Matthew Clough – Outstanding Senior Sportsperson. Photo supplied.A world champion, an unbeaten season on the football field and a rising tennis star were just some of the highlights from winners at this year’s Mid Canterbury Sports Awards.

Success, achievements and excellence filled the nomination list for the 2020 edition of the awards, which were shifted to online due to Covid-19 restrictions, but in conjunction with Sport Canterbury the recognition deserved by those nominated was still given.

The awards were announced live on social media during the week and it was rising multisport star Matthew Clough who took home the major title of the awards – the Mid Canterbury Senior Sportsperson.

Clough’s victory in the World Under 20 Cross Tri Championship was the highlight of his list of achievements over the past 12 months, but a broken leg stopped the former Ashburton College student from compiling an even more impressive resume.

The return from injury was almost as remarkable, with a huge effort to finish third in the 2-Day Coast to Coast.

Rising tennis star Diego-Quispe-Kim took out the title in the extremely competitive Outstanding Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award. Ranked No.1 in New Zealand for his age, he also represented New Zealand at the World Junior Teams Event in Malaysia.

Sharp shooter Shania Harrison-Lee and basketball star Sophie Adams were joint runners-up in the Junior Sportsperson category.

The Mid Canterbury United senior football side were deserved winners of the Outstanding Sports Team of the Year in the senior category. Unbeaten in competition play over the past two years, they have risen to the top of the Canterbury-wide football scene and were Division One champions in 2019.

The Ashburton College Smallbore Rifle side claimed the Outstanding Junior Sports Team title. They finished as champions ahead of 25 other schools in the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ championships. The Ashburton College A Netball side were awarded the runner-up title.

Karate featured prominently throughout the award nominations and played a role in two awards with outstanding coach, Thorsten Windhorst claiming coach of the year and Taylah Burrowes picking up the sporting all-rounder gong for her efforts on the mat and also the netball court.

The incredibly versatile Kevin Opele was awarded the Outstanding Official, Umpire or Referee title. In the 12-month period, Opele was in charge of the Division One Combined Country Rugby Final, the Watters Cup final, the Mid Canterbury Premier Netball Final and the Aoraki Rugby League Grand Final.

Jacob Gray’s efforts as a hockey official saw him awarded the Outstanding Junior Official, Umpire and Referee award following on from his achievement of umpiring two national finals last year.

Volunteers recognised as part of the awards were; Mindy Morrison (basketball), Kara Gilbert (gymnastics), Richard McLea (cricket), Alexander Tommerby-Harpoth (gymnastics), Eva Kelly (basketball) and Tessa Thompson (basketball).

Angus Jemmett won the Mid Canterbury sporting moment of the year for his century on debut in a Hawke Cup match for the Mid Canterbury Senior cricket side and Colleen Lindsay was awarded the historic Robilliard Trophy for Outstanding Services to Sport.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 13 June 2020

The winners:

All Rounder Taylah Burrowes – Karate / Netball

Junior Official: Jacob Gray – Hockey

Senior Official: Kevin Opele – Rugby/ Rugby League/ Netball

Outstanding Coach: Thorsten Windhorst – Karate

Junior Sports Team:  Ashburton College Rifle Shooting Team

Runner-up: Ashburton College Netball A Team

Senior Team: Mid Canterbury United Football Team

Junior Sportsperson: Diego Quispe-Kim Tennis

Runners-up:  Sophie Adams Basketball, Shania Harrison Lee – Rifle Shooting

Senior Sportsperson Matthew Clough – Multisport

Mid Canterbury Sporting Moment – Angus Jemmett – Cricket (Century on debut in Hawke Cup)

Robilliard Trophy – Outstanding services to Sport: Colleen Lindsay – Basketball