Olympian and Emirates Team New Zealand Helmsman Peter Burling has capped off a successful year of awards and sporting achievements at the 2017 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards, taking home the Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year award and the Sport Bay of Plenty Supreme Award.

Peter now enters the award's history books as a four-time Supreme Award winner, receiving the award in 2006, 2013 and 2016 –the most of any athlete since the awards were first held in 1969.

He is also the first-ever athlete to receive the award in consecutive years.

Hosted by Sport Bay of Plenty, the 2017 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards were held at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre on Friday, November 24 to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements by Bay of Plenty athletes, coaches and officials over the past 12 months.

Peter was up against some tough competition in the Sportsman of the Year category, with athletes Black Cap Kane Williamson, canoe slalom's Mike Dawson, sidecar passenger Robbie Shorter, athletics champion Joseph Millar and motorsport's Richie Stanaway all finalists.

However, Sport Bay of Plenty Sport Manager Megan Cleverley says after the Tauranga Boys' College alumni secured an against-all-odds win at the Louis Vuitton America's Cup, it was a unanimous decision from the judges to name Peter both Sportsman of the Year and 2017 Supreme Award winner.

'At 26 years, Peter has achieved more than many at such a top international and national level, and he's an incredible example of sportsmanship and commitment. Always humble, he is a true leader and a hard-working athlete, and we are honoured to recognise his sporting achievements.”

Although Peter was unable to attend the awards in person, as he is currently sailing around the world in the Volvo Ocean Race, a recorded message of thanks was played to the crowd and his mother Heather was in attendance to receive the trophies on his behalf.

Olympian Lisa Carrington was named this year's Holland Beckett Law Sportswoman of the Year, which she has won an amazing five times prior (2011-2013; 2015-2016).

She also won the Secondary School Sportswoman of the Year award when attending Whakatane High School in 2007.

The hockey community had a good year, with the University of Waikato Midlands U21 Women's Hockey Team taking home the NZ Community Trust Junior Team of the Year award, and Bayleys Midlands NHL Women's Hockey Team winning the Rotorua Daily Post Team of the Year.

Hockey official Kelly Hudson was named Radio Sport Official of the Year, which she also won in 2016, and Patti Sutton received the Bay of Plenty Principals' Association Secondary School Service to Sport for her contribution to the sector.

In the junior division, triathlete Hayden Wilde was named Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year for a stellar year of achievements, including placing third in the 2017 Port of Tauranga Half Ironman alongside long-time Ironmen Cameron Brown and Braden Currie.

Downhill mountain biker and current world number two Shania Rawson took home the Eves Realty Junior Sportswoman of the Year trophy– an honour previously won by Olympians Luuka Jones and Molly Meech.

But it wasn't all about the athletes, with numerous volunteers, coaches and officials in the open and secondary school space rewarded for their dedication and commitment.

The Open Service to Sport Award was given to those who have been involved in their chosen sport for at least 10 years and have made a significant contribution at either regional or national level.

This year 10 local volunteers were rewarded for their contribution to the sporting space across a number of codes.

This included Fiona Keegan, who is a club life member of the Tauranga Indoor Bowls Association, local umpire Paul van de Salm who has contributed 11 years to WaiBOP and Papamoa Football, and Bay of Plenty Badminton Association Vice President Lee-Ann Fraser.

Sport Bay of Plenty CEO Heidi Lichtwark offers her congratulations to all this year's finalists and winners, and looks forward to being a part of the prestigious event's 50th anniversary in 2018.

'What I love most about these awards is it's honouring the region's top achieving alongside those at a community level who often don't get their moment to shine and saying a big, ‘Thank you'.

'Our volunteers and their endless commitment make for a strong foundation in our sporting community, ensuring our athletes go on to great things, and it is inspiring to see so much continuous talent and passion coming out of the region.”

2017 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards winners

Sport Bay of Plenty Supreme Award: Peter Burling - Sailing
Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year: Peter Burling - Sailing
Holland Beckett Law Sportswoman of the Year: Lisa Carrington — Kayaking
Eves Realty Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Shania Rawson - Downhill Mountain Biking
Donelley Sawmillers Ltd International Sportsperson of the Year: Ryan Thomas - Football
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportsman of the Year: Hayze Perham (Rotorua Boys' High School) - Rugby League, Rugby Union, Touch Rugby & Rugby Sevens
Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year: Hayden Wilde - Triathlon
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportswoman of the Year: Frances Lloyd - Taekwondo
BayTrust Coach of the Year: Allan Bunting - Rugby Sevens
Vo2 Secondary School Coach of the Year: Hemi Barsdell - Volleyball
NZ Community Trust Junior Team of the Year: University of Waikato Midlands U21 Women's Hockey Team
Rotorua Daily Post Team of the Year: Bayleys Midlands NHL Women's Hockey Team
Dudfield Bryce Printers Open Service to Sport: Lee-Ann Fraser — Badminton, Ashley Peat & Deborah Keenleyside - Rugby, Craig Tiriana - Bay of Plenty sport, Donna Keaney -
Hockey, Fiona Keegan - Indoor Bowls, Alison Wieringa - Netball/Bay of Plenty sport, Veena Kameta - Rugby League, Paul van de Salm - Football, Graham Walker - Volleyball
Radio Sport Official of the Year: Kelly Hudson - Hockey
Ebbett Tauranga Club of the Year: Rotorua Netball Centre
Bay Office Products Depot Secondary School Boys' Team of the Year: Whakatane High School U17 & U18 Double Sculls Rowing Team
Bay Cardiology Secondary School Girls' Team of the Year: Trident High School Senior Girls' A Volleyball Team
Aurecon Secondary School Student Contribution to Sport: Ashley Wilson - Football
Bay of Plenty Principals' Association Secondary School Service to Sport: Patti Sutton -
Hockey