The Sport Leadership Award recognises the leadership within groups and clubs and their outstanding contribution to actively promote participation and excellence within the sport and recreation environment in the Selwyn district.
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AFFINITY GYMNASTICS
Affinity Gymnastics Academy Incorporated was formed about five years ago to address a gap in provision for artistic gymnastics in the Selwyn District, as highlighted in the 2017 Gymnastics NZ National Facility Strategy. Affinity ended its first term with approximately 180 gymnasts on the roll. Affiliated under Gymnastics NZ and a registered charity, Affinity Gymnastics Academy is the second largest dedicated artistic gymnastics facility in the South Island. The club’s charitable purpose is to improve health and wellbeing. Affinity Gymnastics Academy has demonstrated outstanding leadership and dedication to the development and empowerment of athletes. Club membership has grown dramatically since opening and sits at approximately 700 members.
WEST MELTON GYMNASTICS CLUB
The West Melton Gymnastics Club has been providing high quality recreational gymnastics classes to Selwyn for more than 16 years. The Club began offering classes a few afternoons a week from the former West Melton Community Centre, before shifting to a permanent facility in Rolleston in 2018. The Club has gone from strength to strength, continuously growing its membership base and Gymnastics offering, and is the only club in Selwyn providing recreational trampolining as well as an exclusive foundational competitive gymnastics stream, alongside its core recreational gymnastics programme. The club’s mission is developing strength and confidence in young people through the sport and community of gymnastics.
ROLLESTON NETBALL
Rolleston Netball is the largest netball club in Selwyn with over 300 members and growing. The Club is run solely by volunteers who are passionate, dedicated, hardworking members of the community. Volunteers are on call 24/7during the netball season and the off season while also holding down full-time jobs, family and other commitments. The organisation is constantly working on its systems and procedures to be equipped with the tools to keep up with growth in the community, while still providing a positive environment for members to enjoy the sport they love.
JASON KENO
Jason has coached multiple sports teams including:
Rolleston college Mixed Touch team
Rolleston College U19 Team
Canterbury U18 Boys Touch team
Waiataha Māori Rugby Team
The Selwyn School 1st XV
The Rolleston College Ki O Rahi team
Jason also teaches Te Reo Māori and provide support to other kaiako and teaches whakairo (carving) in schools as well.
GEOFF BLOKLAND
Geoff has been involved in martial arts and promoting community self-defence since 1978 (45 years and ongoing). He currently holds rank of 5th Dan Black Belt (Karate) and was co-instructor Lincoln Goju ryu Karate from 1995 – 2012. Geoff is Shibucho (chief instructor) for Goju Ryu Kenkyukai Karate-do (one of only three in New Zealand and 52 globally), and has been running two dojos in Christchurch (Ladbrooks and Prebbleton) since 2004, currently with 58 regular students aged between 5 – 65. He was asked to co-instruct at a world seminar for Goju Ryu Karate in Okinawa 2020 and was inducted into the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame 2021.
CAMERON DREWETT
Rolleston College opened in 2017 with one year group and has grown to be a secondary school of nearly 1700 learners. In its first year of opening, Cameron started the basketball programme from scratch. He spent countless hours training and got the kids excited to play basketball and represent their school. After the initial first year, Cameron has continued to grow the programme to what it is today.
PIP DEANS
Over the last three years, Pip has led a huge increase in the profile of sport at Darfield High School, massively increasing the opportunities for youth to participate and to perform, resulting in a surge in school pride. Pip’s passion for creating opportunities for youth means she works way beyond her allocated hours. Through her networks and fundraising abilities, she has grown the allocation of resourcing to include two other part time staff, as well as growing our coach/manager base of parents/whānau and students. The benefits of Pip’s mahi can be seen every day.