Sportsmen and women from throughout the NZDF gathered together to celebrate sporting excellence at the Annual Sports Awards held over a lunch at the Westpac Trust Stadium recently.
L-R: LTCDR Michael Hestor; CAPT Anika Tiplady; Andy Leslie; POS Randal Bartholemew; and F/S Peter Richardson. (OH-08-0253-39-tn).
In his opening address Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae drew parallels between competing in a sport, which tests skill, agility and physical strength, and the conduct of military activities. A highlight of the lunch was listening to the guest speaker Andy Leslie, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union and former All Black as he regaled the audience with behind-the-scenes tales of the ill-fated Rugby World Cup in 2007. On hand to assist with the presentation of the awards were the sponsors whose support of NZDF sport has been unfailing and generous. New Zealand Teamwear has been a sponsor for the past six years and according to the company’s Sales Support Manager Kylie Chandler this relationship continues because of the common goals and “synergy between our organisations."
F/S P Richardson receives his award, for Sports Administrator of the Year, from Chief of Defence Force LT GEN J Mateparae. (OH-08-0253-30-tn).
“NZDF is a very important and long term customer for NZ Teamwear and the sponsorship gives us the opportunity to give something back to NZDF by recognising the achievements of the NZDF personnel excelling in their chosen sporting fields. NZ Teamwear (Canterbury) is proud to be associated with such an important organisation as NZDF,” she said. Relationship Manager Ken Monk from Lumley General Insurance who underwrite the “Inforce“ insurance scheme said one of the key ingredients to a partnership is support. “Our support is in the form of sport sponsorship. We have observed sport is an important part of defence life and through sponsoring sport, we can attend sporting events to get to know our partner.” Other sponsors of the awards included Badger Apparel, Hills Hats and Hot Shots – the Armed Forces Canteen Council. Of course sports awards are about the sports people and 2008 had an impressive line-up of nominees and winners.
L-R: CAPT A Tiplady with Kylie Chandler and Eva Craig from Teamwear NZ. (OH-08-0253-41-tn).
CAPT Anika Tiplady beat fellow nominees FLTLT Craig Searle and OSA Josephine Leef to win Individual Sports Person of the Year for her commitment to NZ Army and NZDF football and touch rugby. Selected as a “new cap” for the 2007 NZDF football team she played against the Manawatu Central side and for the NZDF open women’s touch team who beat the touring Australian Defence Force side. CAPT Tiplady is also an accomplished rugby player and has been selected for the Manawatu Women’s Provincial side and the New Zealand “Black Ferns”. For the Sports Official of the Year, F/S Peter Richardson won over fellow nominee WO2 Dean Groves for his role as manager of the 2007 NZDF rugby team, together with being a member of the strategic planning committee responsible for organising the Pacific Nations Defence Rugby Tournament due to be held next year. The indefatigable F/S Richardson was also manager of the 2007 NZDF cricket team which played an Auckland Invitation XI in February 2007. It was the NZDF Men’s Hockey Team who walked away with the title of NZDF Sports Team of the Year, beating fellow nominees NZDF netball and NZDF football.
Andy Leslie (President NZRU). (OH-08-0253-37-tn).
The hockey team competed at the senior national 2nd division tournament in Christchurch in September 2007 for the first time. Undaunted and unbeaten they finished the round robin stage in first place resulting in a promotion to 1st Division for 2008. The category for Outstanding Sports Persons of the Year saw some of the most talented sportspeople in NZDF nominated including AC Amy Ensor who represented New Zealand at the Oceania Games in Sydney in the women’s individual and team small-bore shooting. CAPT Shanon Stallard who finished 8th overall and the 1st non-elite age group athlete in the New Zealand Half Ironman Championships and SLT Jan Peterson who is a member of the New Zealand Senior Men’s Hockey Team – the Black Sticks. There could only be one winner and that went to LTCDR Michael Hester who as a respected Football referee is a Convenor of NZDF referees, a member of FIFA, the Hyundai ‘A’ League and the NZFC referee panels. Last year LTCDR Hester refereed at the much publicised Phoenix vs LA Galaxy match featuring David Beckham. The biggest triumph is yet to come for LTCDR Hester who announced at the lunch that he has been selected as a referee for the Olympics later this year in Beijing.