Dressage duo scoop main prize at sports awards evening

Marlborough’s dressage ace Melissa Galloway capped off a hugely successful year by being named 2022 Marlborough Sportsperson of the Year tonight.

During a glittering night at the Marlborough Events Centre, Melissa initially claimed the Sportswoman of the Year category, then was awarded the annual Marlborough Sports Awards’ supreme prize.

Her recent rise in the rankings of her demanding and exacting sport has been spectacular. Taking their skills abroad paid huge dividends for Melissa and her mount Windermere J’Obei, the duo representing New Zealand with distinction against the world’s best at the 2022 World Equestrian Games.

Melissa qualified for, competed at and registered podium finishes in some of Europe’s most prestigious dressage events along the way. After being confirmed as part of the three-strong NZ dressage team, Melissa and “Joey” managed a personal best score at the worlds, reinforcing the fact they are well and truly on track for the ultimate goal, representing NZ at the Paris Olympics.

She was one of five category winners on the night who went on to contest the main award.

The Glenn Kirby, Bayleys Marlborough Junior Sportswoman of the Year was rower Charlotte Lightfoot who won the girls’ under-18 single sculls title for Queen Charlotte College at both the New Zealand and South Island secondary school Championships. Those efforts earned her selection into the NZ under-19 team which competed at the world championships in Italy.

Winner of the Redwood Trust Junior Sportsman of the Year award was squash player Paul Moran, who attended the world junior squash champs in France, representing NZ in both individual and team competition. He was runner-up in the NZ junior champs.

The Greywacke Sportsman of the Year was Callum Saunders, a member of the hugely-successful New Zealand track cycling team at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. He was part of the bronze medal-winning sprint team and finished fifth and best Kiwi in his favoured event, the keirin.

The fifth category, the WK Advisors and Accountants Team of the Year was taken out by the Wairau senior men’s quadruple sculls crew of Reuben Cook, Fred Vavasour, Kobe Miller and Logan Docherty. They claimed the premier men’s quad title at the South Island Club Champs as well as the Canterbury, Otago and Marlborough champs. They then took out the men's senior quad final at the New Zealand champs, underlining their status as the top men’s quad in the country.

The popular Marlborough Medal category, where someone who has given sterling service to their particular sport is recognised, was reintroduced this year. The recipient of the 2022 Marlborough Medal was smallbore shooter Val Wadsworth, a man who has put countless hours into his chosen sport over many decades, both as a top-level competitor and an administrator.

Major awards:

Fairweathers Marlborough Medal: Val Wadsworth – smallbore shooting

Glenn Kirby, Bayleys Marlborough Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Charlotte Lightfoot – rowing

Redwood Trust Junior Sportsman of the Year: Paul Moran – squash

MoreFM Sportswoman of the Year: Melissa Galloway – dressage

Greywacke Sportsman of the Year: Callum Saunders - cycling

WK Advisors and Accountants Team of the Year: Wairau senior men’s quad – rowing

Marlborough Weekly, Blenheim Round Table, Sport Tasman Sportsperson of the Year: Melissa Galloway – dressage