2004 Novotel Waikato Rugby Awards
allblacks.com - 19/11/2004
Current All Black, Chiefs and Waikato player JonoGibbes won the I J Clarke Memorial Trophy for the Novotel Sportsperson of the Year at the annual Novotel Waikato Rugby Awards in Hamilton last night.
Nearly 400 people attended the awards evening to celebrate and recognise achievements and service to Waikato Rugby in 2004.
Gibbes, in a pre-recorded interview from Wales, said it “was a great buzz” to receive the I J Clarke Memorial Trophy and was a “huge honour”. Earlier in the evening Gibbes won the Vodafone Player of the Year – Representative award.
Other award winners included the Frankton Rugby Sports Club who took out the Waikato Draught Club of the Year award for the second year in a row.
Frankton RFC representative Allen Grainger says the club enjoys its rugby and is focused on looking after kids and their families. Grainger himself was the joint winner of the Nobilo Wine Service to Rugby Award alongside Te Awamutu Sports Club's Ian Davison.
After an unbeaten club season Hamilton Old Boys Premier A team went home with a number of awards last night. The team won the Vodafone Team of the Year – Club award, with their coach John Walters receiving the SKYCITY Hamilton Coach of the Year award, and the team's captain Rhys Duggan named the winner of the Novotel Player of the Year – Club award.
The Waikato Air New Zealand NPC team took out the Waikato Draught Team of the Year category.
The Aaron Hopa Memorial Trophy, given to the member of the Waikato Air New Zealand NPC team who have made the most outstanding contribution to team culture, was this year awarded to Isaac Boss.
A special presentation was organised for retired Waikato fullback Todd Miller last night to acknowledge his huge contribution to Waikato Rugby. Miller got a standing ovation from the hundreds of guests at the awards evening during this presentation.
The Waikato Rugby Awards were judged this year by Kevin Hart, a radio talkback host; Evan Pegden, sports editor at the Waikato Times; and Doug Clarke, a former Waikato player, former referee and past president of the Waikato Rugby Union.
The winners of the 2004 Waikato Rugby Awards are:
The winners of the Novotel 2004 Waikato Rugby Awards are:
Novotel Sportsperson of the Year (Ian Clarke Trophy):
Jono Gibbes
Vodafone Player of the Year – Representative:
Jono Gibbes
Vodafone Team of the Year – Representative:
Waikato Air New Zealand NPC Team
SKYCITY Hamilton Coach of the Year – Representative:
Andrew Douglas & Sean Botherway (Waikato Under 19s)
Waikato Draught Team of the Year - Club:
Hamilton Old Boys Premier A Team
SKYCITY Hamilton Coach of the Year – Club:
John Walters (Hamilton Old Boys Premier A Team)
Valentines Junior Coach of the Year:
Jordan Barber (Ngaruawahia 12th Grade)
Novotel Best & Fairest Club Competition Player:
Dean Devich (Hamilton Marist)
92MoreFM Women’s Representative Player of the Year:
Lauren Engebretsen
Waikato Times Most Promising Club Player:
Richard Kahui
Nobilo Wine Group Service to Rugby Award:
Ian Davison & Allen Grainger
Novotel Player of the Year – Club:
Rhys Duggan (Hamilton Old Boys)
Waikato Draught Club of the Year:
Frankton Rugby Sports Club
AMI Insurance Referee of the Year:
Paul Honiss
Union Administrator of the Year:
Kim Eichmann (Waikato Referees Association)
Aaron Hopa Memorial Trophy:
Isaac Boss
Leigh Cooksley Memorial Trophy:
Don Matson
