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2012 Franklin Junior Sports Awards - WINNERS Announced
Written by Deanne Thomas
30 August 20122012 Franklin Junior Sports Awards
Franklin's best junior sports stars could not be separated last week and for the first time in the Franklin Junior Sports Awards history the supreme award was shared.
New Zealand U17 football player Courteney van Lieshout and Junior Black Stick player Stephanie Mackie were joint winners of the top prize at Counties Manukau Sport's awards night on Thursday.
Courteney has been a shining light in Pukekohe football this season and her selection in the New Zealand U17 national side for the upcoming U17 World Cup proves she is ahead of her counterparts.
Her co-winner Stephanie has applied her skills in hockey and was recognised because of her selection in the New Zealand U18 Tiger Turf squad and the U21 Junior Black Sticks.
Stephanie was unable to attend Thursday's awards ceremony due to her involvement in crucial examinations at university.
The pair also received the joint award for U19 Sportswoman of the Year.
A major focus in the acceptance speeches on the night was the hefty involvement of the parents and the role they play in producing Franklin's young talent.
The hours they spend running their children to and from training and competitions was recognised by the award winners.
The U19 Sportsman of the Year went to Mathew Singh for his representation in Northern Districts cricket and the Pukekohe Metro premier team.
Liana Smith won the U16 Sportswoman of the Year through her many achievements in swimming for Howick Pakuranga Club and her school ACG Strathallen.
The U16 Sportsman award went to Trent Smith from the Pukekohe Tennis club.
Top All Rounder of the Year went to netball-playing athletics star Hanna Brough, and the Team of the Year was Pukekohe Swimming Club.
Hiroshi Ochiai, Ian McKinnon, Anne Walters and Hugo Fourie were thanked for their services to sport.
Bradley O'Callaghan was named Coach or official of the replica omega | replica louis vuitton handbags Year for his work with hockey teams at his school and in the Counties Manukau area.
The awards evening was held at Pukekohe Town Hall where MC George Hawera started proceedings by honouring New Zealand's soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan on August 19.
Counties Manukau Sport's Rick Pickard chatted to young cricketer Tamati Clark to find out what he has been up to since winning the U10 Sportsman of the Year award in 2009.
The awards' main sponsor was Malcolm Wrigley Insurance Services.
