Sport Canterbury has announced the finalists for the 2026 Mid Canterbury Sport and Recreation Awards.

The winners of these prestigious awards - including the newly named Sporting Legend of Mid Canterbury and the recipient of the Robilliard Award for Outstanding Service to Sport - will be announced during the awards ceremony at the Ashburton Hotel on May 9.

Sport Canterbury’s Community Advisor for Mid Canterbury Alice Breading praises the talent and dedication shown by this year’s finalists.

“The quality of nominations reflects the hard work of athletes, coaches and volunteers in our community.”

This year, 40 finalists have been named across 25 sports and recreational activities, reflecting the breadth of participation and performance across Mid Canterbury. Cycling, rowing, rugby, and tennis feature most prominently, with finalists appearing across multiple award categories.

That breadth is also evident in more specialised disciplines, with nominees recognised in target shooting, smallbore rifle shooting, and fullbore rifle shooting across both youth and masters categories.

Wheelchair sport is a strong feature of the para‑athlete category, with finalists competing in wheelchair racing and wheelchair basketball.

“We look forward to recognising their achievements at the awards ceremony,” Breading says.

“Another exciting announcement, and to show the effort we are putting into growing the event, is that we have been able to secure World Rugby’s Sevens Player of the Year, Jorja Miller, as our guest speaker for the evening.” 

Tickets are available via the Sport Canterbury website at www.sportcanterbury.org.nz.

The finalists in each category of the awards are as follows

New World Ashburton Community Sport and Recreation Impact Award

Active As - Ashburton College                                                            Recreation

EA Networks Centre - Ashburton District Council                               Aquatics

HAMPSTEAD SOFTBALL                                                                  Softball

Mid Canterbury Triathlon and Multisport Club                                    Multi Sport

Raymond Nicholson - Peninsula and Plains Orienteers (PAPO)       Orienteering

The Ashburton Courier Official of the Year

Cathleen Anderson                                                   Basketball

Mathieu Lucas                                                          Tennis

Levi Watene                                                              Touch Rugby

Greg Donaldson Contracting Volunteer of the Year

Simon Chisnall                                                          Softball

Seija Parkkali-Glew                                                  Equestrian

Mel Redmond                                                           Squash

Michelle Scrivener                                                    Netball

Jason Watene                                                          Touch Rugby

Ashburton District Council Para-athlete/s of the Year Award

Terry O'Neill                                                              Wheelchair Racing

Chloe Peck                                                               Wheelchair Basketball

Trident Homes Coach of the Year

Hugh Copland                                                          Hockey

Guy Ohana                                                               Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Jack Tiller                                                                 Tennis

Justin Wall                                                                Rowing

Matt Winter                                                               Rugby

Lincoln University Outstanding Youth in Sport Award - Individual

Josh Gilbert                                                             Tennis

Chloe Graham                                                         Cricket

Eliza McKenzie                                                        Cycling and Smallbore Rifle Shooting

Isla Moffett                                                               Rowing

Nate Woods                                                             Target Shooting

Heartland Print Master's Sportsperson of the Year Award

Monique Brake                                                        Cycling

Sarah MacLeod                                                       Dressage/Equestrian

Coby Snowden                                                        Fullbore Rifle Shooting

Cherie Summers-Wight                                           Swimming

James Yates                                                            Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Hotel Ashburton Sport Team of the Year Award

Girls Under 17 Coxed Quadruple Sculls                 Rowing

Mid Canterbury Heartland Rugby Team                  Rugby

Mt Somers Victory Lime A                                       Netball

Natalie Breading and Laura Bawden                      Multi Sport

Kilworth Insurance and Investment Sportsperson of the Year Award

Kyle Gray                                                              Cycling

Anna Redmond                                                     Triathlon

Declan McCormack                                               Rugby

Ashlee Strawbridge                                               Basketball

(Above Image Supplied)

Article added: Thursday 16 April 2026