Taranaki Surf Life Saving NZ Awards of Excellence winners 2019

Top volunteers, athletes and lifeguards from Taranaki have been honoured at the Taranaki Surf Life Saving Awards of Excellence, in New Plymouth, on Friday June 7.

The awards top off “a fantastic season”, where Taranaki lifeguards have proved their value on our beaches, and have shown their athletic abilities in international and national sports, says SLSNZ Central Region club support officer Joel Meuli.

“We had a really good summer, with lots of people out in the water enjoying the good weather, our lifeguards putting in a lot of work to keep them safe, and many, many people in all sorts of roles working hard behind the scenes so our clubs can operate. So a big thank you to everyone,” he says.

East End Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) lifeguard Claudia Kelly had a stellar year, reflected in her trophy haul.

She was awarded Sportsperson of the Year, Senior Sportswoman of the Year and Junior Sportswoman of the Year (as she competed in opens and junior classes in events this season), and was one half of the Junior Team of the Year, in the East End u19 female double ski team, with Hannah Baker. She was also presented awards for the top u19 woman athlete and top open woman athlete at the SLSNZ Taranaki Championships.

Kelly, 17, represented New Zealand at the 2018 Sanyo International Lifesaving Cup in Japan, in June 2018, and brought back two silvers and two bronzes in her own events, with the team ultimately placing second.

She also co-captained the national Junior Black Fins team to the Lifesaving World Championships in Adelaide in November, where she won gold in the World Junior Ironwoman, and the female 4 x 25m manikin relay.

Kelly’s competition success means she currently holds national Surf Life Saving NZ titles for the u19 female 200m Super Lifesaver swim, u19 female double ski, u19 female ski relay, the u19 taplin relay, and the National Representative Challenge open ironwoman title.

The prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award went to Trent Oliver, president of Opunake SLSC. Oliver contributed considerable time to beach patrols, coaching junior surf competitors, and seniors for beach events, recruiting junior members, working on funding for the club and overseeing earthquake strengthening of the club, and as a member of the Opunake rescue call out squad.

Michael Debique, also from Opunake SLSC was named Lifeguard of the Year.

Throughout the season he has taught beach education in the community, has helped with search and rescue, was in charge of the Opunake rescue squad, was in charge of refreshing all lifeguards’ qualifications for his club, coached the younger Opunake lifeguards for competitions, and represented his club on the Taranaki lifeguard committee.

“Michael often participates in junior surf sessions, and is always keen to teach our children new skills and demonstrate his passion for surf lifesaving,” says Opunake junior surf coordinator Claire Hunn.

Innovation of the Year went to the Taranaki On-Call Rescue Squad, who fundraised fiercely to raise enough money to purchase the area’s first Rescue Water Craft, worth more than $50,000.

“Within its first week it completed two rescues out off back beach,” says the Call-Out Squad’s manager David Bentley.

“It’s speed to get to victims has seen praise by the Police Search and Rescue, and is a game changer for the region.”

The annual Awards of Excellence are held in Surf Life Saving NZ areas throughout the country, leading up to the National Awards of Excellence, later in the year.

Taranaki Awards of Excellence winners 2019

Trophies – Overall:

Senior Team of the Year
East End Reg Open Mens IRB Team - Scott Nelson, Liam Cole & Josh Goble

Junior Team of the Year
East End U19 Woman Double Ski Team - Claudia Kelly & Hannah Baker

Taranaki Team of the Year
East End Reg Open Mens IRB Team - Scott Nelson, Liam Cole & Josh Goble

Sportsperson of the Year
Claudia Kelly - East End

Senior Sportsman of the Year
Zac Reid – Fitzroy

Valda Walsh Cup - Senior Sportswoman of the Year
Claudia Kelly - East End

Junior Sportsman of the Year
Joe Collins - Fitzroy

Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Claudia Kelly - East End

Official of the Year
Vaughn Garrett - NPOB

Instructor of the Year
Anna Beavis - Fitzroy

Beryl Glentworth Trophy – Rescue of the Year
Alex Fraser, Fitzroy SLSC

Wendy Snowden Memorial Trophy - Lifeguard of the Year
Michael Debique - Opunake

Peter Steffenson Trophy - Coach of the Year
Joel Meuli - East End

Michael Taylor Trophy
Darren James – Fitzroy

James Hunt Memorial - Volunteer of the Year
Trent Oliver - Opunake

Dewar Whiskey Cup
Season Interclub Aggregate, East End

Taranaki Service Award
Anthony North, East End SLSC.

Taranaki Distinguished Service Award
Anthony North, East End SLSC

Innovation of the Year
Taranaki Rescue Call-Out Squad (for fundraising for the area’s first rescue water craft)

Patrol Club of the Year
Fitzroy SLSC

Club of the Year
East End SLSC

Junior Surf Awards, Taranaki Championships overall age winners:

U8 Girl                         Lucia Milla, Fitzroy SLSC
U8 Boy (first equal)      Jesse Plant, East End SLSC
                                   Black McGlashin, Fitzroy SLSC
                                  Jackson Rowlands, East End SLSC
U9 Girl                        Renee Fleming, Opunake SLSC
U9 Boy                        Levi Devine-Collins, Fitzroy SLSC
U10 Girl                       Millie Wolfe, Fitzroy SLSC
U10 Boy                       Ethan Peacock, NPOB SLSC
U11 Girl                       Alexis Elemam, Fitzroy SLSC
U11 Boy                      Chris Callebaut, Fitzroy SLSC
U12 Girl                       Hayley Tewhata, NPOB SLSC
U12 Boy                       Callum Gordon, East End SLSC
U13 Girl                       Bella Wansbrough, Fitzroy SLSC
U13 Boy                       Daniel Callebaut, Fitzroy SLSC
U14 Girl                       Emma Shotter, East End SLSC
U14 Boy                       Fenton McArthur, NPOB SLSC
John Dent Trophy, Overall Points U13 Boys, 1st        Daniel Callebaut, Fitzroy SLSC
John Dent Trophy, Overall Points U13 Boys, 2nd       Zak Johnson, Fitzroy SLSC
John Dent Trophy, Overall Points U13 Boys, 3rd        Arlo Jordan, East End SLSC
Jim Morwood Trophy, Overall Points U13 Girls, 1st     Bella Wansbrough, Fitzroy SLSC
Jim Morwood Trophy, Overall Points U13 Girls, 2nd    Tara Shotter, East End SLSC
Jim Morwood Trophy, Overall Points U13 Girls, 3rd     Tiani Kensington, NPOB SLSC
Dunlop Barrett Cup, Overall Points U14 Girls, 1st       Emma Shotter, East End SLSC
Dunlop Barrett Cup, Overall Points U14 Girls, 2nd      Ellie Dinnison, NPOB SLSC
Dunlop Barrett Cup, Overall Points U14 Girls, 3rd       Renee Pratt, East End SLSC
McLean Cup Overall Points U14 Boys, 1st                  Zac Stolte, Fitzroy SLSC
McLean Cup Overall Points, 13 Boys, 2nd                  Dean Clarkson, East End SLSC
McLean Cup Overall Points, 13 Boys, 3rd                   Oscar Rust, Fitzroy SLSC
East End Cadet Cup (Club)                                        Fitzroy SLSC

Sports Awards:
Top U16 Woman Taranaki Champs, 1st                      Sophia Taylor, East End SLSC
Top U16 Woman Taranaki Champs, 2nd                     Yannika Harrop, NPOB SLSC
Top U16 Man Taranaki Champs, 1st                           Olly Spicer, NPOB SLSC
Top U16 Man Taranaki Champs, 2nd                          Brayden Meuli, East End SLSC
Top U19 Woman Taranaki Champs, 1st                      Claudia Kelly, East End SLSC
Top U19 Woman Taranaki Champs, 2nd                      Sasha Reid, Fitzroy SLSC
Top U19 Woman Taranaki Champs, 3rd (equal)           Hannah Baker, East End SLSC and Lucy North, East End SLSC
Top U19 Man Taranaki Champs, 1st                           Joe Collins, Fitzroy SLSC
Top U19 Man Taranaki Champs, 2nd                          Zac Reid, Fitzroy SLSC
Top U19 Man Taranaki Champs, 3rd                           Niwa Barlow, East End SLSC
Top Open Woman Taranaki Champs, 1st                     Claudia Kelly, East End SLSC
Top Open Woman Taranaki Champs, 2nd                    Briar Osborne, East End SLSC
Top Open Woman Taranaki Champs, 3rd (equal)         Jordan Grylls, NPOB and Julia Padrutt, East End SLSC
Top Open Man Taranaki Champs, 1st                         Joe Collins, Fitzroy SLSC
Top Open Man Taranaki Champs, 2nd                        Joel Meuli, East End SLSC
Top Open Man Taranaki Champs, 3rd                         Niwa Barlow, East End SLSC
Top IRB Crew Taranaki Champs U19 Men, 1st             Andrew Carley and Robson Old, East End SLSC
Top IRB Crew Taranaki Champs - U19 Women, 1st      Katrina Lilley and Zoe Honeyfield, NPOB SLSC
Top IRB Crew Taranaki Champs - U19 Women, 2nd     Aleisha Sadler & Rocki Robinson, East End SLSC
Top IRB Crew Taranaki Champs - Open Women, 1st    Mckenzie Molle & Kylie Squire, East End SLSC
Top IRB Crew Taranaki Champs - Open Men, 1st         Scott Nelson and Liam Cole, East End SLSC

Award - Junior Carnivals:
Top overall points U11 Boys 1st                                 Chris Callebaut, Fitzroy SLSC
Top overall points U11 Boys 2nd                                Soren Bucka, Fitzroy SLSC
Top overall points U11 Boys 3rd                                 Ben Helms, NPOB SLSC
Top overall points U11 Girls 1st                                  4Alexis Elemam, Fitzroy SLSC
Top overall points U11 Girls 2nd                                 McKenzie Rowlands, East End SLSC
Top overall points U11 Girls 3rd (equal)                      Chelsea Gartner, Fitzroy SLSC and Rosie Moffitt, NPOB SLSC
Top overall points U12 Boys 1st                                 Callum Gordon, East End SLSC
Top overall points U12 Boys 2nd                                Asher Hales, East End SLSC
Top overall points U12 Boys 3rd                                 Monty Larsen, Fitzroy SLSC
Top overall points U12 Girls 1st                                  Hayley Tewhata, NPOB SLSC
Top overall points U12 Girls 2nd                                 Eva Martin, NPOB SLSC
Top overall points U12 Girls 3rd (equal)                       Freya Stolte, Fitzroy SLSC and Beatrice Knapton, NPOB SLSC

Ends

File photos for Surf Life Saving NZ can be found here.

For more information, please contact:
Joel Meuli, Surf Life Saving NZ central region club support officer
Phone: 027 511 1026, joel.meuli@surflifesaving.org.nz

Surf Life Saving NZ media and communications
Phone: 021 636 647, media@surflifesaving.org.nz