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SWIMMERS CLEAN UP JUNIOR CATEGORIES AT 2017 AOTEAROA MAORI SPORTS AWARDS

Laticia-Leigh Transom and Lewis Clareburt capped off a golden year by winning the Junior Sportswomen and Junior Sportsman at the 2017 Aotearoa Māori Sports Awards last Saturday night.

Australian based Transom (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Ati Haunui a Pāpārangi), 16, travelled from Brisbane to attend the awards. "It was an honour and privilege to be named Junior Māori Sportswoman of the year, i'm very grateful... also, thank you to all my whānau and friends who allow me to keep achieving my goals with your ongoing support", Transom said in a facebook post after the awards.



She won two golds, two silvers and a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas. She will compete in the Macdonald's Queensland Championships next weekend with the aim of qualifying for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Clareburt (Waikato), 18, from Wellington's Capital swim club has had a breakout 2017 which included, eight gold medals at the New Zealand Age Group Swimming Championships and three gold and four silver medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Clareburt was unable to attend the awards as he was competing in the NZ Surf Lifesaving Nationals in Tauranga, his mother Robyn accepted his award on his behalf.




Awards:

TE TAMĀHINE-Ā-PAPATŪANUKU TE WANANGA O AOTEAROA – JUNIOR MAORI SPORTSWOMEN
Winner: Latricia LEIGH-TRANSOM.

TE TAMA-Ā-RANGINUI MERCURY – JUNIOR MAORI SPORTSMAN
Winner: Lewis CLAREBURT (Waikato) SWIMMING.