Matt Teokotai-White and Simon Perry Win Big at Waikato Regional Sports Awards.

Matt Teokotai-White and Simon Perry Win Big at Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards.

The prestigious 2018 Brian Perry Regional Sports Awards were announced on Thursday 1^st February 2018, winners included swim coach Matt Teokotai-White and Swimming New Zealand board member Simon Perry.

Matt Teokotai-White won the Lodge Real Estate Community Coach of the Year award.

"I wasn't expecting the award, it was a big surprise to get it, but the award also caps off an amazing year for me and my coaching development" Teokotai-White said after receiving the award.



"This is a testiment to my family, friends, Hillcrest Swim Club, Central Swimming and Swim Waikato who have pushed and helped me in my development as a coach to help swimmers achieve their goals, I dedicate and share this win with them."

Teokotai-White is Head Coach of the Hillcrest Amateur Swim Club encompassing 330 swimmers which includes 60 squad swimmers and 270 Learn to Swim kids from the age of five years through to young adults, and overseeing the clubs programmes.

Swimming New Zealand board member Simon Perry was awarded the Hare Puke Leadership in Sport award, for excellence in Sports Leadership.



This years awards were held at the Claudelands Conference & Exhibition Centre, Hamilton. The event showcases and celebrates sporting achievement from local grassroots clubs through to high performance level.

Seventy individuals, teams, clubs and events from around the region were selected as finalists from more than 600 nominations received for the awards.

Sport Waikato Chief Executive Matthew Cooper commented on the outstanding talent throughout our region “Every year in all categories, the performances of sportspeople from the Waikato region are exceptional and we are seeing them achieve in all areas, from a wide range of sports. This last year was no exception.”

In other categories; Hamilton All Black Damian McKenzie and South Waikato Black Fern Toka Natua took out the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year titles respectively, with Team of the Year going to the Bayleys Midlands NHL Women’s Hockey team.

2017 Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Award Winners 

Article written with help from Lisa Bishop (Communications Advisor), Sport Waikato.
IMAGE CREDIT: Key Imagery/Mike Walen