Southland Boys’ High School celebrated their historic national first XV title at the awards.
Peter Skelt and Fiona Ward received BDO Services to Sport awards for their contributions.
Corbin Strong and Fynn Mitchell were honoured in the senior and junior sportsperson categories.

Southland Boys’ High School’s historic national first XV title was celebrated during the 70th annual ILT Southland Sports Awards held on Friday. The awards, the longest-running of their kind in New Zealand, are presented by Active Southland on behalf of the Southland Amateur Sports Trust.

Boys’ High made history by winning their first Top Four national title in Palmerston North last September. The team, coached by Jason Dermody, beat Palmerston North Boys’ High School 20-19 in the semi-final and overcame favourites Westlake Boys’ 32-29 in the final, despite injuries to key players.

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A South Island school hadn’t won a game at the tournament since 2013, making this victory particularly significant. The school’s previous final appearance was in 1987, and this year they also secured the Moascar Cup for the first time.

The school’s achievements led to four awards at the Ascot Park Hotel. They won the Kia Southland Team of the Year award, Dermody was named Good Tech Team Coach of the Year, and the team also received the Southland Times Sporting Moment award, determined by public vote.

Peter Skelt, a revered coach who has been part of the Boys’ High first XV coaching group since 1989, was honoured with a BDO Services to Sport award. Skelt has contributed significantly to badminton, cricket, and rugby. His accolades include being a national titleholder and New Zealand representative in badminton, a member of the Slazenger Cup-winning Southland teams, and a key figure in the dominant Southland Hawke Cup cricket team during the 1980s. He also coached the Southland development team to a national title and was part of the Stags management group during two Ranfurly Shield tenures.

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The ILT Senior Sportsperson of the Year and One NZ Junior Sportsperson categories featured a strong lineup of finalists. Adventure racer Fynn Mitchell won the junior category, having led the FEAR Youth team to seventh at Godzone and ninth at the Adventure Racing World Champs in South Africa. Mitchell also made his international senior debut, finishing third equal in a United States team competing in the Faroe Islands and became the youngest to complete The Revenant, a gruelling endurance event in New Zealand.

World Tour professional cyclist Corbin Strong claimed the senior sportsperson title, continuing to build his reputation globally. Strong achieved top 10 finishes in UCI events worldwide and an impressive Tour de France debut with two top 10 and five top 20 finishes over the 21 stages.

Southern Queens Boxing was honoured with the Community Trust South Community Impact award for creating a free and inclusive environment for youth. Highly regarded cycling commissaire Erin Criglington won the Creation Signs Official of the Year, her resume including New Zealand’s top road and track meets, events in Switzerland and France, and her appointment as chief commissaire for the 2023 Track Asia Cup in Thailand.

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Fiona Ward, celebrating 30 years as Southland’s secondary school sport director, received a BDO Services to Sport award. Ward has supported thousands of young people in regional events and played a key role in hosting major tournaments.

The NZME Masters Achievement award went to track cyclist Ruth Whelan, who continues to dominate her age group at the national level and won multiple medals at the UCI Masters World Championship.

The evening also celebrated the sporting career of blind athlete Hannah Pascoe, who completed numerous challenging events and became the first blind woman to ride the length of New Zealand, raising nearly $30,000 to support other blind athletes.

LT Southland Sports Awards 2023-2024 finalists and recipients:

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ILT Senior Sportsperson of the Year: Sheldon Bagrie-Howley (bowls); Ethan de Groot (rugby); Amy du Plessis (rugby); Kate Heffernan (netball); Tori Peeters (athletics); Leon Samuels (shearing); Tom Sexton (cycling); Corbin Strong (cycling). Presented to: Corbin Strong.

One NZ Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Cormac Buchanan (motorsport); Alex Crosbie (motorsport); Benji Culhane (hockey); Marshall Erwood (cycling); Kiseki Fifita (rugby); Caitlin Kelly (cycling); Fynn Mitchell (adventure racing); Jack Taylor (rugby). Presented to: Fynn Mitchell.

Kia Southland Team of the Year: FEAR Youth (adventure racing); Gore Interclub bowls (bowls); Southern Lads (multisport); Southland Boys’ High School first XV (rugby). Presented to: Southland Boys’ High School first XV.

Good Tech Team Coach of the Year: Shaun Cantwell (athletics); Jason Dermody (rugby); Julian Ineson (cycling); Lance Smith (athletics). Presented to: Jason Dermody.

Creation Signs Official of the Year: Erin Criglington (cycling); Nicky McNaught (squash); Pete Pasco (cricket); Cassie Watt (rugby). Presented to: Erin Criglington.

NZME Masters Achievement of the Year: Dwight Grieve (athletics); Greg Houkamau (touch); Gail Kirkman (athletics); Julie O’Connell (bowls); Ruth Whelan (cycling). Presented to: Ruth Whelan.

Community Trust South Community Impact Award: Inclusive Activity Murihiku; Kā Taoka i Tuku Iho Charitable Trust; Southern Queens Boxing; Southland Triathlon and Multisport Club. Presented to: Southern Queens Boxing.

BDO Services to Sport: Peter Skelt (badminton, cricket and rugby), Fiona Ward (secondary school sport).

Southland Times Sporting Moment: Southland Boys’ High School first XV

Southland Boys’ High Triumphs at ILT Southland Sports Awards

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