2019 SPORTS AWARDS The annual Sports Awards evening was held at Eden Park on Friday 25 October, with guest speaker New Zealand rugby union player, Sarah Hirini.
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wards are made at Merit, Distinction, Blues and Honours levels. The Honours Award recognises achievement at the highest level, the recipients having demonstrated exceptional ability in their chosen sports and represented New Zealand at a world championship event. Indicative of the high level of achievement by Dio sportswomen across different codes, this year there were seven recipients of the Honours Award.
TOP HONOURS HONOURS AWARDS Lena Jacob – Fencing
Lena Jacob has a habit of winning, and after a stellar year in 2018 with multiple titles, Lena has followed up in 2019 with over 10 more, both as an individual and as part of a team. Competing against the world’s best is where Lena thrives, and this year she placed eighth at the European Championships and competed at the Asian and prestigious World Championships with solid finishes in both. It’s easy to say that Lena has 60
DIO TODAY
Honors Award winners From left to right: Morgan McDowall, Sophie Shorter-Robinson, Charlotte Hooke, Sarah Hirini (Guest Speaker), Alice Haslett, Georgia Skelton, Lena Jacob and Halle Rankin Hastie.
talent, but it is her determination, will to win and her attention to detail, always looking to improve, that keeps her ahead of the game. Congratulations Lena on a brilliant year!
Georgia Skelton – Orienteering / mountain biking A double Honours Award winner, Georgia has represented New Zealand at world championship events in both codes. Her orienteering feats in 2019 include winning the Auckland and NZSS long events and representing New Zealand on three separate occasions in Australia, Estonia and Denmark at the Junior World Championships and World Schools’ Championships. Then to her mountain bike orienteering feats: winner of the Women’s 21 Elite Sprint Championships, winner of all three distances at the NSW MTBO Championships, selected one of only two to represent New Zealand at the
Junior World MTBO Championships and placing in the top 11 in three events! Congratulations Georgia – what a year 2019 has been for you!
Alice Haslett – Sailing Alice has a wisdom and ability on the water well beyond her age, remaining calm and focused regardless of the elements. This comes from having great trust in her abilities and confidence that she has done all the right preparation. Alice trains diligently and takes no shortcuts. In 2019 she was selected to represent New Zealand at the World 420 Championships in Portugal and in the Open Women’s fleet she placed 19th, a fantastic result against the world’s best. Alice was also a key member of the Dio premier sailing team that won top girls’ school in the country; her leadership and experience were crucial to this team’s success. We look
