And The Winner Is...

... Pāpāmoa Surf Life Saving Club !

Each year a local club is awarded “Club of the Year” at the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Awards of Excellence. The award recognises participation and achievement in lifeguarding, Surf Sports, Junior Surf and good club management practices. 2023 was our year with Pāpāmoa taking out the award at last weekend's award ceremony.

We topped the table in many of the criteria areas including the number of new and refreshed lifeguards, the number of volunteer hours spent on patrol, the number of nippers taking part in Junior Surf, as well as local and national juniors, seniors and masters surf sport results. 

Chairperson Jim Pearson says receiving this award is great recognition to all our volunteers and the work they do. “As a community organisation we should all be very proud of the work we do to keep our community safe,” he says. 

We also had some outstanding individual winners and we are very proud of these three members:

Isobella (Bella) Davoren - Coaches Commitment Award

Amelie Pearson - Under 15 Female Sports Person of the Year

Naomi Davoren - Masters Female Sports Person of the Year

The purpose of the Coaches Commitment Award is to recognise an athlete or member of a surf sport training squad who has shone throughout the season. Bella Davoren has done just that. “Bella is an awesome asset to the senior surf sports squad,” says Senior Head Coach Jake Cowdrey. “Bella has constantly shown club values throughout the years. She has taken ownership of her sporting development by constantly reviewing goals and always asking questions. Bella always puts her hand up to help out with whatever is needed to be done.”

Amelie Pearson also achieved exceptional results last season. “Amelie is a very talented young athlete, she has a great work ethic and is a fantastic athlete to coach,” says Jake. “When she’s not training, she’s in the water playing around, trying new things and constantly trying to up skill.”

It’s clear that Bella is following in her Mum’s footsteps. Naomi Davoren continues to achieve at a high level in the masters category, including winning four golds and one silver at this year’s National Surf Life Saving Championships in Christchurch.

An extra special congratulations to these award recipients who have been recognised at regional level for their years of service and dedication to the Pāpāmoa Surf Life Saving Club and surf lifesaving in general:

Sandra Boubee - Regional Distinguished Service Award

Naomi Davoren - Regional Distinguished Service Award

Joanne Miller - Regional Distinguished Service Award

Andrew Hitchfield - Regional Service Award

Jim Pearson - Regional Service Award

Kathryn Stewart - Regional Service Award

We were also proud to host the award event at the club and thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to help run the event including some of our young surf sport athletes who were the Thirst Aid for the evening. 

Congratulations to all nominees, finalists and award winners. Thank you all for an epic season and we look forward to another successful summer ahead! 

Click here to read about all the regional winners.