Boyle Claims Major Honour in Swimming NZ’s Awards
London Olympian Lauren Boyle has been awarded the State Insurance New Zealand Swimmer of the Year.
The 24 year old was awarded the honour at the Swimming New Zealand Awards dinner in Auckland following the successful State NZ Swimming Championships.
Boyle, who has qualified in three individual events and the relay for the London Olympics, has been honoured for an outstanding 2011 season.
The North Shore swimmer, coached by Mark Regan at Swimming New Zealand’s High Performance Centre, was a finalist in the 400m and 800m freestyle at the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai, as well as a semifinalist in the 200m freestyle and guiding the New Zealand team to eighth place and Olympic qualification in the 4x200m freestyle relay. Boyle established New Zealand records in all three individual swims.
She went on to compete in the World University Games in Shenzhen, creating history for any New Zealand university athlete in winning gold medals in the 400m and 800m freestyle, a silver in the 200m freestyle, bronze in the 1500m freestyle and leading New Zealand to a silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay to complete an outstanding year.
Boyle was also presented with the most outstanding performance at an international event for her efforts at the world championships and also the national swimmer of the year award.
Her fellow High Performance Centre team mate Glenn Snyders was awarded the International Long Course Swimmer of the Year for his performances at the world championships and World University Games where he finished ranked in the top 10 in the world in the 50m and 100m breaststroke, becoming the first New Zealander under the minute mark in the 100m breaststroke.
Their coach Mark Regan was awarded Swimming New Zealand’s Coach of the Year.
World champion Sophie Pascoe won the swimmer with a disability award as well as the People’s Choice Award, although the Christchurch swimmer was unable to attend, as she prepares for her Olympic qualifying meet in London.
Former Olympic great Rebecca Perrott, now a national selector, was awarded the New Zealand Masters Swimmer of the Year.
The award winners are:
New Zealand Swimming Trust Emerging Swimmer: Sophia Batchelor (AquaGym, Christchurch).
Performance Club of the Year: North Shore Swimming
Community Club of the Year: Kings Swim Club.
National Swimmer of the Year: Lauren Boyle (North Shore HPC)
Bill Matson Technical Official: Lesley Huckins (Canterbury)
Volunteer of the Year: (Paul Lloyd (North Canterbury)
Open Water Swimmer of the Year: Cara Baker (Howick Pakuranga)
State Kiwi Swim Safe School of the Year: Matahui Rd School (Tauranga)
Quality Swim School of the Year: Easyswim Swim School, Wellington)
Swimmer of the Year with a Disability: Sophie Pascoe (QEII Christchurch)
Relay team of the year: NZ Women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team – Lauren Boyle, Penelope Marshall, Amaka Gessler, Natasha Hind)
International long course swimmer of the year: Glenn Snyders (North Shore HPC)
Swimming NZ club coach of the year: Brigitte Mahan (North Canterbury)
Swimming NZ performance coach of the year: Mark Regan (SNZ HPC)
People’s Choice Award : Sophia Pascoe
Outstanding International performance: Lauren Boyle
NZ Masters Swimmer of the Year: Rebecca Perrott.
State Insurance Swimmer of the Year: Lauren Boyle.