Emma Twigg has tonight been announced as the Forsyth Bay Hawke’s Bay Sportsperson at the Year, the fourth year the leading rower has claimed the supreme award.

The 2023 Forsyth Barr Hawke’s Bay Sport and Recreation Awards were held at Pettigrew Green Arena in front of 425 people on Saturday evening. Following a difficult year for the region, the awards were an opportunity for the sport and recreation sector to come together and celebrate success from across the region over the past 12 months.

Ryan Hambleton, General Manager at Sport Hawke’s Bay said, “the awards play an important role in celebrating our region and this year it was extra special to bring everyone together and reflect on what has been a difficult year for so many”.

“Cyclone Gabrielle had a major impact on the sport and recreation sector but as is evident tonight through the finalists and stories of success, our region has shown resilience and a can-do attitude to push through and be successful on so many levels”.

Twigg has continued her remarkable journey having never been outside the top three at the World Championships she has attended since Karipiro 2010. The Junior World Champion, Under 23 World Champion, World and Olympic Champion continued to set records this year to become the 1^st to win ten national Championship titles in the single scull. She was then the best placed New Zealand rower with a silver medal at the recent World Rowing Champs in Belgrade. She has therefore qualified the boat for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which if Emma is able and selected would make it a 5^th Olympics that she will have competed in.  Emma and fellow finalist for the Mediaworks Senior Sportsperson of the Year, Tom MacIntosh, were unable to attend the function due to currently competing on the international circuit at the Philadelphia Gold Cup an event she won in 2022.

Winners from 14 categories were announced on the evening with Rog and Mel from the Morning Rumble The Rock radio station emceeing the event.

For the second year in a row, a Central Hawke’s Bay based organisation claimed the Community Initiative Award. Central Hawke’s Bay District Council claimed the award last year with the Waka Takaro initiative, this year the Flemington Mud Run was recognised as bringing together the community, promoting activity and using physical activity to fundraise for their local tamariki.

Emma Findlay claimed the Rachael Knight Emerging Talent Award following a stellar year which saw the ex-Taradale High School student debut for the Black Sticks. Findlay played 8 times for the national side and has also been selected for the Junior Black Sticks who will compete at the Junior World Cup in Chile later in the year.

Mike Trautvetter and Terry O’Neill were awarded the Glenn Cook Technology Lifetime Contribution to Sport awards for the contribution to rowing and football respectively. Still heavily involved in their sports, the two stalwarts have both grown their sports through supporting development across all levels and have contributed to the ongoing success for Hawke’s Bay Rowing and Napier City Rovers and Eskview Football Club.

For a full list of winners see below.

Sport.co.nz Volunteer of the Year

Ross Webb – Rowing

Three Wise Birds Community Initiative of the Year

Flemington Mud Run

Brebner Print Official of the Year

Dan Waenga – Rugby Union

Fortune Favours Coach of the Year

Shea McAleese – Hockey

Stirling Sports Grassroots Club of the Year

Eskview United Association Football Club

Health Hawke’s Bay Activating Te Matau a Māui

Hawke’s Bay Māori Rugby – Te Matau a Māui

Kenedy Park Resort Napier Master Sportsperson of the Year

Lance Baylis – Powerlifting

Glenn Cook Technology Lifetime Contribution to Sport

Mike Trautvetter – Rowing

Terry O’Neill – Football

Rachael Knight Emerging Talent

Emma Findlay – Hockey

EIT Te Pūkenga Junior Team of the Year

Taradale High School Golf

Tremains Senior Team of the Year

Hawke’s Bay Tui

Paladin Disabled Sportsperson of the Year

Peter Cowan – Canoe Racing

Mediaworks Senior Sportsperson of the Year

Emma Twigg – Rowing

Forsyth Barr Hawke’s Bay Supreme Award

Emma Twigg - Rowing

Article added: Sunday 29 October 2023