By-gone style shooter is Ruapehu's top sportsman

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 664, 26 November 1996, Page 3

By-gone style shooter is Ruapehu's top sportsman

A black powder shooter was announced th.e Ruapehu sportsperson of the year at a special function in Taumarunui on Friday. Peter Corbett has an impressive history in the Taumarunui Muzzle Loaders Club, guests at the awards dinner were told. In the past year his accomplishments include a host of bronze, silver and gold medals in various categories of the New Zealand B lack Powder Shooting Federation and the Taumarunui Muzzle Loaders Champs. He also represented New Zealand at the World Muzzle Loading Championships and finished 15th in Percussion and 16th in Flintlock Shotgun. As a member of the New Zealand Hawker Team, they were placed 6th in the World. Other nominees for the award were: Monty Hollis (rugby); Jeffrine O'Sullivan (basketball); Demelza Murrihy (athletics); Fumi Suzuki (skiing); and Shaun Fredricksen (motocross). The Ruapehu Construction Limitedsponsored award was presented by New Zealand Olympic gold medallist canoeist Ian Ferguson, who was the guest speaker. He spoke about the background to some of his achievements as well as giving some motivational inspiration, and later taking time to give autographs. He was welcomed "back to his home town" for the occasion by the chairman of the Ruapehu Invitation Sports Festival Committee, Graeme Cosford. Also attending was Olympic rowing champion Brenda Lawson. Winner of the sports club of the year, sponsored by the Ruapehu Bulletin, was the Taumarunui Muzzle Loader'sClub: "A very committed club from family to international level, whose aim is to promote the

sport of Blackpowder Shooting and foster an interest in antique firearms, period firearms and other weapons. As well as taking part in many community events ie. A & P Shows and Anzac Parades; club members brought home 10 medals from the Shotgun Nationals and had two members representing New Zealand at the World Muzzle Loading Championships." Also nominated were the Marlin Swimming Club and the Turoa Alpine Ski Club Incorporated which "aims to enable as many local school children as possible, to experience the fun of skiing while learning applicable ski 11s and safety knowledge. A most successful programme which in such a difficult season saw 21 new skiers introduced into the 42 skier programme." The sports team of the year, sponsored by the Ruapehu Press, is South King Country Goldfields Rugby Team: "A team of under 13 years and under 45kg weight boys, comprising 1 4 boys from Taumarunui and 7 from Taupo, once again contested the Goldfields trophy. South King Country brought home the trophy this year, something which Counties had done since 1982." Other nominees were Ohakune Squash - Women' s F Team "which includes many relatively new squash players. The team won the Central Districts Eliminations and went on to represent Central Districts at the Nationals to gain 3rd place - a real achievement," the Ruapehu College Skiing Team who "finished a creditable 3rd-equal in the North Island Secondary School Ski Championships held on Whakapapa Skifield in September. Against much larger schools, this was an excellent result." Coach of the Y ear, sponsored by Manuka Turn to Page 16

By-gone style shooter is Ruapehu's top sportsman

Natural Therapies was John Murrihy: "Coach at Taumarunui Athletics Club providing coaching in run, jump and throwing events but specialising in middle distance and cross country running events. This season his athletes won a considerable number of Waikato, North Island and New Zealand titles with notable highlights being 1 1-year old Demelza Murrihy winning the U 1 8 NZ Cross Country Champs and coming 2nd in the U18 3000m at the NZ Track and Field Championships." Other nominees were: Jeffrine O' Sulli van (basketball), "coach of Ruapehu College Form 3 boys team. Assistant coach of Ruapehu College Form 4 boys team. A commitment to encouraging and improving Basketball from Mini-ball to Club level. Coach of Turoa Tumblers Gymnastic Club at the beginning of 1996 to ensure that the club did not close. Jeffrine is motivated by doing things for others and seeks success for local children,"; Malicia Adams (netball); Kerry Vickers (hockey); Robert Seater (rugby). Administrator of the Year, sponsored by Robert Blackman Holiday Shoppe is John Laurenson (skiing), "The organiser of the North Island Secondary School Skiing Championships. It is well recognised that the competition's success is a tribute to John's input. In a year where volcanic activity posed major threats and complications, John ensured that the competition went ahead. The championships were very successful with approximately 800 participants from 96 schools taking part." Other nominees were: Stuart Barclay (black powder shooting); Andrew Hall (kayaking/multisport). The Firestone Fair Player of the Year, sponsored by Ohakune Tyres and Energy Centre, was Monty Hollis, "Taumarunui High School 1st XV, Taumarunui U21's, King Country Secondary Schools team, King Country U19's team. Monty is a true advocate of Rugby and an excellent diplomat when it comes to promoting and encouraging the sport. He is a very good role model for his peers." The other nominee was Andrew Hall (rugby, kayaking, multisport, cross country, life saving, golf, swimming, volleyball). Sport service The service to sport award, sponsored by King Country Energy, went to Evelyn Cooper: "Evelyn has been instrumental in the development of pony and adult riding clubs at local and national level. She brought both the Ohakune and Raetihi branches out of recess, was the head instructor of the Waimarino Club and the District Commissioner for many years. She attended national conferences, organised events, managed teams, conducted instructors' courses and served on the National Committee of New Zealand Pony Clubs." Other nominees were: Ralph Lane who "has been involved in the administration of college and provincial rugby and athletics at local and national level for 25 years. He has served on five levels of rugby administration from juniors to NZRFU committees. His work in athletics was recognised when he was elected to the New Zealand Secondary School Athletics National Executive in 1995,"; Eric Hamon (squash, rugby, cricket); Turoa Alpine Ski Club Incorporated (skiing): "TASCI has run ski programmes for around 20 years. In recent years the emphasis has been on the "Sunday Club" which aims to enable as many local children as pos'sible to experience the fun of skiing, whilst teaching appropriate skills and safety knowledge. The pro-

gramme is supported by local ongoing sponsorship organised by the club. From these beginnings, many skiers have progressed to the Turoa Race Team; Warren Scott being selected to be a New Zealand Representative Ski Instructor and Patrick Cooper winning four gold medals at the Para Olympic Games." The Junior Sportsperson of the Year (Supported by Maata Supplies Mitre 10), is Brad Harland, (BMX, rugby). In the New Zealand Mighty 1 1 BMX Team Rider versus Australia in October 1995, his team was placed 2nd and Brad was 5th individual. Again in June 1 996, the team was placed 1 st and brought the Trans Tasman Cup home after three years. Brad was also a member of the successful Goldfields Rugby team this year winning the Goldfields trophy for the first time. Other nominees were: Monty Hollis (rugby); Demelza Murrihy (athletics, multisport); Fumi Suzuki (skiing), "a Japanese student at Ruapehu College. At the North Island Secondary School Championships Fumi was placed 2nd in the Slalom and 1st in the Dual Slalom of the Senior Girls category. Volcanic activity on Turoa halted an otherwise promising season for Fumi"; Shaun Fredricksen (motocross), "a member of the Taupo and Wanganui Motorcycle clubs and this year is the National Title Holder in the New Zealand Junior Supercross 125cc class; National Title Holder in the NZ Junior Motocross 125cc class and won the North Island Junior Motocross 125cc class. He is the title holder of many other championships including the Dauby Spectro Oil Motocross Winter Series Championships"; Temple Paora (touch rugby); Andrew Hall (rugby, all rounder); Darren Triggell (squash, skiing, rugby) who "has moved up the mens grades in squash to a B2 and was selected to trial for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team, as well as being the current Mens Open Champion at the Ohakune Squash Club. He was the number one skier for the Ruapehu College Ski team at the North Island Championships, who finished 3rd in the competition, and played for the Ruapehu College 1st XV"; Karl Cheese (athletics, all rounder);. Caroline Lundberg (skiing), who "is a Swedish exchange student to Ruapehu College. During Term III she travelled to Cardrona Skifield to compete in the NZ Secondary School Cross Country Skiing Championships. She won both the individual events as well as the teams event." FOOTNOTE: For space reasons, descriptions of achievements have been limited to the winners and to Waimarino nominees.