Northern Region Awards of Excellence finalists

Lifeguards in the Northern Region are set to celebrate a bumper summer season of keeping their communities safe at this year's awards ceremony.

The 2015 Toyota Financial Services Awards of Excellence will take place at Eden Park from 7pm on Saturday July 11.

The celebration of surf lifesaving will include the presentation of regional, lifesaving, sports and honours awards along with an appearance from special guest speaker, former Olympian Ian Ferguson.

Surf Life Saving Northern Region CEO Kenny Halliday says the awards evening is always a great time for members to stop, reflect on the season and get together to celebrate their achievements.

The three big awards for the night will be Lifeguard of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Rescue of the Year.

Nominees for Lifeguard of the Year include Zane Rademaker (United North Piha), Meaghan Gaarkeuken (Raglan) and John-Michael Hicks (Whangarei Heads).

Nominees for Volunteer of the Year include Bobbie Shatwell (Bethells Beach), Danny Morrison (Mairangi Bay) and Malcolm Beattie (Sunset Beach).

There have been some fantastic rescues this season and the Rescue of the Year award will be very close between Kariaotahi, Raglan, Whangarei Heads and Muriwai Surf Life Saving Clubs.

Mr Halliday says all of the region's members have made a huge contribution to surf lifesaving in the Northern Region throughout the 2014/15 season. "They should all be extremely proud of themselves and their fellow club members," he says.

There are 17 Surf Life Saving Clubs in the Northern Region stretching from the Far North to Raglan. Together, they undertook 453 rescues over the summer season; an increase of 37 percent on the 2013/14 season.

AWARD FINALISTS:

Lifesaving Awards

Outstanding Contribution to Powercraft
• Peter Hayward- Waipu Cove
• Shane Edwards - Sunset Beach
• Matt Buswell - Muriwai
• Julian Pitman - Whangarei Heads

Instructor of the Year
• Natasha Lawrence - Kariaotahi
• Faron Turner - Orewa
• Jessica Reilly - Raglan

Rookie Lifeguard of the Year
• Tovia Patelesio - Piha
• Hunter Challis - Bethells Beach
• Sophie Hildesley - Red Beach
• Ted Kennedy - Mairangi Bay

U19 Surf Lifeguard of the Year
• Toto Laurenson - United North Piha
• Isaac Van Der Vossen - Raglan
• Daniel Short - Mairangi Bay

Surf Lifeguard of the Year
• Zane Rademaker - United North Piha
• Meaghan Gaarkeuken - Raglan
• John-Michael Hicks - Whangarei Heads

Examiner of the Year
• Ollie Irwin - Bethells Beach
• Faron Turner - Orewa
• Mark Senior - Sunset Beach

Regional Lifeguard of the Year
• Emma Wilson - Muriwai
• Aubrey Panis - Raglan
• Oliver Stewart - Mangawhai Heads

Sport awards

Outstanding Contribution to Junior Surf
• Tony Sands - Mairangi Bay
• Ruth Beamish - Mairangi Bay
• Dylan Turner - Red Beach

U14 Sportswoman of the Year
• Bernadette Doyle - Orewa
• Lucy Makaea - Orewa
• Tania Denvir - Red Beach

U14 Sportsman of the Year
• Xander Cuff - Orewa
• Jonathan Selman - Red Beach
• Levi Ata - Orewa

Surf Coach of the Year
• Steven Ferguson - Piha
• Michael Johnson - Orewa
• Danny Morrison - Mairangi Bay

Developing Surf Official of the Year
• Dylan Turner - Red Beach
• Anna Hildesley - Red Beach
• Debbie Walker - Orewa

Surf Official of the Year
• Dave Shanks - Orewa
• Roydon Woodcock - Mairangi Bay
• Wayne Franich - Orewa

U16 Sportswoman of the Year
• Samalulu Clifton - Muriwai
• Grace Kaihau - Orewa
• Chelsea Grant - Red Beach

U16 Sportsman of the Year
• Bayden Botha - Mairangi Bay
• Stefan Powney - Orewa
• Ryan Gilmour - Piha

U19 Sportswoman of the Year
• Hannah Williams - Piha
• Kayla McKenzie - Mairangi Bay
• Briar McLeely - Red Beach

U19 Sportsman of the Year
• James Scott - Orewa
• Jake Hurley - Mairangi Bay

Open Sportswoman of the Year
• Chanel Hickman - Mairangi Bay
• Teneale Hatton - Piha
• Danielle McKenzie - Mairangi Bay

Open Sportsman of the Year
• Jake Hurley - Mairangi Bay
• Michael Lee - Mairangi Bay
• Travis Mitchell - Mairangi Bay

Competition Team of the Year
• Red Beach Sirens Open Women's Surfboat Crew (Zita Talaic-Burgess, Ashleigh Jenkins, Kelly Andrew, Madison Smith, Katrina Gouldstone, Shane O'Halloran (Sweep)
• Mairangi Bay Open Women's Double Ski Team (Rachael Dodwell, Danielle McKenzie)
• Mairangi Bay Open Men's Beach Relay Team (Jake Hurley, Kevin Morrison, Sam Paterson, Vaughan Roberts)

Regional awards

Volunteer of the Year
• Bobbie Shatwell - Bethells Beach
• Danny Morrison - Mairangi Bay
• Malcolm Beattie - Sunset Beach

Surf Education Instructor of the Year
• Kimberley Scott - Mairangi Bay
• Kate Boersen - Pauanui
• Chris Webber - Piha

Club Administrator of the Year
• Keagan Gaarkeuken - Raglan
• Carolyn Edwards - Sunset Beach
• Helen Baltus - Muriwai

Innovation of the Year
• Raglan SLSC
• Karekare SLSC
• Mary Brooks - Bethells Beach

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Honeybone, Media & Communications Specialist, SLSNZ
Phone 09 303 9335 or 0276 488 823
Email lisa.honeybone@surflifesaving.org.nz