Friday October 26, saw the Tauranga Hockey Association Awards Evening take place the Club Mount Maunganui.

The evening was designed to recognise achievements throughout the season and reward the players, supporters, officials, coaches and volunteers that have worked so hard to create such a successful year.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amy Robinson and international umpire Kelly Hudson were the guest speakers and in reply to our MC Lavina Good's questions, gave some insights on what it takes to improve year on year and be a top-level athlete and umpire.

'Hockey in Tauranga is getting stronger every year with a greater number of people involved in the game and the quality of players improving. This has been shown in our results locally and nationally,” says Tauranga Hockey General Manager, Clinton Butler.

Taking out the big awards at the end of the night were Bayley's Otumoetai's Hugh Gilmer who was named Tauranga Men's Player of the Year and CMS Mount Maunganui's Abbie Johnston who was awarded the Tauranga Women's Player of the Year.

'Both players have had big seasons for their club teams with both players playing for the combined Tauranga/Bay of Plenty teams at National Seniors Tournament,” says Clinton.

Abbie has just been named in the NZ Maori team.

An International Player of the Year was awarded to a player who has participated in the Black Sticks or Junior Black Sticks over the past 12 months and has had at least a two-year affiliation with the Association during their career.

'This was award to Samantha Carlton who has had a stellar season on the World Stage, including winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games,” says Clinton.

The Junior Player of the Year awards went to Bethlehem College student Madeline Fleming, and Tauranga Boy's College student William Gourley, who both had strong seasons for their schools and then went on to represent the Midlands Under 18 teams at a national tournament.

'William's U18 team won bronze at nationals. Madeline has just been selected in to the NZ U18 development camp, along with Ruby Evans,” says Clinton.

Male and Female Coach of the Year went to Emma Phelps and Lincoln Churchhill. Taela Eggers and Hugh Lees took out the Female and Male Umpire of the Year.

'This year THA re-named their Volunteer of the Year Award to the Bill Webb Volunteer of the Year Award,” says Clinton.

'Bill is a long-standing volunteer for THA and his list of roles and duties over the year is lengthy. Bill received a standing ovation when he came forward to present his award.”

The Bill Webb Cup's inaugural recipient was Phil Gillanders for all the work he has put in to various areas of the game throughout the season, including coaching primary, intermediate and U13 development representative teams. He also umpires and is an umpire mentor.

One of his biggest contributions is his commitment to Primary School hockey where he spends five hours at the turfs every Saturday during the season.

The night also recognised the following milestones that were achieved throughout the season:

Gill Gemming was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to spot in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Monique Eades was named Lotto's Sports Maker of the Year for 2017 recognising her commitment to volunteering in the hockey community.

Kelly Hudson won the Sport Bay of Plenty 2017 Official of the Year award and was awarded the top female umpire at the National Hockey League in September.

Isla Johnson was selected to attend a New Zealand under 18 Specialist Goal Keeping Camp.

Both Amy Robinson and Frances Davies played their 50^th test caps for the Women's Blacks Sticks during the Cromwell Tri Series tournament in May.

Sam Charlton, Rose Keddell, Amy Robinson and Frances Davies were all part of the Women's Black Sticks team that won gold at the Commonwealth Games.

Junior Male Player of the Year, William Gourley.

Award Winners:

Player Awards:

Tauranga Women's Player of the Year - Abbie Johnston – CMS Mount Maunganui

Tauranga Men's Player of the Year – Hugh Gilmer – Bayleys Otumoetai

Tauranga Junior Women's Player of the Year – Madeline Fleming – Bethlehem College & Midlands U18 Women

Tauranga Junior Men's Player of the Year - William Gourley – Tauranga Boys College & Midlands U18 Men

International Player of the Year - Samantha Charlton

Intercity Grade:

Tauranga Women's Intercity Team of the Year - CMS Mount Maunganui

Tauranga Men's Intercity Team of the Year – Tauranga Old Boys

Tauranga Women's Club Intercity Player of the Year – Kate Savory – CMS Mt Mauganui

Tauranga Men's Club Intercity Player of the Year – Abir Mukherjee – Tauranga Old Boys

Senior Reserve Grade:

Merryweather Cup winners of the round 1 Women's Competition – Mount Thunderbirds

H Grey Cup winners of round 2, Division 2 Women's Competition – Otumoetai Gold

McCrae Barry Cup winners of the round 2 Women's Competition - Otumoetai Diamonds

Kiwifruit Cup winners of the round 1 Men's Competition – Mt Maunganui Sliders

Kent Cup winners of the round 2 Men's Competition - Mount Studs

Baywide Competition:

CMS Mt Maunganui Women – winner of Baywide

Coaching Awards:

Small Sticks Female Coach of the Year - Keri Ann van Doorne – Katikati Primary School

Small Sticks Male Coach of the Year - Phil Gillanders – Golden Sands School

Secondary School Female Coach of the Year - Juliet Dunlop-Fraser – Katikati College

Secondary School Male Coach of the Year - Denym Clarke – Bethlehem College

Female Coach of the Year – Emma Phelps

Male Coach of the Year – Lincoln Churchill

Umpiring Awards:

Female Umpire of the Year – Taela Eggers

Male Umpire of the Year – Hugh Lees

Junior Female Umpire of the Year – Kate Sharpe – Te Puke High School

Junior Male Umpire of the Year – Ethan Fraser – Katikati College

Service to Umpiring – Barry Prestney

Volunteer of the Year – Phil Gillanders:

Roy Osman Trophy (contribution to Masters Hockey) – Mark Graves