It’s time to acknowledge 2018 sporting excellence in the Waikato region by nominating your sportspeople and sports supporters.

District Sports Awards nominations are open from now until Friday 28 September 2018. Each Waikato district will have its own awards event, with category winners going forward to be considered for the prestigious Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards held in January 2019.

Sport Waikato CEO Matthew Cooper says it’s so important to recognise our own local sporting talent and volunteers.

“So many of our sportspeople and emerging athletes are based in the Waikato region, and it’s time to celebrate their achievements. They all put a huge amount of effort and dedication into their sport and we want to acknowledge them at our district awards. It’s also a great time to recognise and acknowledge the hard work of those who support sport – the administrators, coaches, officials and volunteers whose time is spent helping our athletes to achieve”, said Cooper.

Regional Capability and Events Coordinator Gilly Alexander urges clubs, schools and sports organisations to take the time to fill in a nomination form so that the achievements of a district can be celebrated.  

“Sport Waikato makes it as easy as possible to nominate online. The forms can be saved and returned to, so you don’t have to do it all at once. From Administrator of the Year to Sportsperson of the Year - our categories reflect the various roles in sport, and I urge communities to nominate local sportspeople and volunteers”, said Alexander.

Sport Waikato District Sports Awards events will take place in Taupo, South Waikato, Waikato, Waipa, Matamata-Piako, Otorohanga, Waitomo, Hauraki/Thames-Coromandel and Hamilton, during the month of November.

This year the Hamilton awards have had a change from Hamilton Volunteer Awards to Hamilton Sports Awards, supported by Hamilton City Council. They will still celebrate volunteers but also acknowledge the success of secondary school students, club and club teams. The Hamilton categories are: secondary schools sportsman and woman, secondary school contribution to sport, club team, club, community coach, volunteer administrator, volunteer official and service to sport.

Nominations can be made online at http://www.sportwaikato.org.nz/awards.

Ends.