Sporting pride was at an all time high on Tuesday night as national sports federations gathered at the Aroa Nui Hall for the national sports awards.

Close to 300 guests attended the awards to honour our national athletes.

But as Father Loni said in his opening prayer many will run the race, but only one will win.

And the winners were all deserving of their awards and were picked from a high calibre list of nominees.

The golf, lawn bowls and sailing codes had more reason than most to celebrate as they walked away with the majority of the major awards.

The 2009 sportswoman of the year and lawn bowls golden girl Kanny Vaile had no idea she had been nominated and when it was announced that she had won the prestigious award, Vaile didn’t know whether it was for real or a joke.

When Cook Islands News caught up with Vaile at the end of the awards night and celebrations were really kicking in she was still lost for words as she tried to express the magnitude of her surprise and thrill at winning the award.

But golfer Maara Kenning was overjoyed with the recognition golf received at the awards, which included the sportsman of the year (Kirk Tuaiti), junior sportswoman of the year (Elmay Viking), sports team of the year, sports coach of the year (Sonny Karati), sports achievement award, and Manea zone sportswoman of the year (Elmay Viking).

“We deserve this,” golfer Maara Kenning said after her team picked up one of their awards.

“We worked really hard to be number one and we definitely earned this.”

Sailing picked up a number of lesser, but no less important, awards.

Laser sailing coach Anne Tierney was one of the evening’s humble winners picking up the IOC personality of the year award and women in sport award.

Her sailing students also did well with Helema Williams picking up the Purapura zone sportswoman of the year and outer islands sports achievement award.

Fellow sailor Junior Charlie picked up the Purapura zone sportsman of the year award while Aitutaki sailor Aquila Tatira walked away with the Manea zone sportsman of the year award.

Tatira and Mareko Davis also had the honour of picking up the best administered outer island sports association award that went to the Aitutaki Sailing Club and Sports Association.

Another humble and deserving winner on the night was Len Edwards of the triathlon association and known by his Hash House Harriers mates as Polyononymous.

The awards evening was also a night to pay homage to those people who have helped grow and mould the Cooks into a sporting nation.

Three well known sports people were inducted into the sports hall of fame for their tireless and lifelong dedication to sports in the Cook Islands.

The inductees were former CISNOC president, track and rugby athlete Tiki Matapo, former boxing mentor and manager Papa James ‘Jim’ Little and lawn bowls great Papa Inatio Akaruru.

Overall it was a fantastic evening of celebrating sport and the part sport plays in growing national pride and a healthy community.

- Matariki Wilson

2009 Sports Awards Winners

2009 Sportsman of the Year – Kirk Tuaiti (golf), 2009 Sportswoman of the Year – Kanny Vaile (bowls), 2009 Junior Sportsman of the Year – Daniel Tutai (athletics), 2009 Junior Sportswomen Of The Year – Pricilla Elmay Viking (golf), 2009 Sports Team Of The Year – 2009 Pacific Mini Games Cook Islands Golf Team, 2009 Sports Technical Official Of The Year – Estelle Searle (netball), 2009 Sports Administrator Of The Year – Len Edwards (triathlon), 2009 Sports Coach Of The Year – Sonny Karati (golf), 2009 Hugh Henry Fair Play Award – Roland Maru (oe vaka), 2009 Albert & Elizabeth Henry Memorial Sports Achievement Award – 2009 Pacific Mini Games Cook Islands Golf Team, 2009 Ioc Personality Award – Anne Frances Tierney (sailing), 2009 Best Administrated Outer Island Sports Association – Aitutaki Sailing Club & Sports Association, 2009 Rautea Rangatira Outer Islands Sports Achievement – Helema William (sailing), 2009 Mamia Tunui Savage Memorial Trophy For Women In Sports – Anne Frances Tierney (sailing), 2009 Manea Zone Sportsman Of The Year – Aquila Tatira (sailing), 2009 Manea Zone Sportswoman Of The Year – Pricilla Elmay Viking (golf), 2009 Purapura Zone Sportsman Of The Year – Grand David Junior Charlie (sailing), 2009 Purapura Zone Sportswoman Of The Year – Helema William (sailing).