The Southern Lakes District and Central Otago communities last night (Friday May 10) celebrated the region’s array of talented, inspirational athletes and officials at the Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards at the Lake Wānaka Centre.

Wānaka multisport athlete Simone Maier was one of the first three inductees into the new Hall of Fame, introduced this year by Sport Central.

Simone (who in February won the Coast to Coast Longest Day event for the fifth time, equalling the women’s record for most wins at the event) was joined by inductees Valmai Breen (softball) and John Roche (golf). 

The hotly contested Junior Sportswoman and Sportsman categories won by young Wānaka snowsports athletes Lucia Georgalli and Luke Harrold, respectively..

The Youth Olympic Games medalists came out on top from large fields of excellent talent. 

Senior sportsman was won by golfer Ben Campbell (Queenstown) and Alice Robinson (also Queenstown) won the Senior Sportswomen of the year after a standout season with five

podium finishes at World level. 

Alice went on to win the overall Forsyth Barr Supreme award, the Bruce Grant Memorial Trophy. 

Wānaka’s Rae Paterson, long term head coach of Aspiring Gymsports, won the John Fitzharris Trophy for services to sport.

Sport Central community sport advisor Jo Knight said ticket sales for the awards night were “huge”, with the venue packed with sports enthusiasts from Maniototo, Queenstown and all points in between. 

She said nominations reached a record high this year and the calibre of finalists once again impressed the judges. 

Sport Central thanked sponsors Central Lakes Trust, Forsyth Barr and Queenstown Lakes District Council.