The outstanding achievements of athletes in the Far North have been recognised at the 24^th annual FNDC Far North Sports Awards held at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Hokianga on Friday evening. 

Another fantastic year of achievements saw Kerikeri Cruising Club member Blair Tuke win the ASB Code award for sailing, followed by the Top Energy Sportsman of the Year and ultimately the FNDC Supreme Award.  It is the ninth year in a row he has won the FNDC Supreme Award.  Blair was a key member in helping Team Emirates NZ win the 35^th Americas Cup earlier this year in Bermuda.

Other award winners were Teuaranga Tana for both the Top Energy Sportswoman of the year and ASB Junior Sportsperson of the year for her achievements in Karate. Fullers Greatsights Team of the Year went to Kerikeri Football Club’s Premiere Men’s team who were this year’s Northland Men’s premiere league title winners and they were also the Federation One Cup winners – this in itself is a fantastic achievement as not many Northland teams ever win as it is a competition played between the best teams from Auckland.  In addition to the success that the club experienced, Ray White Coach of the Year went to Stefen Gil who coached both the Kerikeri Football Premiere Men’s team and the club’s Under 15 teams who also won their division two league title.

A new addition to the awards this year was the Sport New Zealand Community Impact Award which was awarded to Kaikohe Football Club.  The club’s main focus has been on offering affordable sport to all and in doing so they have built a club for junior and youth to spend quality time training in a positive family based club.

A special service award was made to Esther Hone-Moore for her contribution to the lives of Northland tamariki, particularly those in Kaitaia.  Esther has spent thousands of hours coaching, presenting and mentoring others to ignite action to help drive the water safety messages out to our wider communities.

The Far North District Council Far North Sports Awards is the premier awards evening for the Far North and was presented with 150 guests at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Hokianga. In all, there were 49 winners named from a pool of 104 finalists.

Cheryl Smith, Sport Northland Mid North Community Connector and organiser of the event says “It was a great night acknowledging our talent here in the Far North and it’s always nice to go back to the Hokianga to celebrate”.

For a full list of winners Click here