The 2023 Sport Canterbury Sport and Recreation Awards were warmly welcomed back on Friday night (29^th April) in front of a crowd of around 300 at the Wigram Air Force Museum. The night marked the return of the annual gala event after the Covid-19 pandemic forced the awards online for the last three years.

Jason Merrett, Sport Canterbury's General Manager of Participation Pathways, noted that the in-person connection - that had been missed due to the pandemic - was a priority for the organisation. He emphasised “the event was not only about celebrating successes and achievements but also about celebrating the resilience and diversity of our community.”

Across nine categories over 130 nominations were received from 55 organisations and codes within Canterbury, with two awards recognising the outstanding work of organisations which support the community.

The Community Diversity and Inclusion Award was won by Sandy van Heyningen, who works alongside her team to bring sport, play, and active recreation to young, disadvantaged youth across Canterbury. The Community Sport and Recreation Impact Award was won by Kia Kori Waitaha, which provides tamariki, rangatahi and whānau with opportunities to engage in play and active recreation across Canterbury.

High Jumper, Hamish Kerr, took out the Athlete of the Year award - with Kendra Cocksedge -   and expressed his excitement at the opportunity the event provided. “As athletes we spend 99% of our time looking forward, so to have an evening where we can look back on the achievements of ourselves and the wider sporting community is very exciting.”

The evening also included the induction of two new Sporting Legends of Canterbury - Leigh Gibbs, 1987 World Netball

Championship winner and Silver Ferns Captain, and Steve Gurney, multi-sport icon and 9-time Coast-To-Coast winner.

“Both are well known Cantabrians who have provided legendary moments in our sporting history. Both have also continued to give back to the sporting community that has given them so much and are so deserving of this recognition”, stated Jason Merrett.

Eleven-time Paralympic gold medallist and multiple world champion, Dame Sophie Pascoe, and Para World Championship bronze medallist, Scott Martlew, were the dual winners of the Para Athlete of the Year award.

Kendra Cocksedge, 2022 World Cup Rugby winner and Canterbury Farah Palmer Cup Rugby Player, took out the hotly contested supreme award, to go with the Athlete of the Year Award she received moments earlier. She expressed humility upon receiving the awards and added “it was a huge honour, especially when up against some quality athletes and being the only athlete from a team sport.”

Overall, the 2023 Sport Canterbury Sport and Recreation Awards were a celebration of the sporting community's resilience and diversity.

From recognising the outstanding work of organisations that support the community, to inducting new Sporting Legends of Canterbury and honouring exceptional athletes, the evening was a reminder of the importance of sports and recreation in Canterbury.

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners, and here's to another successful year of sport and recreation in Canterbury.

2023 Sport Canterbury Sport and Recreation Award winners

The MyHR Community Diversity and Inclusion Award

• Sandy van Heyningen, Special Friends Trust
   

The Crombie Lockwood Community Sport and Recreation Impact Award

• Kia Kori Waitaha
   

The Blackwells Mazda Officials of the Year Award

• Tom Hogg, Lawn Bowls
• Brian Theobald, Athletics
   

The University of Canterbury Coaches of the Year Award

• Sam Ryburn, Volleyball
• James Schroder, Powerlifting
   

The Lincoln University Outstanding Youth in Sport Award

• Paris Chin, Rhythmic Gymnastics
• Gabriella Smith, Swimming
   

The Anstice Optometrists Para Athletes of the Year Award

• Sophie Pascoe, Swimming
• Scott Martlew, Canoe Racing
   

The Craigs Investment Partners Athletes of the Year Award

• Kendra Cocksedge, Rugby Union
• Hamish Kerr, Athletics
   

The Christchurch City Council Supreme Winner

• Kendra Cocksedge, Rugby Union
  
   

Article added: Sunday 30 April 2023