Thirteen sporting codes ranging from mountainbiking to motorbike racing are represented amongst this year’s ILT Southland Sports Awards finalists, and despite a year when sport was significantly disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Southlanders were still able to achieve outstanding feats at national and international level.

Rugby had three nominations across three catagories for a mix of national and international individual and team achievements. 

Southlander Alena Saili, who has now played over 70 games for the Black Ferns Sevens team, is a finalist in the ILT Senior Sportsperson Of The Year. 

Former Southland Stags Physio Karl McDonald is a finalist for Creation Signs Official Of The Year for his efforts as head physio for the Japanese Brave Blossoms at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, as well as his senior role on the international Rugby Sevens circuit. 

Finally the Southland Mens B Rugby Team is in the running for the Southland Kia Team Of The Year. The side took out the South Island Development Competition trumping Tasman, Canterbury and Otago. 

Along with media partner the Southland Times, the category winners will be unveiled online over five nights at 7pm from June 29 on the Southland Times website and Facebook page, along with the ILT and Sport Southland social media platforms.

“One of the positives of going ‘virtual’ is that potentially a much larger audience will be able to take part in the Awards this year by accessing it online,” McDermott said.

As well as the seven category winners, the Southland Times Story of the Year will be confirmed after a public vote, the Mike Piper Trophy for commitment and excellence amongst Academy Southland’s programme will be awarded and up to four Services to Sport honours will be presented.

FINALISTS:

ILT SENIOR SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR

• Gina Crampton (Netball)
• Patricia Hopcroft (Touch)
• Nick Kergozou (Cycling)
• Hannah Miller (Athletics)
• Alena Saili (Rugby)
• Corbin Strong (Cycling)

VODAFONE JUNIOR SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR

• Cormac Buchanan (Motorcycle racing)
• Josh Burnett (Mountainbiking)
• Quinn Hartley (Athletics)
• Liam Hewitt (Golf)
• Shakira Mirfin (Rowing)
• Emily Paterson (Cycling)
• Conor Shearing (Cycling)
• Ella Smith (Badminton)

SOUTHLAND KIA TEAM OF THE YEAR

• Eastern Southland senior netball team (Netball)
• Southland B rugby team (Rugby)
• Southland elite men’s team sprint (Cycling)

NZME MASTERS ACHIEVEMENT

• Neil Familton (Cycling)
• Dwight Grieve (Athletics)
• Geertien Venter (Cycling)

RICOH SOUTH COACH OF THE YEAR

• Sid Cumming (Cycling)
• Chris Knight (Athletics)
• Chris Telfer (Softball)

CREATION SIGNS OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

• Erin Criglington (Cycling)
• Ian Densie (Cycling)
• Yvonette Fox (Swimming)
• Corina Ngatuere (Netball)
• Karl McDonald (Rugby)

BDO ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

• Phil Hartley (Athletics)
• Bruce Ross (Cycling)
• Greg Sheppard (Tennis

Article added: Wednesday 10 June 2020