At the end of each year, the Sports Department hosts an Awards Dinner for over 500 people to honour our sporting elite. In a sporting year which featured Auckland, national and world titles, with 18 students receiving Sports Colours for being ranked in the top three individually in their sport, or making an U18 or older age group national team, and a further 33 students chosen to represent New Zealand in an international event, there was much to celebrate! 

As the year draws to a close, we celebrate our second world champion and world record holder in Connor Brown, who travelled to Aigle, Switzerland where the New Zealand 4k Pursuit Team won the Junior World Championship in world record time.  Sydney Fraser (Head Girl) and Mererangi Paul have both signed professional contracts to play ANZ netball in 2017.  A number of students have been offered a sporting scholarship in the USA including Vilisi Tavui (basketball), Sophie Stewart-Hobbs (football), Shaylee Syme (tennis) and Conor Williamson (tennis).  We also have boys who have signed with provincial rugby sides and a number will pursue football scholarships or contracts. 

Our sports programme is deservedly one of the most diverse and successful in New Zealand and our players, coaches and managers can be proud of the efforts they have made to maintain that competitive edge, while inspiring our students to strive for their personal best in all they do. 

Two coaches in particular were singled out for acknowledgement. Mr Bruce Deegan, once an Olympic sailor, has been coaching a successful sailing programme at the College for 21 years. In that time, he coached Olympic gold medallist, NZ flag bearer at Rio and Team New Zealand member, Blair Tuke! After years of service to football, Mr Malcolm Cowie has been made the first Life Member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Football Association. 

We welcomed back Old Collegian, Mathew Ridenton to present the prizes. After leaving College, Mathew took up a professional contract with the Wellington Phoenix. He has now played 31 games for the Phoenix and has three full International caps for the All Whites.  Mathew is justifiably proud of his achievements and is thankful for the pathway created during his College years, sharing his thoughts on what inspired him to pursue sports as a professional career. 

Sport at Saint Kentigern continues to offer many pathways for boys and girls, and not just through playing.  Sport also remains a vehicle to learn so many life lessons from perseverance and resilience to accepting direction, learning from mistakes, working with others and being humble in success.  More than technical and tactical skills, it offers the chance to be a better person. Every year brings a new focus and in 2017, we aim to continue to inspire students to pursue their sporting interests, to learn and grow, readying them for life beyond Saint Kentigern College. 

Once the prizes were awarded, there was one more surprise. Mathew Ridenton returned to the stage to acknowledge the impact, Head of College, Mr Steve Cole has had on the growth of our sporting success and in developing professional pathways for our students. In a video that followed, Old Collegians, Albert Vete (rugby league), Amorangi Malesala (netball) and Paige Hourigan (tennis) gave heart-felt thanks to Mr Cole for all he did in support of their dreams. Amorangi said that above all else, she had learned that ‘if you want to go far in life, you have to work hard to get there.’

The 1^st XV then stepped forward and gave a rousing haka in honour of Mr Cole. 

The Sports Dinner is the culmination of the efforts of many people but Director of Sport, Mr Martin Piaggi and Sports Manager, Miss Lynne Scutt deserve our thanks for the huge amount of work it takes to bring this together.

DUX LUDORUM
Mererangi Paul
The Dux Ludorum is the major individual sporting award of the year and is awarded to the most outstanding sports person, girl or boy. The winner is generally an all-round sports person who has represented the College at a number of sports.

Mererangi is a true all-rounder. She was 3rd overall senior girl in the College athletics, At Eastern Zones, she was part of the 4x100m relay team that set a new Saint Kentigern record. She is a member of the Premier Touch team and was a member of the team last year when they won the National title. She will be part of the team that defends this title in December. She is the Senior Touch player of the year for 2016. She is a member of the Premier Girls Netball team who are Auckland and National champions. She was named in the Tournament team at nationals and as Player of the Tournament for Upper North Islands. She played in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Netball team and has been named in the New Zealand Open Women’s Touch team. She has signed a professional netball contract to play for the Sky City Northern Mystics in next year’s National competition.

Nominees: Madeleine Park, Year 13; Cameron Low, Year 13; Victoria Kolose, Year 12; Edward Barry, Year 13; Luke Johnson, Year 13; Viona Silao, Year 12; Connor Brown, Year 13; Ryan McEwen, Year 13; Luke Paanakker, Year 12; Finnley Allen, Year 13; Daniel Whitburn, Year 12; Mererangi Paul, Year 13; Ethan Blight, Year 12; Sophie Stewart Hobbs, Year 13; George Ellett, Year 12; Summer-Jean Motufoua, Year 12; Anna Wilkinson, Year 12; Sydney Fraser, Year 13.

BOYS RUNNER-UP TO THE DUX LUDORUM
THE BRUCE PALMER AWARD
Cameron Low
Cameron placed2^nd in the College senior boys athletics and at Eastern Zones and Greater Auckland athletics, he placed 3^rd in the 3000m. At the North Island Athletics he also placed 3^rd and set a new Saint Kentigern College record. He placed 2^nd at the College cross country and at the Auckland cross country he placed 7^th and his 3 person team placed 3^rd. He is the Auckland senior boys Duathlon champion. He is a member of the Saint Kentigern Table tennis team which placed 3^rd in Auckland. He is a member of the Auckland Secondary Schools cross country team which placed 3^rd at Nationals.

He placed 4^th in the U20 Oceania cross country. He was 3^rd in the U20 Auckland secondary schools road race. He is the New Zealand U20 Duathlon champion.

GIRLS RUNNER-UP TO THE DUX LUDORUM
Tori Kolose
Tori was 1^st in the senior girls 200m at the College athletics and placed 2^nd in the 100m and 2^nd in the 200m at the Eastern Zone athletics. She was also a member of the 4x 100m relay team which set a new College record. At the Auckland athletics she placed 3^rd in the 100m and 2^nd in the 200m. She is captain of the Premier girls Touch team. This team are Auckland champions and will defend their National title in December. She is also a member of the Premier Netball team. This team is the Auckland and National championship winning team. She was named in the National Tournament team.She was named in the New Zealand women’s touch team and captain of the Aotearoa Secondary Schools Touch team.

JEROME KAINO CUP
Reuben Clarke
The Kaino Cup is presented to a team athlete who ‘the team could just not do without.’ Reuben has been the best goal keeper in secondary school football for 2016. On numerous occasions he saved goals that no-one else could have saved to keep Saint Kentigern in the game. He was also a leader in marshalling the defence.

GRANT DALTON LEADERSHIP CUP 
Lizzy Mudford
This cup is awarded to a leader who builds a team around them and demonstrates leadership qualities by helping others with in the team to develop their skills. Lizzy has epitomized what it means to lead a Premier side. As captain of the girls’ Premier Cycling team, she led by example, working tirelessly to motivate her team.

JOHN IRVINE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Connor Brown

This award is given to a team or individual who has achieved at the highest level and gained the results reflective of their dedication, determination and desire to succeed. Connor is  our second world champion and world record holder. As a 17 year old, he travelled to Aigle Switzerland with the Junior Men’s 4km Track Pursuit team. In an outstanding final they beat the crack Danish team to not only win gold but set a new world record.

TEAM OF THE YEAR
Premier Netball team
After beating Mt Albert Grammar (MAGS) in the Auckland Championships, then losing to them at the Upper North Islands, the pressure was on at the Nationals when our girls faced MAGS again. With two of our key players down, our girls stepped up and by the slimmest of margins made a first for Saint Kentigern netball – a national title.

Nominees: Athletics 4 x 400m Boys Relay; Cricket Boys 1^st XI; Cycling Premier Girls; Football Boys 1^st XI, Football Girls 1^st XI, Netball Premier; Rowing Boys U17 8+; Tennis Boys Premier; Tennis Girls Premier; Touch Girls Premier; Waterpolo Boys Premier.

HEADMASTER’S AWARDS
These awards go to students who have played for the College demonstrating commitment and professionalism in their chosen code. The recipients are power houses within their premier teams and made a difference every week to the performance of the team.

Ryan McEwan
Ella Mayhew
Emily Braid
Shaylee Syme
Dylan Morris
Jessica Speight
Liam Williams
Sandeep Patel

THE LEYTON MONK AWARD YEAR 9 SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
Winner: Will Bason
Nominees: Dylan Muggleston, Year 9; Tom Downs, Year 9; Jaylen Rodwell, Year 9; Will Bason, Year 9; Logan Cowie, Year 9.

YEAR 9 SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Winner: Cecile Velghe
Nominees: Dawn Boxer, Year 9; Emma Hannan, Year 9; Ling Kong, Year 9; Grace Chang, Year 9; Lilly Ellis, Year 9; Cecile Velghe, Year 9; Zara Smith, Year 9.

THE PHILIP YOLLAND MEMORIAL AWARD FOR THE JUNIOR SPORTSMAN YEARS 10 & 11
Winner: Dylan McCullough
Nominees: Callum Walsh, Year 11; Cameron Church, Year 10; Ben Lowe, Year 10; Dylan McCullough, Year 11; Ryan Church, Year 11.

YEAR 10 & 11 SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Winner: Tayla Earle
Nominees: Jaymie Kolose, Year 10; Mahina Paul, Year 11; Annabelle Waterworth, Year 10; Tayla Earle, Year 11; Elise Conway, Year 11; Maddy Clarke, Year 11; Lisa Putt, Year 10; Kayla Robertson-Tekii, Year 10.

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