The Network Waitaki Sports Awards were held at the Waitaki Community Recreation Centre.
Palmerston-born Courtney Duncan was the big winner, taking home the supreme award for Sportsperson of the Year.
Duncan won her fourth Women’s Motocross World Championship last year.
The world title win was even more special after her 2022 campaign was ruined due to injuries.
She also won Sportswoman of the Year.
The future of motocross in Waitaki appears to be bright as Papakaio rider Riki Butson won the Male Emerging Talent.
Female Emerging Talent was awarded to Nina Conlan.
A multi-talented athlete, Conlan competes in athletics and swimming as well as playing netball and touch.
Otago Nuggets basketball player and former St Kevin’s College pupil Jack Andrews won Sportsman of the Year.
Andrea Naylor won the Services to Sport award for her work with the Oamaru Squash and Badminton Club.
The St Kevin’s College Girls Clay Target Team were crowned Team of the Year after winning both the North and South Island women’s team titles.
Jeremy Paisley, a fellow shooter, won Junior Sportsman of the Year.
Squash player Emma Paton and show jumper Samantha Gillies won the Athlete with a Disability and Junior Sportswoman of the Year awards respectively, for the second year in a row.
Touch rugby referee Quinn Burge won the Official in Sport award while Oamaru Rowing Club head coach Ivan Docherty won coach of the year.
Docherty coached the club to one of their best ever national championships, taking home two gold and three silver medals.
Masters Athlete of the Year was awarded to Mark Esselink who finished third in both the Challenge Wanaka and Ironman New Zealand 70.3.
He also came 20th in the World Triathlon Age-Group Championships in the 55-59 age group.
The awards evening also saw athletes inducted into the Waitaki Sports Hall of Fame.
Harness racing trainer Phil Williamson and the entire 1962 North Otago Rugby team were this year’s inductees.
Williamson is New Zealand’s most successful trotting trainer with over 700 wins.
The 1962 North Otago side beat the Wallabies 14-13.
Otago Nuggets coach Brett Brent Matehaere was the guest speaker.
