Announcement of the Finalists to be Awarded during the 2024 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships
We are excited to congratulate and announce the finalists for the 2023 Swimming NZ Awards. These awards are recognition of the outstanding performances achieved by members of our community within New Zealand and internationally when representing our country. We are proud of their achievements and these awards celebrate the 2023 calendar year.
A list of the awards, the criteria and the respective finalists are listed below. We are very proud of them all and would like to congratulate them all on their achievements in 2023.
The winners will be announced during the finals sessions at the upcoming 2024 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships held from 9 - 13 April at the Hawke's Bay Regional Aquatic Centre. There are tickets available to attend the sessions in person to congratulate the winners in person, or you can tune into the Whakaata Maori YouTube channel for the live action.
Finalists for the 2023 Swimming NZ Awards
The finalists have been announced in the order of presentation, with the respective time they will be awarded at the event. Please note some awards don't have finalists, so the winner will be announced at the event.
Domestic Swimmer of the Year
Tuesday 9 April in Medals Break at approx 6.30pm
It is presented to a swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand competitions during the 2023 calendar year.
Andrew Jeffcoat (Club 37)
Cameron Gray (Coast)
Erika Fairweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin)
Closest to World Record - Olympic Programme
Tuesday 9 April in Medals Break at approx 6.30pm
It is presented to the Olympic programme swimmer who achieved a time closest to the World Record at the time of the event in the 2023 calendar year.
Billie Fitzsimmons Cup
Tuesday 9 April in Medals Break at approx 6.30pm
The International Swimmer of the Year award is presented to the swimmer with the most outstanding performance in the 2023 calendar year.
Andrew Jeffcoat (Club 37)
Erika Fairweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin)
Lewis Clareburt (Capital & Club 37)
Domestic Para Swimmer of the Year
Wednesday 10 April in Medals Break approx. 6.30pm
It is presented to a Para swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2023 calendar year.
Gaby Smith (Vikings)
Asher Smith-Franklin (North Shore)
Ella Benn (Selwyn)
Domestic Coach of the Year
Thursday 11 April at 5.30pm
It is presented to a coach who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2023 calendar year.
Michael Weston & John Gatfield (Coast)
Mitch Nairn (Club 37)
Lars Humer (Swim Dunedin)
International Coach of the Year
Thursday 11 April at 5.30pm
It is presented to the coach of the swimmer with the most outstanding international performance in the 2023 calendar year.
Lars Humer (Swim Dunedin)
Mitch Nairn (Club 37)
Gary Hollywood (Capital)
Domestic Para Coach of the Year
Friday 12 April at 5.30pm
It is presented to a Para swimming coach who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2023 calendar year.
Todd Mason (Vikings)
David Prattley (North Shore)
Ben Close (Selwyn)
International Para Swimmer of the Year
Friday 12 April in Medals Break at approx 6.30pm
It is presented to a Para swimmer with the most outstanding international performance in the 2023 calendar year.
Jesse Reynolds (Hamilton Aquatics)
Tupou Neiufi (Pukekohe)
Cameron Leslie (Whangarei)
International Para Coach of the Year
Friday 12 April in Medals Break at approx 6.30pm
It is presented to the coach of the Para swimmer with the most outstanding international performance in the 2023 calendar year.
Mat Woofe (Hamilton Aquatics)
Sheldon Kemp (Pukekohe)
Tom Onley (Whangarei)
Closest to World Record - Paralympic Programme
Friday 12 April in Medals Break at approx 6.30pm
It is presented to the Para swimmer who achieved a time closest to the World Record at the time of the event in the 2023 calendar year.
Annette Kellerman Cup
Saturday 13 April at 5.30pm
The Open Water Swimmer of the Year is presented to the individual with the best result in open water events in New Zealand and overseas in the 2023 calendar year.
Ashleigh Allred
Neve Tassicker (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika)
Alex Dunkley (Roskill)
Coach of the Year
Saturday 13 April at 5.30pm
It is presented as the supreme coach of the year award for coaching performance, services to the sport and character in the 2023 calendar year.
Jackie Clarke Award
Saturday 13 April at 5.30pm
The Volunteer Administrator of the Year is presented to a volunteer who has displayed outstanding commitment and dedication to swimming either to Swimming NZ, a region, or a club, in administration in the 2023 calendar year.
Shirley Mackay (Auckland)
Sonia O'Connell (Aquabladz - Taranaki)
Vicki Rogers (Matamata - Waikato)
Janet Valentine (Pirates - Wellington)
Bill Matson Award
Saturday 13 April at 5.30pm
The International Technical Official of the Year is presented to a technical official who has officiated in an integral role in an international competition in the 2023 calendar year.
Christine Cassin (World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka)
Greg Forsythe (World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships - Netanya)
Yvonnette Fox (Citi Para Swimming World Series - Melbourne)
Carlrine Gillespie (Para Swimming World Championships - Manchester & Citi Para Swimming World Series - Melbourne)
Celia Honiss (World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka)
Lesley Huckins (World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka)
John West (World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka & World Aquatics Open Water Series)
Domestic Technical Official of the Year
Saturday 13 April at 5.30pm
It is presented to a technical official for outstanding contribution within New Zealand in the 2023 calendar year.
Barry Ashcroft (Auckland)
Glenys McKenzie (Canterbury West Coast)
Rhys Simpson (Manawatu)
Rowan Williams (Taranaki)
Nigel Rogers (Waikato)
Tania Lindop (Wellington)
Duncan Laing Trophy
Saturday 13 April at 5.30pm
It is presented to the club with the most combined club points in individual events at the 2023 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships in Auckland, the 2023 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships in Hawke's Bay and the 2023 Apollo Projects NZ Short Course Swimming Championships in Hawke's Bay.
Phoenix Aquatics
Hamilton Aquatics
Coast
North Shore
United
Baxter O'Neill Trophy
Saturday 13 April in Medals Break at approx 6.50pm
It is presented to the overall swimmer of the year for swimming performance, services to the sport and character.
Norma Williams Cup - Emerging Swimmer of the Year
Saturday 13 April in Medals Break at approx 6.50pm
These awards are presented by the NZ Swimming Alumni to up-and-coming swimmers from each of the four zones and a Para swimmer who has excelled in the qualifying period in long or short course. Nominees must be under the age of 19 years at the end of the 2024 and not have won the overall award previously.
The finalists for each zonal category are:
All Stars Zone
Neve Tassicker (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika)
Milan Glintmeyer (Kiwi West Aquatics)
Finn Harland (Capital)
Aquaknights Zone
Caleb Carlisle (Greendale & Napier Aquahawks)
Talitha McEwan (Mt Maunganui)
Monique Wieruszowski (Aquabladz New Plymouth)
Milana Tapper (St Peter's Cambridge)
Harlequins Zone - Presented on Friday 12 April
Zoe Pedersen (Coast)
Brendon Visser (Coast)
Summer Osborne (North Shore)
Larn Hamblyn-Ough (Coast)
Kevin Zhang (Roskill)
Isabelle Gibson (United & Club 37)
Makos Zone
Hugo Wrathall (Jasi)
Hope Chmiel (Vikings)
Oliver Lutton (Jasi)
Brooke Bennett (Vikings)
Para Swimmer
Erin Knox (SwimZone Racing)
Rylee Sayer (Matamata)
Asher Smith-Franklin (North Shore)
Charlotte Murphy (Aquagym)
Comments