflected the calibre of those competing to be named the Hi Flo Plumbing sportsman of the year, where all four finalists were age group representatives.
Winning this year was national sprint champion Blair Grant, who won the 100m at the nationals and came third in the 200m.
The Placemakers sportswoman of the year was another tightly fought category, with Reubyn Bisschops edging ahead of her competitors to take the honours with a season that saw her gain national squad recognition and inclusion in a world duathlon event.
She has been selected for both the NZ Tri Youth Academy and Otago Sports Academy.
Grahame Johnston took the title of Network Waitaki Ltd coach of the year and is helping take netball teams regionally to a successful future.
Grahame was nominated for his campaign with the Otago under 21 team in 2009, which finished fourth at the nationals, only losing to Western and Auckland.
Youth was again to the fore in the North Otago Motor Group team of the year award, with the St Kevins College under 15 rowing eight taking the title after a highly successful season, including a first placing in the New Zealand secondary schools Maadi Cup Regatta.
Emma Paton won the Oast-house Liquorland sportsperson with a disability award.
She received the Variety NZ Gold Heart scholarship for table tennis, becoming one of only 22 young New Zealanders to achieve this success.
The Denis Birtles Memorial services to sport award recognises individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to any aspect of sport.
Winner Judy Clarke could have received this award for any number of roles she has filled in supporting tennis locally and regionally.
