Triathlete Nicole van der Kaay was once again named Sportswoman of the Year and overall Premier Award winner at the Wairakei Resort Taupo District Sports Awards held on Friday night at Wairakei Resort.
 
Van der Kaay had an outstanding year, placing 7th in the Triathlon event at the 2018 Commonweatlh Games as well as winning a bronze medal in the mixed team relay, and was 4th in the U23 World Triathlon Championships in September.
 
Taupo Motorcycle Club was awarded Club of the Year with the club having gained a reputation of having the most modern motorcycle facilities in New Zealand. The club has the only track watering system in New Zealand and can now use its track all year round.
 
Sport Waikato Taupo District Coordinator Christine Turton was very pleased with the high calibre of nominations, finalists and winners this year.
 
“We have some really amazing talent in the Taupo district, and it’s evident that the determination from all our sportspeople is really paying off. And of course those sportspeople could not do what they do without the fantastic support of the many talented coaches, administrators, officials and supporters,” Turton said.
 
Eligible winners are now considered for the Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards on Thursday 31st January, 2019 at Claudelands Conference and Event Centre, Hamilton.
 

2018 winners:

 
Service to Sport: Ian Dykes
Administrator of the Year: Stephanie Ngamotu-Tahana
Coach of the Year: BJ Tahana
Team of the Year: Taupo-nui-a-Tia College 1st XI Boys Hockey Team
Junior Sportsperson - Team: Ruamano Akuhata
Junior Sportswoman - Individual: Briar Burnett-Grant
Junior Sportsman – Individual: Johnson Bishop
Secondary School Contribution to Sport: Josh McDougall
Sportsperson of the Year: Nicole van der Kaay
Club of the Year: Taupo Motorcycle Club
Official of the Year: Mark Willis
Premier Sportsperson of the Year: Nicole van der Kaay
Taupo Sports Advisory Council Outstanding Contribution to Sport recipient: Wallie Niederer
 

Summary of winners:

 
Administrator of the Year: Stephanie Ngamotu-Tahana
Stephanie is actively involved with the Taupo Phoenix Rugby League Club. This year she successfully managed three rugby league teams. Stephanie ensures the team is well looked after in regard to health, transport and emotional support. The club recognised her work this year by awarding Stephanie club manager of the year. 
 
Official of the Year: Mark Willis
This year Mark has officiated as a chief judge at karate championships at a regional, national and international level. At the Traditional Shotokan Karate-do Federation Australasian National Championships Mark was awarded his 8th dan qualification. Mark is now the most experience Traditional Shotokan Karate-do Federation official in Australia and New Zealand.
 
Coach of the Year: BJ Tahana
Club coach for the Taupo Phoenix rugby league U17 team who won the Bay of Plenty/Coastline 17s combined competition, BJ also coached the Bay of Plenty U15 development team and the first ever Ngati Tuwharetoa Maori U17 rugby league team. Three players were selected for the national Maori Tama 17 tournament team with four players offered junior contracts with NRL clubs.
 
Team of the Year: Taupo-nui-a-Tia College 1st XI Boys Hockey Team
This team were winners of a silver medal after a first-time appearance in the tier 1/2 India Shield national secondary school hockey tournament. They played in the Hamilton based intercity competition and placed 4th in division one. Players represent the Bay of Plenty, two represent the Midlands region, and one is a nationally recognised player.
 
Club of the Year: Taupo Motorcycle Club
As the only motorcycle club in New Zealand with a track watering system, the Taupo Motorcycle Club can now use its track all year round, with summer racing and practice now possible. This, combined with the addition of a new metal gate to provide a fair start for all competitors, give the club the reputation of having the most modern motorcycle facility in New Zealand.
 
Junior Sportsperson of the Year - Team: Ruamano Akuhata
A member of the New Zealand U18 mixed touch rugby team that were runners up to Australia at the recent World Cup in August, Ruamano also plays for the Taupo nui a Tia College senior mixed touch rugby team. This team has qualified for the New Zealand secondary school tournament to be held later in the year.
 
Junior Sportswoman of the Year – Individual: Briar Burnett-Grant
Equestrian rider Briar recently competed for New Zealand at the Youth Olympics in Argentina. She finished 6th in the individual event and with her team mates, 5th in the team event. Earlier in the year she was the winner of the Olympic Cup in the prestigious New Zealand Horse of the Year competition - an event which attracted 1200 riders and 1600 horses.
 
Junior Sportsman of the Year – Individual: Johnson Bishop
In 2018 Johnson qualified to swim for the Aquaknights in Australia at the Victorian State championships. He is the New Zealand secondary schools open water champion in the 1km event for his age and at the New Zealand short course swimming championships won a bronze in the Open A final of the 200m breaststroke and placed 5th and 6th in the 100m breaststroke and 50m breaststroke respectively.
 
Secondary School Contribution to Sport: Josh McDougall
In 2018 Josh was convener of the Taupo nui a Tia College sports council. He coached the intermediate school hockey team that won the B grade competition in the national AIMS games tournament. Josh umpired hockey at a regional level for Midlands and NHL, as well as at Bay of Plenty secondary school A grade level and for the local mens and womens hockey teams.
 
Sportsperson of the Year & Premier Award winner: Nicole van der Kaay
Nicole was the best placed New Zealand woman at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games triathlon event, placing 7th.  She won a bronze Commonwealth Games medal in the mixed team relay and was 4th in the U23 world triathlon championships in September.
 
Taupo Sports Advisory Council Outstanding Contribution to Sport recipient: Wallie Niederer
Our recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Contribution to Sport has been involved at the highest level of his chosen sport since 1984, when he was selected as team veterinarian for the New Zealand Equestrian Team at the Los Angeles Olympics.  For the next three decades he dedicated his time, expertise and enthusiasm to the sport of equestrian. He has held key positions within equestrian sport – New Zealand Equestrian Team Vet, Chef de Equipe and Chef de Mission in both the Olympic and world equestrian games events. To the present day he holds the positions of FEI Delegate, Equestrian Sport NZ board member and convenor of the National Equestrian Centre in Taupo. 
 
In 2011 our recipient, as chair of the National Equestrian Centre committee, created a vision for the National Centre’s indoor arena. By 2013 he was instrumental in sourcing the funding for the project and in 2016, when construction began, he donated both his time and machinery. The arena benefits not only high performance but also grass roots riders. The facility is an asset to the Taupo District and a legacy to our recipient and his team of volunteers. 
 
Service to Sport: Ian Dykes
At some stage over the past 35 years Ian has been involved at every level of cricket. He has been a player, club captain, secretary/treasurer for Taupo Cricket, and an umpire for the Bay of Plenty Cricket and Northern Districts Cricket Associations. Ian was a member of the Taupo One Day Cricket committee who hosted international, national and local teams. Ian has spent many years in administrative roles ensuring that Taupo Cricket had a sound foundation for future generations of cricket players.
 
Winners Photos
All Photos

2018 Wairakei Resort Taupo District Sports Awards winners announced!

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