Finalists announced for The Dominion Post WellingtonSportsperson of the Year Awards 2012

A record 235 nominations were received over thirteen categories for The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year Awards 2012. Esteemed judges, experts in their sporting and sports media fields, then whittled down the nominations to 39 deserving finalists. From these finalists 13 categories winners will be chosen, and from these category winners will come the supreme winner; The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year 2012.

The finalists come from20different sports, and this range of sports represented highlights the diversity of Wellington’s sporting landscape.

These sports include the usual powerhouses of Rugby, Netball, Football and Swimming alongside smaller sports such as Table Tennis and Orienteering.

Once again the unsung heroes of Wellington sport have been pushed forward for celebration by their clubs and codes; the volunteers, officials and administrators who are often the first to arrive at the venue and the last to leave once the games have finished.

Sport Wellington Chief Executive Phil Gibbons said ““This has been yet another record year for the number of nominations received for The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year Awards. Not only has the quantity of awards received exceeded all previous years, but the quality of achievement is outstanding. It is very humbling indeed to see just what has been achieved by administrators, elite athletes and teams; the majority of whom are volunteers. Our region can be justifiably proud of all 235 nominations but even more so of the finalists announced today.”

As always a people’s choice promotion to find the Four Kings Personality of the Year Award will be run in The Dominion Post, starting Friday 1 June. Finalists for this category include All Blacks’ joker Cory Jane, Netballer Katrina Grant, retiring footballer Tim Brown and Athlete Melissa Moon.

The winners of each category, plus three very worthy inductees into the Sports Legends of Wellington, will be announced at a gala awards dinner at the WellingtonTown Hall on Thursday 21June.

Tickets for the awards are always highly sought after, and can be purchased through Sport Wellington by phoning (04) 380 0228 or email .

Finalists by category are:

Steinlager Sportsman of the Year
Gareth Kean / Swimming
Ma'a Nonu / Rugby
Kyle Pontifex / Hockey
Conrad Smith / Rugby
Corbans Sportswoman of the Year
Mandy Boyd / Lawn Bowls
Tash Hind / Swimming/Surf Lifesaving
Kate McIlroy / Triathlon
Anita Punt / Hockey
Hiremaster Team of the Year
BNT Mason Motorsport / Motorsport
WellingtonPhoenix / Football
Wellington Saints / Basketball
Gibson Sheat Lawyers Coach of the Year
Pero Cameron / Basketball
Ricki Herbert / Football
Gary Hurring / Swimming
Waimarama Taumaunu / Netball
Wellington City Council Emerging Sportsman of the Year
Steven Adams / Basketball
TJ Perenara / Rugby
Lima Sopoaga / Rugby
Wellington City Council Emerging Sportswoman of the Year
Julianne Alvarez / Golf
Lizzie Ingham / Orienteering
Samantha Lucie-Smith / Swimming
Four Kings Personality of the Year*
Tim Brown / Football
Katrina Grant / Netball
Cory Jane / Rugby
Melissa Moon / Athletics
PAK'nSAVE Kilbirnie Club Team of the Year
Capital Swim Club / Swimming
Porirua Vikings / Rugby League
Wairarapa United / Football
Pelorus Trust Disabled Athlete of the Year
Mary Fisher / Paralympic Swimming
Jayne Parsons / Paracycling
New Zealand Community Trust Volunteer of the Year
Tasi Betteridge / Netball
Norman Cook / Judo
Mark Renall / Mountain Biking
BDO Wellington Official of the Year
Richard Ammundsen / Table Tennis
Liz Boon / Netball
Jacqui Stephenson / Football
The AngusInn Administrator of the Year
Mark Harris / Athletics
Jorge Sandoval / Cycling
Alida Shanks / Football

The WellingtonCommunity Trust Lifetime Contribution to Sport awards will be presentedon the evening.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, COMMENT OR IMAGES PLEASE CONTACT:

Craig Ireson

Business Manager

Sport Wellington

027 248 0535