By Dave Foley, Secretary NZDF Sports Committee
AC Ensor and AC Tuffey
The inaugural CDF Sports Awards Dinner was held at Trentham Gardens on Thursday 26 March 2009. The awards acknowledged sporting excellence in the Individual; Official; Team and Outstanding categories for the 2008 sporting year.
A highlight was having the Minister of Defence, the Honourable Dr Wayne Mapp, as the Guest of Honour. He spoke about the importance of sport and the benefits it brings to the NZDF. Well known New Zealand entertainer Frankie Stevens was the Master of Ceremonies who kept the audience well entertained throughout the evening with his humour complimented by his singing a number of New Zealand songs midway through the awards presentations. Guests were also entertained with music from the RNZAF Band. CN, CA, DCAF and COMJFNZ announced the nominees and winners in the respective categories and CDF presented NZDF Colour blazers to W/O Tony Katting for services to Rugby, CAPT Grant McCarroll for services to Softball and LT Kerry Climo for services to Touch.
NZDF Sports Team of the Year
Guest speaker Steve Gurney of coast to coast fame presented a fascinating speech. He has competed nationally and internationally and featured in television competitions ‘Clash of the Codes’ and ‘Blood Sweat and Fears’. He also competed in endurance adventure races overseas; traversing jungles, swamps, rivers, seas, deserts, mountains and streams. Steve was awarded the Order of Merit in the 2004 New Year’s honours ‘for services to endurance sport’. His book Lucky Legs (what he’s learned about winning and losing) was published in 2008.
CDF commented on the outstanding calibre of all nominees and praised those sponsors for their ongoing support to these awards. The winning recipients in all categories expressed how important sport was in promoting the values of Physical Fitness; Leadership; Teamwork. Esprit de Corps; Comradeship and Public Image as well as the support provided by the single Services and their Families in enabling them to achieve their goals.
Individual Sportsperson of the Year
NZDF Sports Official of the Year
Is awarded to an individual who makes an outstanding individual playing contribution to NZDF Sport(s).
Nominees were: SPR Paul Davis and AC Kahla Tuffey
The winner of the Individual category was:
Sports Official of the Year
Is awarded to the administrator and/or official who has made the most outstanding contribution to NZDF Sport(s).
Nominees were: LTCDR Phil Eagle, SSGT Nicky Hansen and F/S Peter Richardson
The winner of the Official category was:
Sports Team of the Year
Is awarded to a NZDF Team that makes the most outstanding team contribution to NZDF Sport.
Nominees were: Cricket, Rugby (1st XV), Netball and Women’s Football
The winner of the Team category was:
Outstanding Sports Award
Awarded to NZDF Individual(s) or Team who has/have made the most outstanding achievement in any sport.
Nominees were: ASA Jo Leef, LT Raylene Kirk and AC Amy Ensor
The winner of the Outstanding category was: