2018 Blind Sport New Zealand Sport Award Winners
The 2018 Sport Awards were held on Saturday 27 October at the Grand Millennium in Auckland Central. The black-tie event celebrated the ongoing achievements and success within the blind and low vision sporting community. The evening also commemorated the incredible lives of Frank Taylor and Rob Matthews who both sadly passed away this year. Blind Sport New Zealand would like to extend our thanks to all who attended the awards and a special thanks to the Blind Foundation volunteers who helped the evening run so smoothly.
David Stallard - blind sport New zealand Supreme Award
David Stallard - blind sport New zealand sportsman of the year
David achieved fantastic results at a regional, national and international level. Nationally, he won gold in the mixed pairs at the Trusts New Zealand Open and silver in the men’s B3 singles at the New Zealand Blind Lawn Bowling Association National Championships. He competed as part of the team that came fifth in the B2/B3 mixed pairs at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and fourth in the B3 men’s singles at the Blind World Championship. He has been quoted as “representing New Zealand in a shining light with [a] fantastic attitude on the world stage”.
Amy Jane McDonald - Bsnz Sportswoman of the year
Amy Jane has shown dominance on the water within the past year. She won gold in both the single 250m and 500m races at the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals and went on to win gold in both races again at the World Championships in Tahiti in July. She was a member of the 12-person team who won gold in the 500m event as well as the 6-person team that won bronze in the 500m event.
David stallard & Sue Curran - packaworld team of the year
David Stallard and Sue Curran with their directors Peter Blick and Ann Muir have shone on the world stage this year. The team won silver at the Blind Lawn Bowls World Championships in the B3 mixed pairs and went on to place 5th in the B2/B3 mixed pairs at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in a tightly contested tournament.
Helen Casey - Blind sport new zealand volunteer of the year
Helen has not only given her time, energy and commitment to goalball within the past year, but has been volunteering for more than 14 years. She is a qualified level 1 goalball referee and has gained experience at local, national and international events. She is tough on players and strives to do the best at what she does to ensure they players are performing their best too.
James Dunn - Blind sport new zealand coach of the year
James has swapped from being one of New Zealand’s top blind cricketers to coaching our up and coming New Zealand blind cricket team in his new role as New Zealand A Development Team Coach. He was charged with developing the skills of this team as they worked towards touring Australian. The team has gone from strength to strength and returned with the most wins New Zealand has received against an Australia side.
Shannon Cleave - STA Travel Emerging Talent Award
Shannon shows incredible hard work, dedication and perseverance in para triathlon. Since beginning her sporting journey in 2016, she has challenged herself again and again, always looking to improve. She has raced throughout New Zealand, Australia and the United States and is always working towards her next race.
Donna McCaskill - Blind Foundation Leadership Award
Donna has positively impacted the blind and low vision sport community in so many ways. She inspires and engages individuals and groups throughout New Zealand every day. Her leadership within Manukau South Blind Sports Club, the New Zealand Blind Cricket Association and Blind Sport New Zealand is invaluable. Not only does she play every sport under the sun, she also finds time to coach, be a team manager, guide and referee too.