by Chris Tobin
Young sporting talent from around South and Mid Canterbury and North Otago were recognised at the annul Aoraki Secondary Schools’ Sports Awards.
Top prizes went to Phoebe Trolove, a rower from Craighead Diocesan School who won overall female sportswoman of the year, and Keaton Swindells, a speed skater from Timaru Boys’ High School.
Trolove was a member of the New Zealand junior women’s quad which won the world championships in Tokyo and she also won the under-18 girls’ single sculls at the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Maadi Cup regatta.
She beat a talented field to win the title from netballer Taneisha Fifita, of Waitaki Girls High School, who has secured a fulltime contract with Southern Steel next year, and last year’s winner Brea Roderick, a triathlete from Mt Hutt College.
Swindells was a member of the New Zealand under-19 team which competed at the World Roller Games in Barcelona, Spain, this year.
Timaru Boys’ High School’s first XI hockey team, winners of the Canterbury Secondary Schools’ competition and second at the New Zealand Rankin Cup tournament, was named the team of the year.
Aoraki Secondary Schools’ sport director Shaun Campbell, of Sport Canterbury, said close to 450 people attended the awards, which recognised achievers in a vast range of sports.
“It was a great night attended by parents and teachers as well. There was a nice atmosphere.
“It’s always pretty amazing what kids have achieved.”
Other award winners were:
All rounder: Hannah Prosser (Timaru Girls’ High) and Liam Parker (Timaru Boys’ High).
Contribution to sport: Blake Martin (Waitaki Boys’ High) and Ana Affleck (Mountainview High).
Outstanding referee/umpire: Holly Beazer (Waitaki Girls’ High), Reagan Ashley (Roncalli College).
Outstanding athlete with a disability: Ben Gould (Geraldine High).
(Photos supplied by Brad Reeve)
