Awards: Blyde claims supreme, sportswomen awards

Photo by: Sport Taranaki (Sandra Henderson Photography)

Back-to-back Olympic gold medallist Michaela Blyde has claimed the Taranaki sportsperson of the year award for the second time.

The 28-year-old won the supreme and the senior sportswoman titles at the Taranaki Sports Awards at the Devon Hotel on Friday night, six years since she won the coveted prize for the first time in 2018.

In that year, she was named World Rugby’s international sevens player of the year.

The event celebrated Taranaki’s sporting and active communities and featured 13 categories including individuals, clubs, teams and coaches. The nomination period spanned from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024.

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2024 Taranaki Sports Awards winners:

Game Official: Jamie Sutherland (sailing)

Volunteer: Ashley Hurring (surf Lifesaving)

Coach: Neil Barnes (rugby)

Masters: Bruce Jordan (multi-sport and triathlon)

Club: Stratford-Eltham Rugby Sports Club

Junior Sportsman: Oscar Goodman (basketball)

Junior Sportswomen: Bella Wansborough (surf lifesaving)

Junior Team: Box Office Boxing Wolfpack

Senior Team: Taranaki Bulls (rugby)

Senior Sportsman: Jack Jordan (wood chopping)

Senior Sportswomen & overall winner: Michaela Blyde (rugby 7s)

Taranaki Secondary School Sports Association Service to Sport: Kevin Byrne (hockey), Philippa Smith (Stratford High School).

Impact Awards: Andrew Sorensen (surf lifesaving), David Stones (hockey), Feel Good Run Crew (running), Garry Carnachan (sports administration), Karen Gillum-Green (athletics), Kat Greaney (football), Katarina Rajh (skate sports), Megan Gundesen (equestrian), Ross Landon-Lane (cricket), Sam Rapira (boxing), Paul Klenner (men’s health).