Sport The annual Sports Awards recognises outstanding talent across a range of codes.

2019 SPORTS AWARDS

The annual Sports Awards evening was held at Eden Park on Friday 25 October, with guest speaker New Zealand rugby union player, Sarah Hirini.

Awards are made at Merit, Distinction, Blues and Honours levels. The Honours Award recognises achievement at the highest level, the recipients having demonstrated exceptional ability in their chosen sports and represented New Zealand at a world championship event. Indicative of the high level of achievement by Dio sportswomen across different codes, this year there were seven recipients of the Honours Award.

TOP HONOURS

HONOURS AWARDS

Lena Jacob – Fencing

Lena Jacob has a habit of winning, and after a stellar year in 2018 with multiple titles, Lena has followed up in 2019 with over 10 more, both as an individual and as part of a team. Competing against the world’s best is where Lena thrives, and this year she placed eighth at the European Championships and competed at the Asian and prestigious World Championships with solid finishes in both. It’s easy to say that Lena has

Honors Award winners From left to right:

Morgan McDowall, Sophie Shorter-Robinson, Charlotte Hooke, Sarah Hirini (Guest Speaker), Alice Haslett, Georgia Skelton, Lena Jacob and Halle Rankin Hastie.

talent, but it is her determination, will to win and her attention to detail, always looking to improve, that keeps her ahead of the game. Congratulations Lena on a brilliant year!

Georgia Skelton – Orienteering / mountain biking

A double Honours Award winner, Georgia has represented New Zealand at world championship events in both codes. Her orienteering feats in 2019 include winning the Auckland and NZSS long events and representing New Zealand on three separate occasions in Australia, Estonia and Denmark at the Junior World Championships and World Schools’ Championships. Then to her mountain bike orienteering feats: winner of the Women’s 21 Elite Sprint Championships, winner of all three distances at the NSW MTBO Championships, selected one of only two to represent New Zealand at the Junior World MTBO Championships and placing in the top 11 in three events! Congratulations Georgia – what a year 2019 has been for you!

Alice Haslett – Sailing

Alice has a wisdom and ability on the water well beyond her age, remaining calm and focused regardless of the elements. This comes from having great trust in her abilities and confidence that she has done all the right preparation. Alice trains diligently and takes no shortcuts. In 2019 she was selected to represent New Zealand at the World 420 Championships in Portugal and in the Open Women’s fleet she placed 19th, a fantastic result against the world’s best. Alice was also a key member of the Dio premier sailing team that won top girls’ school in the country; her leadership and experience were crucial to this team’s success. We look

forward following Alice in the future and wish her the very best.

Halle Rankin Hastie – Trampolining

A trampolining maestro, Halle has soared to great heights in 2019. At the most recent New Zealand nationals, Halle placed second in the junior international division, and at the most recent Australian Championships she also placed second. This competition carried significant weight as it was a qualification event for the World Age Group Championships in December this year. Needing a great performance to qualify, Halle gained a personal best score in both the set and voluntary routines – it’s exactly that type of rising to an occasion that makes her such a competitor and special athlete. In a sport where the slightest missed alignment can spell disaster, Halle shows great control and ease of movement. Congratulations and we wish you the very best at the World Championships in December.

Charlie Hooke – Water polo

With a demanding work ethic, the success of the Dio water polo programme is well known, and hard work is something Charlie Hooke is not afraid of. Quick reactions, an ability to read the game, positioning of defenders and accurate throwing don’t just come by luck. Charlie is an all-round talent with few weaknesses in her game. Charlie represented New Zealand at the most recent TransTasman Challenge and the U-20 Junior World Championships in Madeira in September. On both these occasions her shot-blocking prowess was on show. Charlie is far more than a great goalie, she is a great teammate and leader – a well-deserving Honours Award winner for 2019. Morgan McDowall – Water polo

It’s easy to label talent as a reason for someone’s success, but it’s the time and effort in training combined with an attitude to dominate, no matter who the opposition, that makes Morgan a true champion. This year Morgan was selected to represent New Zealand at the Senior World Championships in Gwangju, China, the pinnacle event of the sport. As one of the top players in the country, Morgan has already made a huge mark on the sport; as a member of the back-to-back national champion water polo team, Morgan has been a vital player and leader. Morgan has already achieved so much, and with her attitude and the effort she puts in, we are sure she will achieve so much more.

Sophie Shorter-Robinson – Water polo

Sophie plays at a level and ability most grown women aspire to. Only in Year 11, Sophie has become a water polo star and was a crucial goal scorer in many big games. 2019 saw her selected to represent New Zealand at the Junior Women’s World Championships in Madeira in September. In the pool Sophie is not just a goal-scoring machine, she uses great technique and knowledge to be in the right place at the right time and most importantly, to finish. This is a wisdom and in-game skill that makes her a player everyone wants on their team. Sophie, we look forward to your bright future in the sport.

SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR This year the Diocesan Sports Team of the Year award was shared by the premier sailing and water polo teams.

In a sport that has long enjoyed success at Dio, this was another stellar year for sailing. These girls are the top girls’ secondary school team in the country. It takes great courage, commitment and a bit of risk to be successful on the sea, as well as great preparation and strategy, and it is safe

to say this team has it all. But what is truly special is the team’s willingness to perform for each other, to really compete as a team. Congratulations to Diocesan premier sailing!

Diocesan premier water polo – Auckland, North Island and National Champions, not just for one year, but two years straight. A team built on hard work, playing for each other and high standards, they conquered all comers in 2019. Individually 10 of these girls have represented New Zealand this year and with that talent often comes further challenge, but these girls have made it all work – what a season and what team!

THE FINAL TOP AWARDS

The final top awards for the evening were the Del Hooper Cup for Outstanding Individual Achievement, jointly won by Morgan McDowall and Alice Haslett, and the Sportswoman of the Year Cup. This year’s winner was Georgia Skelton.

We look forward to following Georgia, Morgan and Alice as they continue their journeys in the realm of highperformance sport and, like all our top award winners, represent all that is great about Diocesan sport.

For a full list of the awards presented at the Sports Awards, please visit our website

diocesan.school.nz/news

Water Polo Team of the Year Back row, left to right: Olivia Clark, Madeleine Gault, Sophie Shorter-Robinson, Charlotte Hooke, Abigail Allison, Claudia Avis, Laura Whitley, Samantha Robinson. Front row, left to right: Isabelle Jackson, Morgan McDowall, Jess Shorter-Robinson, Eleanor Spillane, Isabella Broadmore.

Sailing Team of the Year Left to right: Mackenzie Alderson, Zoe Dawson, Lucy Tucker, Zara Tucker, Sophie Cooke, Alice Haslett

The Spraggon McFarlane Cup, awarded to an outstanding sports captain – Mackenzie Alderson and Eleanor Spillane

The Dio Sport Student Coach of the Year

– Victoria Hutt

The Dio Sport Student Official of

the Year – Gabby de Latour

The Dio Sport Coach of the Year

– Jose Fowler

The Angela Coe Cup for Volunteer of the Year

– Sarah and Warren Couillault

The Fuji Xerox Staff

Contribution to Sport Award – Kit Bushell The Vicki Hearfield Cup, awarded to a student showing an exceptionally high level of initiative, enthusiasm and passion for their chosen sport – Lauren MacGillivray The Allison Roe Service to Sport Award, awarded to a student who has contributed to Diocesan sport as an athlete and a leader over her secondary school years – Ella Cooper