Counties Manukau Sport

Counties Manukau Sports Foundation in association with Franklin Local Board is proud to present the 2023 Franklin Junior Sports Awards.

Nominations are now open and will close on Wednesday 1st May. Once closed, the judging panel will meet the following week. All nominees will be notified vie email by Thursday 9th May 2024 as to whether or not they are a finalist.

The annual awards will be held at Navigation Homes Stadium, 21 Stadium Drive, Pukekohe on Sunday 26th May 2024 from 5.30-7.30pm.

The qualifying period for year of performance is 1st January 2023 - 1st January 2024.

Please only list achievements completed in this time frame. All achievements outside this time frame will not be taken into consideration.

Any questions please contact Justine Maddern | justinem@cmsport.co.nz | 021 484 072

2022 Franklin Junior Sports Awards Winners

Charli is a para-athlete who competes in the T38 / F38 and T37/F37 Para Divisions. At 15 Charli holds 17 national athletic records for NZ Athletics in many age categories. Charlie also holds an impressive 14 Auckland records 9 being in the Under 17 women's and 5 in the under 20 women’s.

Charli competed in the NZSS Cross Country & Swimming Champs, North & South Island Colgate Games, Auckland Athletics Champs, NZSS North Island Athletics Champs, and the College Sport: Athletics, Cross Country, Duathlon, swimming, and Road race champs. Within these competitions Charli has received 27 gold medals, 6 Silver and 1 bronze medal.

Charli also helps with club night warm-ups and assisting para kids who are new to athletics at the parafed Auckland athletics sessions.

Samantha has done exceptionally well in rowing, including winning gold in the women’s club coxless pair oars and placing 6th in the women’s club single sculls in the 2022 NZ rowing champs in Twizel. Samantha has also competed at the MAADI Cup in Twizel where she placed within the Top 10 of numerous categories. She was awarded the John Drummond Trophy in 2022 as the most disciplined and motivated girl's crew.

As a result of her achievements and after receiving several offers, Samantha has accepted a full ride athletic scholarship with the Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas who are currently #11 in the USA Divisions for women’s rowing. Samantha is currently in Dallas and her parents are here tonight to represent her.

Ruben has competed in a variety of regional table tennis tournaments and has had countless triumphs. Ruben placed first in the Counties Manukau Table Tennis Association Under 11 Boys tournament as well as the under 11 mixed doubles. Ruben has also had several school and club achievements including winning the 2022 Hunua Table Tennis Club Competition in the under 11 boys’ category. Ruben plays for Clevedon Football which he won the Sportsmanship award and player of the year in 2022. He is also heavy involved in cricket, swimming and athletics.

Georgia is an integral part of the TTT runners coaching team. Most notably she coaches the Kids and junior training sessions weekly in which she is responsible for facilitating training sessions for a group of junior athletes. On top of this Georgia coaches cross country, track and road sessions for the junior athletes during various times of the year. Georgia is also a sports prefect for 2023 at ACG Strathallan based on her involvement and achievements in Athletics. One of these achievements includes being the 2022 ACG Strathallan All Round Sportswoman of the Year award.

Caleb is a NZ representative for the Under 18 National Baseball team. At 15 he was one of 20 players selected for this team and competed at the WBSC Oceania Qualifiers held in Auckland in December 2022. Caleb’s team made history during pool play when they won against Australia (10-6) for the first time ever in this age group which saw them through to the Grand Final. Caleb is also a representative for the under 15 Auckland Tuatara Baseball Team and competed in the Down Under Winter Classic tournament held in the Gold Coast. Caleb has been awarded numerous titles and trophies including the Golden Glove Trophy, CY Young Trophy, and the MVP Trophy for the under 16 Counties Baseball Team at the club prize giving for Karaka Sports Park in 2022.

Bethany was selected by Basketball Pacific to referee at the Australian Junior Country Cup Basketball Nationals to take place in Australia. Bethany was one of 7 New Zealanders to be given this opportunity.

Bethany was the referee for the Basketball NZ AON Under 17 nationals along with her sister. Bethany has numerous achievements in refereeing basketball and has been selected to referee for the college sport Auckland mens and womens premier basketball. Bethany also has a history of coaching basketball at Tuakau College and has been selected into Franklin Junior Bulls Basketball Academy as a player.

2021 Franklin Junior Sports Awards Winners

Sporting Excellence Award & Under 19 Sportswoman of the Year

Leititia Vaka (Rugby)

Sponsored by Malcolm Wrigley Insurance

In 2021, Leititia attended the New Zealand Rugby Women’s development camp. Leititia has been a member of the Counties Manukau Women’s Power heat team for the past few years, and played for the Moana Pasifika Under 21’s team in 2020 who were the curtain raiser for the Moana Pasifika vs Maori All Blacks. In 2020 Leititia was also a member of the Chiefs Under 18 team and Leititia was selected for the World Schools sevens team. Leititia is the 2021 Head girl for Wesley College and captain of their girls first 15 rugby team.

Rising Star Award

Jack Henry (Rowing)

Sponsored by Shoe Science Pukekohe

Competed in the 2021 MAADI cup where he placed 1st in the U16 single sculls, and 4th in the U17 double sculls. At the NZ club champs, Jack placed 6th for the open age club single sculls and was the fastest North Islander at the North Island rowing championships. At the North Island Schools champs, Jack placed first in the U16 single sculls and third in the U17 Double sculls. As well as rowing, Jack is a member of the Onewhero school First XV rugby team who placed in the top of the Counties Manukau Rugby competition. Jack is also the coach of the Onewhero School Rugby 7’s AIMS team.

Under 16 Sportswoman of the Year

Charli Gardiner-Hall (Athletics)

Sponsored by Flower & Gift Shoppe

Charli is a para athlete who competes in the T38/F38 Para Division. Charli holds 8 records for NZ Athletics & Auckland Athletics in the U17 Women’s category. She also holds 4 NZ Athletics records & Auckland Athletics records in the U20 women’s category, & an open age Women’s record. Competed at the 2021 Halberg Games, in Athletics and Swimming where she received 1 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medal. Competed in the NZSS Cross Country & Swimming Champs, North & South Island Colgate Games, Auckland Athletics Champs, NZSS North Island Athletics Champs, and the College Sport: Athletics, Cross Country, Duathlon, swimming, and Road race champs. Charli received an impressive total of 32 Gold, 6 Silver and 1 bronze medal across these competitions. Charli also helps with club night warm-ups and assisting para kids who are new to athletics at the parafed Auckland athletics sessions.

Under 13 Sportsman of the Year

Ariston Kounoudis (Squash)

Supported by Grassroots Trust

Ariston came runner up in the E grade of the New Zealand Junior Squash open in April 2021. He was also the winner of the Boys Division 3 grade at the Auckland Junior Open and Runner up in the team event at the Auckland Super Champs. Ariston won the Junior Franklin Champs, and was the D grade winner for the Franklin open. He was runner up in the D grade for the Franklin club champs, the Papakura open, and received the Montgomery cup at the Franklin event.

Under 13 Sportswoman of the Year

Paige Fletcher (Athletics)

Sponsored by McDonalds Pukekohe

At 11 years old, Paige was the number one ranked athlete in shotput and discus for her age in New Zealand. Paige attended the Colgate games where she received gold for the 100m sprint, 200m sprint, shotput and discus. Paige represented her school at the Franklin Intermediate Athletics Champs, and the Auckland Intermediate Athletics Champs where she set a new record for the Auckland Year 7 girls shotput. Paige has received numerous awards at her athletics club & school sports prizegiving and participates in a number of other sports. She also helps to coach younger athletes, and officiate when needed.

Under 16 Sportsman of the Year

Jack Henry (Rowing)

Sponsored by Pak'n'Save Pukekohe

Competed in the 2021 MAADI cup where he placed 1st in the U16 single sculls, and 4th in the U17 double sculls. At the NZ club champs, Jack placed 6th for the open age club single sculls and was the fastest North Islander at the North Island rowing championships. At the North Island Schools champs, Jack placed first in the U16 single sculls and third in the U17 Double sculls. As well as rowing, Jack is a member of the Onewhero school First XV rugby team who placed in the top of the Counties Manukau Rugby competition. Jack is also the coach of the Onewhero School Rugby 7’s AIMS team.

Junior Official of the Year

Bethany Mahoney (Basketball)

Sponsored by The Village Bar & Kitchen

Selected by Basketball NZ to referee at the 2021 NZ National U15 champs, and the Boys U14 National Selection camp. In 2021, she also refereed for the U15 and U17 National Qualifiers Basketball tournament, Adults Basketball Special Olympics National Qualifier, the U15 & U13 Super city rep tournament, and was selected to refer at the Secondary Schools Northern cup tournament. She referees all levels for the Franklin Basketball association competitions and has been selected to referee finals for the U14 division. Bethany has her Basketball NZ Level 1 Theory Coaching Certificate and was an assistant coach for the Tuakau Bullets Basketball club Under 9 and Under 14 teams. Bethany also scores benches for basketball teams which involves electronic digital and manual score and time keeping, and Bethany can is a netball umpire too.

Junior Coach of the Year

Paris Boyce-Bacon (Gymnastics)

Sponsored by Colliers Pukekohe

Paris spends over 12 hours a week coaching for the Counties Manukau Gymnastics club where she coaches a competitive development group and a competitive level 2/3 gymnastics team who are ranked number 1 for their level in the country. Paris coaches a Girls Gymnastics team that won every team competition for the season and had team members who were champions in Vault, Beam, Bar and floor at every competition. Paris is also a qualified artistic gymnastics judge, aerobic gymnastics judge, and gives up her time to judge competitions around the country.

Junior Team of the Year

Franklin United Football Under 14 Girls Team

Sponsored by Franklin Law

The Franklin United Under 14 girls’ team are the only football team from South Auckland that are represented across Northern region football in the NRFL youth competition. They are the first Franklin youth team to be part of this competition and are competing at the highest youth level. This team has beat Auckland United, Western springs and Eastern suburbs who all have double the number of female players in their pool. Every player in this team is a junior accredited coach and were the driving force of forming the team with the determination to be part of a team that competes at the highest level.

2019 Franklin Junior Sports Awards Winners

U19 Sportswoman of the Year

Brittany Cunningham Lee (Football)

Sponsored by Malcolm Wrigley Insurance

Member of the New Zealand Under 17 Football team that competed in the FIFA U17 Women’s Football World cup in 2018. The team made New Zealand history by finishing in 3rd place and gaining a bronze medal. Britney has been selected for the Future Ferns development programme and national camp for the FIFA U20 World Cup. Britney is a member of the Auckland Football Federation National Womens team who placed third in the National Womens League. She was also the highest goal scorer for her Northern Region Football Leagues Premier Womens team in 2018 and was named Most Promising Player of the Year.

Sporting Excellence Award

Liam Lawson (Motorsport)
Liam is represented by a family member

Sponsored by Malcolm Wrigley Insurance

Formula 3 (Nov 2018), Lawson competed in season finale of Asian F3 Championship in 8th place. 2nd ADAC Formula 4 Championship with 3 wins, 3 pole positions claiming 2nd consecutive F4 vice-champion position. Toyota racing series (ending Nov 2018) M2 competition, taking 2 race wins, winning the Dorothy Smith Memorial Trophy and securing NZ Grand Prix title.

Rising Star Award

Harvey Humber (Gymnastics)

Sponsored by Shoe Science Pukekohe

Selected as first reserve for 2018 Commonwealth Games Men’s Gymnastics Team. Harvey has represented New Zealand at Cottbus World Cup where he placed 20th in the world on parallel bars and 23rd on rings. Harvey represented New Zealand in 2 world cups for 2019, and part of the Trans Tasman team who won gold. The New Zealand nationals saw Harvey receive one silver medal and place 4th overall as a male artistic gymnast. Harvey competed at Auckland Champs and received 2 Gold medals, competed at Christchurch Champs and received one silver medal, and 2 bronze medals. Harvey was awarded Top senior Male Gymnast and Gymnast of the Year for the Counties Manukau Gymnastics Club.

U19 Sportsman of the Year

Liam Lawson (Motorsport)
Liam is represented by a family member

Sponsored by Malcolm Wrigley Insurance

Formula 3 (Nov 2018), Lawson competed in season finale of Asian F3 Championship in 8th place. 2nd ADAC Formula 4 Championship with 3 wins, 3 pole positions claiming 2nd consecutive F4 vice-champion position. Toyota racing series (ending Nov 2018) M2 competition, taking 2 race wins, winning the Dorothy Smith Memorial Trophy and securing NZ Grand Prix title.

U16 Sportsman of the Year

James McGuire (Orienteering)

Sponsored by Pak'n'Save Pukekohe

In 2018 James competed in the New Zealand Secondary School Championships where he placed 1st in long distance, 6th in sprint, and 1st in the Relay team which he captained. At North Island Secondary School Championships, James placed 2nd in sprint, 2nd in long distance and was the captain of the relay team which came 1st. James was also the captain of his orienteering team who were winners of Counties Manukau South Sprint Series for 2018.

U16 Sportswoman of the Year

Elizabeth Murphy (Swimming)

Sponsored by Flower & Gift Shoppe

Selected to represent New Zealand at Australian State Teams Swimming Championships in 2018. Competed at New Zealand Age Group Championships where she received one Gold, one silver and 3 bronze medals. Top Counties Manukau Points scorer and 6th highest placed female in New Zealand. Attended NZ open swimming champs where she was selected to attend swimming NZ Development Camp. Won 11 gold and 2 silver medals at Counties Manukau Champs, and overall age group champ. Broke 7 out of 8 junior girls swimming records at school swimming sports and was junior girls swimming champion.

U13 Sportswoman of the Year

Paiton Taylor (BMX)

Sponsored by McDonalds Pukekohe

At 10 years old Paiton was the Sunset Coast BMX Club Champ Winner for her age group. Paiton went on to compete for a North Island Title where she placed 3rd and a Northern Region Race Series where she placed second. She was number 1 at New Zealand Nationals and placed seventh in the 9 to 11 junior superclass group. Paiton was also awarded the Sunset Coast BMX Club Sportswoman of the year for 2018.

Junior Team of the Year

Counties Manukau Hockey U13 Girls A Team 2018

Sponsored by Franklin Law

The Counties Manukau Hockey Under 13 Girls Team had great success at National Tournament in 2018. The girls had one of their players named as the second highest overall goal scorer for the tournament, and the team placed 7th out of 24 teams. A top 8 finish is the highest placing this team has ever achieved in the history of the Counties Manukau Hockey Under 13 Girls Team.

Junior Coach of the Year

Paris Boyce-Bacon (Gymnastics)

Sponsored by Stirling Sports Pukekohe

Paris coaches 3 recreational gymnastics and tumbling classes. She has taken a number of athletes to multiple competitions around Auckland where some of the athletes received gold medal placings or an overall team placing. Paris gives up part of her Saturday to coach an early stage gymnastics class for 4 to 6 year olds. Paris was named the Counties Manukau gymnastics Club Most improved Coach Award for 2018 and has subsequently been given a competitive group to coach for 2019 gymnastics season.

Junior Official of the Year

Finn Williams (Hockey)

Sponsored by The Village Bar & Kitchen

Awarded Level 1 Junior Umpiring Badge in 2018 by Hockey New Zealand. Finn umpired at multiple tournaments in 2018 including national secondary school Chica Gilmour Trophy, and National AIMS Games where he received the joint umpire of the tournament award. Finn umpired Pukekohe High School 1st eleven boys and girls teams, and Pukekohe intermediate school hockey team.

2018 Franklin Junior Sports Awards Winners

Sporting Excellence Award

Katene Clarke (Cricket)

In 2017, Katene was selected into the New Zealand U19 team who competed at the International Cricket World Cup played earlier this year. At the New Zealand U19 National Tournament, Katene captained the Northern Districts U19 Cricket team and was the top run scorer with 383 runs. He has also a member of the Counties Manukau Cricket Senior Mens team who are the current Hawke’s Cup holders. Katene is also a member of Pukekohe Metro Premier team who have won all four premiership trophies for the 2017/2018 season.

Rising Star Award

Tayla Norman (Touch/Rugby)

At 12 years old Tayla was selected into the New Zealand U16 Touch team to tour Australia at the end of this year. Tayla also represented Samoa in the U18 Rugby Sevens team at an International Secondary Schools Tournament last year. She is also a Counties Manukau U15 Girls Rugby representative in both the Fifteens and Sevens format. Tayla has also represented Counties Manukau in both the U12 and U16 touch teams. She was awarded Most Valuable Player for both teams.

U19 Sportswoman of the Year

Kiana Swain (Swimming)

Sponsored by Malcolm Wrigley Insurance

Kiana is a member of the New Zealand Swim Team that competed at the Australian Age Group Championships. Kiana came away with two bronze medals in the 100m and 200m butterfly. At the New Zealand Age Group Championships, Kiana won 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal. Adding to her medal tally Kiana won 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze in her age group races and 1 bronze medal in an open race. Kiana consistently finishes in the top three places at all New Zealand Secondary School Championships.

U19 Sportsman of the Year

Katene Clarke (Cricket)

Sponsored by Malcolm Wrigley Insurance

In 2017, Katene was selected into the New Zealand U19 team who competed at the International Cricket World Cup played earlier this year. At the New Zealand U19 National Tournament, Katene captained the Northern Districts U19 Cricket team and was the top run scorer with 383 runs. He has also a member of the Counties Manukau Cricket Senior Mens team who are the current Hawke’s Cup holders. Katene is also a member of Pukekohe Metro Premier team who have won all four premiership trophies for the 2017/2018 season.

U16 Sportsman of the Year

Callum Farmer (Orienteering)

Sponsored by Pak'n'Save Pukekohe

Callum is a member of the Counties Manukau Orienteering Club. In 2017 Callum was a part of the New Zealand Orienteering Team that competed at Bathurst. He placed frequently in the top 3 among a number of different disciplines. At the New Zealand Secondary School Championships Callum placed 7th in the sprint, 14th in the long and 5th in the relay. At the North Island Secondary School Championships, Callum placed 2nd in the sprint and 6th in the relay. In the Counties Mankuau Secondary School Sprint Series, he placed 2nd overall. Callum has a passion for all sports and represents Pukekohe High School in Rippa rugby, rugby union, cross country, and table tennis.

U16 Sportswoman of the Year

Paris Boyce-Bacon (Cheerleading)

Sponsored by Flower & Gift Shoppe

Paris was selected to represent New Zealand for cheerleading at the All Star Games held in Las Vegas last year. In aerobics, Paris placed 2nd overall in both the solo and team format at the New Zealand National Aerobics Championships. She also placed 1st overall in the Auckland, Tauranga and Taranaki Aerobics Championships as well as the Auckland Secondary School Gymnastics Championships. Paris also excels in athletics where she placed 2nd in the 200m and long jump at the Counties Manukau Secondary School Championships. In 2017, Paris was Rosehill College’s Junior Sportsperson of the Year. Among all her achievements, Paris also has time to coach recreational gymnastics after school and coaches the Rosehill College Cheerleading team.

U13 Sportsman of the Year

Quinn Gardiner-Hall

Sponsored by Business Plus One Ltd

At 11 years old Quinn has a bright future ahead of him. 2017 saw Quinn become the youngest ever runner in the world to complete the Antarctica Half Marathon. Quinn also won silver at the National School Duathlon Championships in the U12 boys’ grade. After teaching himself to race walk, he won the 2017 Race Walk at the North Island Colgate Games and set a new Auckland record. He was also selected into the 2018 Auckland Athletics Trans-Tasman team.

U13 Sportswoman of the Year

Tayla Norman

Sponsored by McDonalds Pukekohe

At 12 years old Tayla was selected into the New Zealand U16 Touch team to tour Australia at the end of this year. Tayla also represented Samoa in the U18 Rugby Sevens team at an International Secondary Schools Tournament last year. She is also a Counties Manukau U15 Girls Rugby representative in both the Fifteens and Sevens format. Tayla has also represented Counties Manukau in both the U12 and U16 touch teams. She was awarded Most Valuable Player for both teams.

Junior Team of the Year

Pukekohe Intermediate School Orienteering Team

Sponsored by Franklin Law

Pukekohe Intermediate School continues to build on their successful orienteering programme. 2017 saw them again dubbed the Top Year 7 & 8 School at the National Secondary Schools Championships held in Masterton last year. The Year 7 and 8 boys' relay team claimed first and third place, and the year 7 and 8 girls' relay team claimed fourth place at the championship. Pukekohe Intermediate School was also the top boys and overall Year 7 & 8 School at the North Island Secondary School Orienteering Championships. They consistently placed in the top 3 across all relay, pairs and individual events.

Junior Official of the Year

Cameron Hooper (Squash)

Sponsored by Premier Logos

Cameron proves age is no barrier in the squash umpiring realm. Last year at the age of 17, Cameron refereed at the Oceania Junior Squash Championships held in Tauranga. Cameron was also a finalist in the New Zealand Squash National Awards for Referee of the Year and was the winner of the Squash Auckland Referee of the Year Award for 2017. Cameron is also currently completing his testing for becoming a District Referee for Squash. At 17 he is the youngest player to ever begin this qualification.

Sporting Excellence Award

Amelia Marlow (Hockey)

Rising Star Award

Maraekaiti Nepia

Sponsored by the Aussie Butcher

U19 Sportsman of the Year

Dylan Moxon

Sponsored by Malcolm Wrigley Insurance

U19 Sportswoman of the Year

Amelia Marlow (Hockey)

Sponsored by Malcolm Wrigley Insurance

U16 Sportsman of the Year

Zachary Dell (Swimming)

Sponsored by Pak'n'Save Pukekohe

U16 Sportswoman of the Year

Grace Shroder (Gymnastics)

Sponsored by Flower & Gift Shoppe

U13 Sportsman of the Year

Maraekaiti Nepia

Sponsored by Pukekohe Physiotherapy

U13 Sportswoman of the Year

Maddison Plummer-Fonotoe (Gymnastics)

Sponsored by Franklin Local Board

Junior Team of the Year

Sunset Beach Hipsters Rowing Crew

Sponsored by Franklin Pool & Leisure

Junior Coach of the Year

Maraekaiti Nepia

Sponsored by Pak'n'Save Pukekohe

Junior Official of the Year

Dylan Moxon (Football)

Sponsored by Premier Logos