Golfer, Swimmer, and Rowers Claim Top Waikato Sports Awards

Sam Vincent - Photo by Dave Lintott

Sam Vincent, Nikita Howarth and Hamilton Boys rowing eight have claimed the top awards at the Waikato Sports Awards last night.

Westpac Secondary School Sportsman of the Year – Sam Vincent, St Peters School, Cambridge
Sam is a New Zealand junior golf representative; he was runner-up in the men’s New Zealand Amateur, won the Waikato Winter Strokeplay, the North Island u-19 title and sits 8th on the New Zealand Golf Order of Merit.  Sam finished 10th at the Greg Norman Junior Masters in a field of over 120 international players. 
Sam is a hard working dedicated golfer who is always searching for constant improvement whilst also trying to keep enjoyment in the game.  Sam has recently been awarded a full scholarship to Iowa State University and will begin his studies in August.

Westpac Secondary School Sportswoman of the Year – Nikita Howarth, Cambridge High School
After attending the Para World Swimming Champs in Glasgow, Nikita returned as world champion in both the S7 50 metre butterfly and SM7 200 metre Individual Medley.  Nikita broke her Oceanic record in the SB8 100 metre breaststroke twice, once in the heat and again in the final finishing 6th.  
Nikita is a mature young lady who deals well with her commitments in and out of the pool, be it training, speaking at Schools or doing Media interviews for Paralympics New Zealand. She is friendly and approachable but also very driven to succeed.
 
Westpac Secondary School Team of the Year – Hamilton Boys’ High School U18 Rowing Eight
Winners of the Maadi Cup U18 eight secondary school championship the team are also winners of the North Island Secondary Schools U18 championship.  The team are highly motivated and dedicated with the team consisting of four boys aged under 17 boding well for 2016.
This crew performed with distinction to defeat New Zealand’s premier schoolboy teams, racing through the North Island & New Zealand Championships unbeaten. These boys under the expert coaching of Bruce Holden trained to a level of performance of the highest calibre.