The outstanding achievements of Northland’s sportspeople have been recognised at the 2022 CONBRIO Northland Sports Awards where winners have just been announced.

Krystal Murray (Rugby) took out the Supreme Award, along with the FIREO Sportswoman of the Year Award. Murray was selected for the Black Ferns Rugby World Cup 32-player squad. She scored a try in the second pool game against Wales and came off the bench in the World Cup final against England and scored a try only three minutes after running onto the field.

The FIRECO Sportsman of the Year Award went to joint winners, Tupuria King (Waka Ama) and Tim Southee (Cricket).  King had won an impressive 5 Gold and 1 Silver at the World Sprint Championships in Great Britain and also won 2 Gold and 1 Silver at the Waka Ama Long Distance Nationals in 2022.

Southee, not only a recipient of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal for his stellar performances across three different cricket formats in the latest cricket season, was also part of the team who were World Cup Finalist in the 2021 T20 World Cup and captained the New Zealand in the T20 Internationals.

The Garry Frew Memorial Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award went to Hayden Ganley (Hockey) who was selected for the New Zealand Junior Black Sticks (U21) team for the Hockey Junior World Cup qualifying games played in Canberra. He was also named in the NZ Hockey U18 Development Squad and represented Hockey Northland at the National Hockey Championship.

The Brian Maunsell Memorial Service to Sport Award is awarded for outstanding contribution to Northland sport and recognises selfless dedication of individuals that they bring for the good of sport.  This went to Brian Johnston and Peter Crawford for their contribution to Cricket which began in 1978.  Both Brian and Peter continue to contribute to growing the game and role modelling the broader purpose of ‘The Spirit of Cricket’.

Te Taitokerau has some amazing paddlers and Team of the Year went to Herberts on Tour in Waka Ama.  At the International Va'a Federation World Sprint Championships in Great Britain (2022) the Herberts on Tour won Gold - Open Men W12 500m, Gold - Open Men W6 1500m & Gold - Open Men W6 500m. They also won Gold in the Open Men W6 24km at the Long-Distance Nationals at Waitangi in Oct 2022.

Dion Nash was inducted as the 33rd Northland Legend of Sport for his outstanding career in Cricket – coincidently, number 33 was his international playing number.  Born and raised in Dargaville, Dion is known throughout the cricket world as “The Dargaville Dasher”. A headline given to him by another Northland Legend of Sport and Northern Advocate sportswriter, Garry Frew. Nash represented the New Zealand Men's cricket team in 32 Test matches and 81 One Day games and made 120 first class appearances over his sporting career.  

Samantha Warriner was inducted as the 34th Northland Legend of Sport, for her impressive career in Triathlon which also started in Dargaville back in 2001 at the Kumara Triathlon.  Warriner’s career has included podium finishes in the NZ and World Duathlon Championships, World Triathlon Championships, qualifying and competing at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the 2006 Commonwealth Games where she was rewarded with a silver medal at the Melbourne games.  Sam was World No 1 in 2008, finishing 3rd at the World Championships and competing at the Beijing Olympics.

Ted Salmon was inducted as the 35th Northland Legend of Sport with a long involvement in hockey.  Ted’s passion for hockey started at Kensington Park, Whangarei, had represented Whangarei in over 100 games and played over 200 games for Northland.  He represented New Zealand at the highest level which included the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

Eight organisations and community groups were recognised in the Community Impact Award sponsored by PAK’nSAVE Whangarei for their collaborative community projects which have a positive impact in and on the community through play, active recreation and sport. They were Bream Bay Sports Trust, Northern Region Football - Go Girls initiative, Kaitaia Boxing Club Inc, Te Rarawa Anga Mua Charitable Trust - Matariki Games, Ngunguru Bowling Club, Parafed Northland – Play Trailer, Northland Cricket Association - Taking Cricket to the Far North and Te Kopuru Community Development Group - Te Kopuru Play Trailer.

A full list of the winners follows:

For further information please contact:

Janine Moy

System Lead

Email: janinem@sportnorth.co.nz

Mobile:  0274 303 085