Young stars of the future recognised with awards | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Accolades were heaped upon 40 of the region's most promising sports stars yesterday following the release of the SPARC Future Champions awards.

Among the 562 athletes identified from 192 New Zealand secondary schools, Bay of Plenty was recognised with future champion awards to Youth Commonwealth Games representative and World Mountainbiking competitor Clinton Avery from Rotorua Lakes High School; New Zealand age-group touch player Maurice Stone (jnr) from Rotorua Boys' High School and year 12 Tauranga Girls' College's Lucy Olphert, who was selected to represent New Zealand at the Australia Youth Olympics in Sydney in January.

In addition, 21 rising stars were recognised in the finalist category after they had achieved at a local level, while 16 were named in the highly commended category after achieving at a local level.

Sport Bay of Plenty's Secondary School Director of Sport Julie Leslie, said it was the best showing athletes from the Bay had enjoyed in recent years.

She attributed much of the success to the employment of sports co-ordinators in secondary schools.

"Since schools have begun to employ sports co-ordinators it has made things easier for coaching and adminsitration staff," she said.

"In addition, schools are beginning to realise that sport holds a significant career pathway for many of their students and the combination of the two, I think, is reflected in the success we are seeing in our athletes."

Leslie is hoping to honour local athletes in Rotorua before Christmas with a special awards ceremony.

SPARC chief executive Nick Hill said this year's awards attracted a high number of nominees and that reflected the talent and passion for sport that exists throughout New Zealand.

Athletes from 37 different sports were nominated from their regions as SPARC Future Champions.

Highly commended athletes will receive a certificate of achievement from SPARC, while champion athletes will receive a certificate, a SPARC Future Champions branded hooded top, beanie, bag and medal.

Past recipients of SPARC Future Champions Awards include Palmerston North teenager Kayla Sharland, a member of the Black Sticks hockey team in Athens; multi-sporter Terenzo Bozzoni; Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist Valerie Adams; and cricketer, Daniel Vettori.

For a full list of Bay of Plenty athletes recognised by SPARC see today's Daily Post