Para-Shooters and Para-Cyclists took home five of the seven awards on offer at last night’s 2014 Parafed Waikato Awards Evening. Para-Shooting took home three awards for the C1 South Volunteer of the Year won by Rene Eales, Medibank Health Solutions Coach of the Year was awarded to Dave Sheely and the Seating to Go Emerging Talent Award went to Cameron Frew. Para-Cyclist Tiffiney Perry took out the honour of Perry Group Sportsperson of the Year with her results at the UCI Paracycling World Championships and World Cup events placing her in the world top 10 for her class. She was part of the successful Morrinsville Wheelers Para-Cycling Team which included Tim Williams and Sue Reid, who won the Tichemja Trust Team of the Year.

This is the second time Parafed Waikato have hosted an awards evening to honour the volunteers, coaches and officials that support these talented athletes to achieve in their chosen sports. The athletes’ achievements speak for themselves and the depth of talent coming through the region was highlighted and celebrated during the evening. Held at SkyCity Hamilton, the evening was a great celebration of all thing Parafed and the depth of talent didn’t stop at just the athletes. Winner of the PWC Official of the Year, Carol Armstrong, revealed that refereeing at International Boccia Championships and top level New Zealand tournaments.

The Life Unlimited Junior Sportsperson of the Year was none other than Nikita Howarth, who won gold at the IPC Swimming World Championships in the SM7 200 Individual Medley. She was noticeably absent from the awards, currently away competing for New Zealand at both the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships in the United States.

Outgoing President of Parafed Waikato, Mike Posa was extremely proud to be working for an organisation with so much support and depth of talent “The second year of running the awards was always going to tell if it’s an initiative worth keeping. With the support we’ve received from sponsors and club members it clearly has been.”

Guest speakers for the night included Paralympian Duane Kale from Wellington, current member of the International Olympic Committee and Chef de Mission for the 2008 and 2012 Summer Paralympic Games. Joining him were two young talents from the region, Jacob Phillips (Para-Athletics) and Cameron Frew (Para-Shooting).

Winners:
C1 South Volunteer of the Year: Rene Eales, Para-Shooting
PWC Official of the Year: Carol Armstrong, Boccia
Medibank Health Solutions Coach of the Year: Dave Sheely, Para-Shooting
Tichemja Trust Team of the Year: Morrinsville Wheelers Para-Cycling Team
Seating to Go Emerging Talent of the Year: Cameron Frew, Para-Shooting
Life Unlimited Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Nikita Howarth, Para-Swimming
Perry Group Sportsperson of the Year: Tiffiney Perry, Para-Cycling