Supreme Walker reigns, again

by Kelly Exelby | 28th November 2009

Olympic redemption beckons for Kawerau's golden girl Sarah Walker, who last night walked a well-worn path to the podium after taking out the Supreme gong at the Bay of Plenty sports awards.

It was the second time in three years Walker has been crowned Bay of Plenty's Supreme Award winner and came after she won the sportswoman of the year at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic-sponsored awards evening in front of 450 people at Mount Maunganui's Baypark Stadium.

Walker in July became the first elite woman to win the double of the BMX and cruiser-class world titles in Adelaide, backing up by winning the second round of the Supercross World Cup in South Africa before injury forced an abrupt end to her season.

Walker credits new-found mental control for her success this year and is already eyeing a spot amongst the medals at the 2012 Olympics in  London after last year's disappointment of a fourth placing in Beijing.

"It's been such a great year results-wise already, even with the broken hand, and winning this ]award] again [after also doing the double in 2007] just caps it off."

Walker said there were lessons learned after her Beijing flop, where she went in as a hot medal prospect but failed to handle the pressure.

"While it was disappointing, in a way there wasn't anything I could have done differently on the day to alter the result.

"What [fourth] has done is give me the drive in training to put that extra bit in, which has made a huge difference."

Walker has also expanded her support team, working with a fitness trainer and with a New Zealand Academy Sport nutritionist and psychologist to increase performance.

She'd only had three sessions with psychologist Jane Magnusson before winning the double world titles in July.

"She spotted key areas, mainly around routine and repetition pre-race, making sure everything I do is the same before every race, taking a lot of the mental aspect out of competing so everything's keyed towards performance."

The dual world world champion cyclist is coming off an injury-enforced layoff after she crashed three months ago in the penultimate round of the BMX Supercross in California.

The 21-year-old, who moved recently to Cambridge, said she wasn't an easy patient as she nursed her broken right hand.

"I got the cast off a week ago and got straight back on the bike the next day, riding every day for six days straight before I took a break."

To win the Supreme accolade Walker, saw off junior category winners Luke Braid (rugby) and Luuka Jones (slalom), top-ranked international rugby referee Bryce Lawrence (official of the year), coach of the year John Lee (cycling), extreme whitewater paddler Mike Dawson (sportsman) and Bay of Plenty golf's team of the year.

Kayakers had a big night - as well as Jones and Dawson's wins, Bradyn Church and Ben Gibb (Tauranga Boys' College) reigned supreme in the secondary schools boys' team of the year for their canoe slalom efforts.

Edgecumbe College rowers Aimee Dobson and Charlene Murray took the girls' gong, with their coach Chick Hammond the top-performing coach.

The secondary schools sportsman was Matt Hewitt (Tauranga Boys), New Zealand's youngest open men's surfing champion after his win at  the nationals in January.

Rising rowing star Zoe Stevenson, who won silver at the junior worlds, was judged the region's top female collegiate sporting star.

The award came 27 years after her father Herb, a world champion rower in 1982 and 1983, won the top accolade at the regional sports awards.

OPEN AWARDS:

Bayleys sportswoman of the year: Winner: Sarah Walker (BMX). Finalists: Susan Blundell (beach volleyball), Chelsea Maples (surf lifesaving), Paulien Eitjes (blind sailing), Gemma Flynn (hockey).

Galaxy Travel United sportsman of the year: Winner: Michael Dawson (kayak slalom). Finalists: Tanerau Latimer (rugby), Daniel Flynn (cricket), Kane Williamson (cricket), Michael Collings (shooting).

BayTrust coach of the year: Winner: John Lee (cycling). Finalists: Gordon Tietjens (rugby sevens), James Pamment (cricket), Darrell Boyd (volleyball).

The Lakes Tauranga referee/umpire of the year: Winner: Bryce Lawrence (rugby). Finalists: Gordon Campbell (football), Mike Baker (surf life saving).

Chiropractic and Sport Tauranga team of the year: Winner: Bay of Plenty men's representative golf. Finalists: Kirk Pitman and Jason Lochhead (beach volleyball), Bay of Plenty mixed open touch, New Zealand whitewater slalom kayaking.

Smiths Sports Shoes junior sportsman of the year: Winner: Luke Braid (rugby). Finalists: Duncan Dixon (croquet), Matthew Lack (wheelchair racing), Sam Sutton (kayaking), Sam Meech (yachting).

Tauranga Leisure junior sportswoman of the year: Winner: Luuka Jones (kayak slalom). Finalist: Chelsea Maples (surf lifesaving), Monique Avery (mountain biking), Katie O'Neill (mountain biking).

Delta Corporation club of the year: Winner: Bay Board Riders. Finalists: Papamoa Football Club, Otumoetai Tennis Club.

Bayfair service to sport: Winners: Allan Galletly (hockey), Ron Price (multisport, athletics).

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Waiariki sportswoman of the year: Winner: Zoe Stevenson (rowing-Tauranga Girls College). Finalists: Sharleen Murray (rowing-Edgecumbe College), Mariah Ririnui (athletics-Tauranga Girls College), Amy Christophers (volleyball-Otumoetai College), Angela Simpson (orienteering-Rotorua Lakes High).

Waiariki sportsman of the year: Winner: Matt Hewitt (surfing-Tauranga Boys College). Finalists: Owen Miller (triathlon-Mt Maunganui College), Carl Axtens (rugby-Reporoa College), Oliver Shaw (tennis-Western Heights High), Michael Wright (volleyball-Western Heights High).

Leading Edge Communication coach of the year: Winner: Chick Hammond (rowing-Edgecumbe College). Finalists: Rodger McBrydie (cricket-Tauranga Boys College), Duncan By de Ley (rowing-Tauranga Boys College), Mana Shaw (rugby-Opotiki College).

Bay Office Products boys' team of the year: Winner: Bradyn Church and Ben Gibb (canoe slalom-Tauranga Boys College). Finalists: Tauranga Boys' College cricket first XI, Tauranga Boy's College sailing, Opotiki College 1st XV rugby, Whakatane High School under-16 rowing coxed quad.

Eves Realty girls' team of the year: Winner: Aimee Dobson and Sharleen Murray (rowing-Edgecumbe College). Finalists: Tauranga Girls College whitewater kayaking, Te Puke High School girls' squash.

Eastpack best student contribution to sport: Winner: Christie Yule (netball-Mt Maunganui College). Finalists: Kimberley Maisey (netball, cricket-Tauranga Girls College), Amrit John (hockey-Bethlehem College).

Marathon Visual Media service to sport: Winner: Malcolm Taylor (athletics).