Nominations now closing

The 2011 Manawatu Standard Secondary School Sports Awards are not far away and nominations need to be with Sport Manawatu by Friday September 23.

Top secondary school athletes from around the Manawatu, Horowhenua, Tararua and Palmerston North will come together on Wednesday November 2 to celebrate sporting achievement and excellence.

Sport Manawatu’s Ben Koch says, “It is great to see the number of secondary school nominations coming in and the quality of the nominations is outstanding.”

The awards will be held at the Awapuni Function Centre, with guest speaker Women’s Blackstick, Emily Naylor – winner of the Manawatu Sportsperson of the year 2010.

The former Palmerston North Girls High pupil understands first-hand the barriers that athletes need to overcome in today’s sporting environment. She has used her knowledge on her journey to over 140 caps for the Women’s Blacksticks and other achievements such as becoming the 2010 Senior Women’s Hockey Player of the Year – a great role model for aspiring athletes.

“With the awards in just over a month, it is likely that many of these young talented athletes will be on the professional scene in the near future and Emily will be a great role model for them,” says Mr Koch.

Tickets will be available from Sport Manawatu on Queen Street, visit sportmanawatu.org.nz for more information or to make a nomination.