Sailors scoop 7 awards

National sailors took out seven of the major awards at last night’s Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee sports awards.

Sportsman of the Year went to Manihiki sailor Taua Eliza who won a second award on the night taking out the Purapura games sportsman of the year award as well.

Sportswoman of the year was won by Helema Williams – also a sailor originally from Manihiki – and because of her northern group origin she also won the Purapura sportswoman of the year award.

Aitutaki sailor Aquila Tatira won two awards – junior sportsman and Manea Zone sportsman of the year award.

Track athlete Patricia Taea won junior sportswoman of the year. Sailing coach and national sailor Junior Charlie won the coach of the year award taking Sailing Cook Islands awards to seven on the night.

The Cook Islands national women’s soccer team won the sports team of the year award.

Top table tennis player Louisa Manico was awarded the 2011 Albert and Elizabeth Henry sports achievement award and female tennis player Lillian Maui won the 2011 Hugh Henry fair play award.

Cook Islands Cricket media officer Koria Patia was awarded 2011 sports personality of the year award for his work in promoting the sport in the community.

The first ever women’s rugby team that won the plate at their first tournament in Borneo won the 2011 Mamia Tunui Savage Memorial Trophy for women in sports.

Athletics Cook Islands president Ina Marsters won the sports technical official of the year. Cook Islands Cricket Association general manager Alister Stevic was awarded the 2011 sports administrator of the year award for his work in reviving cricket in the Cook Islands.

2011 best administrated outer island sports association was awarded to the Araura Oe Vaka Association on Aitutaki while the Aitutaki Oe Vaka Club took out the 2011 Rautea Rangatira outer islands sports achievement award.

In the Manea Zone awards division – rising women’s cricket star Bene Matapo won the Manea Zone sportswoman of the year award. - MW

Awards winners:

2011 Sportsman of the Year – Peter Taua Henry Eliza (Sailing Cook Islands), 2011 Sportswoman of the Year – Helema Tupou Tapakauteru Williams (Sailing Cook Islands), 2011 Junior Sportsman of the Year – Aquila Tatira (Sailing Cook Islands), 2011 Junior Sportswomen of the Year – Patricia Taea (Athletics Cook Islands), 2011 Sports Team of the Year – Cook Islands National Women’s Football Team (Cook Islands Football Association), 2011 Albert & Elizabeth Henry Sports Achievement Award – Louisa Monico (Cook Islands Table Tennis), 2011 Hugh Henry Fair Play Award – Lillian Maui (Cook Islands Tennis), 2011 IOC Personality Award – Koria Patia (Cook Islands Cricket Association), 2011 Mamia Tunui Savage Memorial Trophy for Women in Sports – Cook Islands Women’s Rugby 7s Team (Cook Islands Rugby Union), 2011 Sports Technical Official of the Year – Ina Marsters (Athletics Cook Islands), 2011 Sports Administrator of the Year – Alister Stevic (Cook Islands Cricket Association), 2011 Sports Coach of the Year – Grand David Junior Charlie Poiri (Sailing Cook Islands), 2011 Best Administrated Outer Island Sports Association – Araura Oe Vaka Association (Aitutaki), 2011 Rautea Rangatira Outer Islands Sports Achievement – Aitutaki Oe Vaka Club (Aitutaki), 2011 Manea Zone Sportsman of the Year – Aquila Tatira (Sailing Cook Islands), 2011 Manea Zone Sportswoman of the Year – Bene Matapo (Cook Islands Cricket Association), 2011 Purapura Zone Sportsman of the Year – Peter Taua Henry Elisa (Sailing Cook Islands), 2011 Purapura Zone Sportswoman of the Year – Helema Tupou Tapakauteru Williams (Sailing Cook Islands).