Talented athletes from Taupo to Te Aroha gathered at Claudelands Conference and Exhibition Centre on Thursday 30 January to celebrate sporting excellence across the region at the prestigious Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards.

Olympic gold medallist and world champion rower Eric Murray took away both the Arrow International Sportsman of the Year and Supreme Award for Sporting Excellence for the fifth consecutive year.

The diverse nature of Waikato sporting achievement was clearly evident on the night with more than 20 sporting codes represented at the Awards’ gala dinner. Athletes, coaches and administrators from every corner of the province were also recognised in 13 different categories.

The Brian Perry Sports Awards reveal the strength of the Waikato’s sporting foundations. The Awards celebrate achievements from club to high performance level, with today’s national and international sports stars being recognised alongside exciting emerging talent and secondary-school champions. Administrators, coaches, referees and clubs also receive due recognition for the way they contribute to great sporting performance.

The province’s strength in rugby was acknowledged, with the Chiefs franchise, its Coach Dave Rennie, Chiefs administrator Ross Brazier, women’s Sevens team member Honey Hireme, Waikato Rugby Union’s Tim Mikkelson and Hamilton Marist Premier Rugby Team all wining awards.

Hamilton City’s Event Facilities Director of Business Development Murray Jeffrey says the Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards are an important opportunity to recognise grass roots sporting achievement. "It was a pleasure to have the Awards back at Claudelands to celebrate the outstanding achievements of people right across our region,” said Jeffrey.

“This is an opportunity to review great sporting moments of the past year and to acknowledge our premier sports people in the award-winning setting that Claudelands provides,” added Jeffrey.