Canterbury Awards of Excellence winners announced

Sumner Surf Life Saving Club took out two of the top awards at last night's Canterbury Awards of Excellence.

The celebration of surf lifesaving took place at the Sixty6 venue at Christchurch Casino and included Taylors Mistake, Sumner, South Brighton, New Brighton, North Beach, Waimairi, Spencer Park and Waikuku Surf Life Saving Clubs.

Every year, regional Awards of Excellence ceremonies are held around the country to officially recognise members for their hard work and dedication to Surf Life Saving in New Zealand.

One of the night's top awards, Lifeguard of the Year, was awarded to Tom Denman from Sumner Surf Life Saving Club. The purpose of this award is to recognise a member who has made an outstanding contribution to the delivery and development of drowning prevention services for Surf Life Saving.

Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Kate Suter, also from Sumner Surf Life Saving Club. The purpose of this award is to recognise an outstanding member who has made a significant volunteer contribution to enhancing surf lifesaving within their local area during the patrol season.

Tom and Kate will go on to be finalists in the national Surf Life Saving New Zealand Awards of Excellence, being held in Auckland in September.

Rescue of the Year was awarded to Waikuku Beach Surf Life Saving Club for the treatment of an injured jet skier on March 4.

Club of the Year was awarded to Sumner Surf Life Saving Club.

Other awards handed out last night included Regional Service Awards and local sports awards.

Winners included Rookie Lifeguard of the Year William Jamieson (Taylors Mistake), Coach of the Year Jonelle Quane (Sumner), Junior Surf Coach Craig Jamieson (Taylors Mistake), Instructor of the Year Linda Poulsen (Spencer Park) and Surf Official of the Year Derek Shanks (Sumner).

Sportsperson of the Year was awarded to Seb Johnson from Sumner Surf Life Saving Club and Sports Team of the Year was awarded to the North Beach Open Men's Boat team

Full list of award winners:

2017 Coach of the Year
Jonelle Quane - Sumner

2017 Te Onepoto - Junior Surf Coaching
Craig Jamieson - Taylors Mistake

2017 Rookie Lifeguard of the Year
William Jamieson - Taylors Mistake

2017 Instructor/Examiner of the Year
Linda Poulsen - Spencer Park

2017 Lifeguard of the year
Tom Denman - Sumner

2017 Sports Person of the Year
Seb Johnson - Sumner

2017 Sports Team of the Year
North Beach - Open Men's Boat Team

2017 Surf Official of the Year
Derek Shanks - Sumner

2017 Innovation of the year
Coaching Health and Safety Application
Ben Keys, James Feathery, Rohan McNaughton - South Brighton

2017 Volunteer of the Year
Kate Suter - Sumner

2017 Rescue of the Year
Waikuku Beach

2017 Club of the Year
Sumner

Regional Life Membership
Steve Johnston- Waimairi
Brett Leask- Waimairi

Canterbury Lifeguard of the Year Tom Denman

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Smith, Media & Communications Manager, SLSNZ
Phone 0276 488 823
Email lisa.smith@surflifesaving.org.nz

or

Stu Bryce, Southern Region Manager, SLSNZ
Phone 0275 571 012 
Email stu.bryce@surflifesaving.org.nz