Thu, Sep 23, 2021 2:36 PM

Marlborough Sports Awards 2021 on track: nominees called for

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Peter Jones

The 2021 Marlborough Sports Awards evening will be staged at the Marlborough Convention Centre on Monday, November 15.

It was confirmed this week that the annual celebration of this province’s sporting prowess, which has been running since 1968, will go ahead.

The traditional evening’s entertainment, to acknowledge the nominees and announce winners across several categories, will take place as long as the province is in Alert Level 1. If not, judging will still be undertaken and the various award winners will be announced in the media.

After positive feedback following last year’s awards and bearing in mind the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on most sports, the MSA organising committee have decided to keep the format similar to last year’s “grassroots” approach.

This was aimed at reducing potential costs to sports bodies, plus the athletes themselves

Trophies will still be awarded across all five categories, with an overall winner announced, while the Marlborough Medal, for lengthy service to sport in the province, will again be presented. Organisers are hoping for a good spread of nominees across the categories [sportsman and sportswoman, junior sportsman and sportswoman, plus team of the year].

There has been a slight change to the nomination criteria this year with sporting bodies now able to nominate two individuals from within the same category, or from different categories as previously, plus a team. The organising committee felt this would aid in the selection process.

Ticket prices for the evening are $45 per head. Although there will again be no formal dinner there will be snack food available on the tables, plus some beverages.

Nomination reminders forms were sent out late last week to the region’s sporting organisations who are urged to get their nominations in as soon as possible to help with planning for the event.

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Cyclist and sailor Simon van Velthooven will be MSA guest speaker. Photo supplied.

Guest speaker at this year’s event is Olympic cycling medallist and America’s Cup sailor Simon van Velthooven.

Simon, who has strong links to the province, was a part of Team NZ’s previous two successful America’s Cup regattas. He won a bronze medal in the keirin at the 2012 Olympics and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

The man nicknamed 'Rhino', because of his bulk and power, joined Team NZ in 2015. He was one of the original group of ‘cyclors’ whose leg power helped drive the revolutionary boat that stunned the sailing world in 2017 in Bermuda.

Always entertaining and forthright, Simon is keen to share stories and insight from his remarkable sporting CV.

MSA committee spokesperson Karen Hartshorne said, “We have been working hard behind the scenes to once more make this event available to the Marlborough public, despite the obvious issues beyond our control.

“We have made it financially accessible to our local sports bodies and are now asking for their support in getting nominations in as soon as possible. We see this as an opportunity for them to perhaps make several nominations and to promote their sport on a wider platform.

“Plus, with restricted national and international competition in late 2020 and 2021, we expect those competing at a local level to be more prominent in the various categories.”

The Marlborough Sports Awards are a community event run by Sport Tasman, Blenheim Round Table and Marlborough Media.

Confirmed sponsors at this stage are WK Advisors and Accountants, Redwood Trust, MoreFM and Fairweathers.

For more information on the 2020 Marlborough Sports Awards please contact peter@marlboroughmedia.co.nz or go to the event website, www.marlboroughsportsawards.

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