Olympic gold medallist Peter Burling won the prestigious Supreme Award at the 2016 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards overnight.

Held at Mount Maunganui's ASB Baypark Arena, the awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievement of Bay athletes, coaches and officials over the past 12 months.

Hosted by Sport Bay of Plenty and MC'd by sports presenter and reporter Michelle Pickles, more than 500 guests attended the awards and joined in congratulating the finalists and winners.

It's been an exceptional year for Burling who a gold medal in the 49er class at the Rio Olympic Games, was awarded World Sailor of the Year, went unbeaten in the major 49er regattas and has been announced as helmsman for Emirates Team NZ at the America's Cup World Series.

Like always, this year's competition was again exceptionally tight and the judges found it difficult to separate the many fantastic achievements, says Sport BOP Sport Manager and judging convenor, Megan Cleverley.

'The calibre of nominations never fails to amaze me and it is fantastic what Bay of Plenty athletes, coaches, officials and administrators are achieving.

'This year has highlighted the number of athletes performing on the international stage, and in particular the wide variety of sports and schools doing well.”

Earlier in the evening Burling won the Sportsman of the Year award, leading an outstanding field of category recipients including Lisa Carrington who took out the Sportswoman of the Year award.

International hockey umpire Kelly Hudson was awarded the Official of the Year award after officiating an Olympic Games quarter final and the final of the FIH World Champions Trophy.

The Sportsperson of the Year was presented to Mahe Drysdale who won an Olympic gold medal at Rio and his third in three Olympic Games.

Whakatane kayaker and Rio Olympics double meddalist Lisa Carrington won Sportswoman of the Year. File Photo.

Club of the Year went to the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service which also won Club of the Year at the BOP Coromandel Surf Lifesaving Awards of Excellence and were Eastern Region Champions and National Champions for both the Surf Life Saving NZ Beach Events and Pool Championships.

'As illustrated at the recent Olympic Games, the Bay of Plenty has a depth of sporting talent and the sports awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognise this annually,” says Sport Bay of Plenty CEO Heidi Lichtwark.

'It is a privilege to be able to honour our top athletes, officials and coaches again in 2016. We look forward to following their continuing achievements in the future, while also celebrating their contributions to date.

'We are proud to continue to host the Bay of Plenty Sports Awards, which have been celebrating sporting excellence since 1969.”

A series of awards also presented on the night were the Service to Sport category, which acknowledges people who've been involved in their chosen sport for at least 10 years and made a significant contribution at either regional or national level.

The recipients, who were are unaware of their nominations until the awards were presented on the night, came from a wide variety of sports including badminton, bowls, rugby, football, hockey, netball, tennis, sailing and disability sport.

The Bay of Plenty Secondary School Sports Awards were also presented on the night, with Whakatane High School rower Lenny Jenkins winning the Secondary School Sportsman of the Year Award and Mount Maunganui College surfer Elin Tawharu named Secondary School Sportswoman of the Year.

During the evening new Bay Olympians Ruby Tui, Scott Curry and Kane Radford were all presented with their Olympic Pins in recognition of attending the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games and were presented by Korne de Pape on behalf of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

Another special presentation on the evening went to Sir Gordon Tietjens for his contribution to sport in the Bay of Plenty.

Sir Gordon was gifted a Taonga by Bay of Plenty Rugby Union President Graeme Crossman and Sport Bay of Plenty Chairman Paul Wollaston on behalf of the Bay of Plenty community.

Rower Mahe Drysdale won Sportsperson of the Year. File Photo.

THE 2016 BAY OF PLENTY SPORTS AWARD WINNERS:

Open Award Winners

• Supreme Award 2016: Peter Burling (Sailing)
• Sportswoman of the Year: Lisa Carrington (Kayaking)
• Sportsman of the Year: Peter Burling (Sailing)
• Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Amy Robinson (Hockey and Athletics)
• Junior Sportsman of the Year: Callum Gilbert (Canoe Slalom)
• International Sportsperson of the Year: Mahe Drysdale (Rowing)
• Coach of the Year: Sean Horan (Rugby Sevens)
• Official of the Year: Kelly Hudson (Hockey)
• Team of the Year: Bay of Plenty Senior Men's Cricket Team (Cricket)
• Junior Team of the Year: Eva Morris and Jazzlee Thomas (Synchronised Swimming)
• Club of the Year: Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service (Surf Life Saving)

Secondary School Awards Winners

• Secondary School Sportswoman of the Year: Elin Tawharu – Mount Maunganui College (Surfing)
• Secondary School Sportsman of the Year: Lenny Jenkins – Whakatane High School (Rowing)
• School Coach of the Year: Graham Watt – Whakatane High School (Rowing)
• Secondary Schools Boys' Team of the Year: Western Heights High School Senior Boys' Beach Volleyball Team (Beach Volleyball)
• Secondary School Girls' Team of the Year: Trident High School Senior Girls' Underwater Hockey Team (Underwater Hockey)
• School Student Contribution to Sport: George Haswell – Mount Maunganui College (Touch and Rugby)

Service to Sport Award Recipients

• Badminton: Noel and Sue Stevens
• Bowls NZ: Mike Spring
• Hockey: Bill Webb
• Rugby: Patsy Terry-Rawiri
• Football: Barbara Turley
• Netball: Ann-Marie Wilson
• Disability Sport: Neil Cudby
• Tennis: Warwick Brew
• Bowls: Garrick Hamlyn
• Sailing : Gary Smith
• Secondary School: Sandy Kindley - Katikati College