The Upper Clutha is well represented among the Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards finalists named this week with 24 of the 57 selected finalists residing here.

As expected snow sports is well represented with Zoi Sadowski-Synnot (last year’s supreme winner) named in the sportswoman category and brothers Ben and Luca Harrington along with Campbell Wright named in the Sportsman category.

The awards introduced a new format this year focused on the quality of the performance to gauge the number of finalists as opposed to having an arbitrary number of finalists.

This has resulted in 57 finalists (including team members) representing 17 different codes.

Sport Central’s Jo Knight was especially pleased with the number and quality of the women's finalists, with five different codes represented in both the junior and senior categories. 

In a statement, Sport Central thanked Forsyth Barr and the QLDC for their major sponsorship contribution as well as the ten category sponsors saying that without their support the event would not be possible.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Lake Wānaka Centre on Friday May 12, which will include guest speaker and commonwealth games medallist Lewis Clareburt.

Tickets to the awards night can be purchased here.

Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards 2023 Finalists (Upper Clutha finalists in italics) 

Bike it Now Sportsman

Ben Harrington, Luca Harrington, Campbell Wright, Ryan Young and Jackson Rogers 

Gary Anderson Sportswomen

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Ruby Star Andrews, Alice Robinson, Bridget Becker, Eden Carson, Kalani Muirhead, Simone Maier, Paige Loggenburg 

Gallaway Cook Allan Junior Sportsman

Finley Melville Ives, Oliver Watson Palmer, Campbell Melville Ives, Luke Harrold, Gustav Legnavsky, Kai Milburn, Marley King Smith, Eddie Adams 

Health 2000 Junior Sportswomen

Lucia Georgalli, Mikayla Smyth, Phoebe Laker, Sophie Fountain, Mackenzi Jackson, Siena Mackley 

Workplace First Aid Coach

Sean Thompson, Tommy Pyatt, Michael Beable, John Morrison, Lisa Fridd, Hamish McDougall 

Jennian Homes Teams

Manorburn Curling Club, NZ Women’s Curling team, Nasby Four Bowls team, Wakatipu High School U18 Double Sculls 

Southern Lakes Motors Para Athlete

Adam Hall and Pam Walker 

Wanaka Physio Senior Spirit

Peter Becker, Lily Grimshaw, Bonny Teat 

Duncan and Kelly Good, Ray White Junior Spirit of Central

Jessica Lake, Mathilda Watterson, Siena Mackley 

Findex Official

Flick Wallace and Sashi McLeod

PHOTO: Sport Otago