A breakout summer has seen Southland cricketer Jacob Duffy named ILT Southland senior sportsperson of the year for the second time at a new look awards function tonight (June 13).

The Lumsden-born fast bowler, who also won the award in 2021, had an exceptional domestic campaign with the Blackcaps in series wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Duffy, 30, spurred the Blackcaps to a comeback win in the T20I series opener against Sri Lanka, with three wickets in four balls.

He was later named New Zealand’s Player of the Series against Sri Lanka, before turning his sights on the touring Pakistan team where he snared 13 wickets in five matches, including a New Zealand record performance in a T20I of 4-14.

Those efforts saw Duffy ranked the world’s number one T20I bowler by the International Cricket Council and he was later named New Zealand Cricket’s T20I Player of the Year.

Duffy, who has been playing County cricket in England during the New Zealand winter, said the past summer had been one to remember.

The series opener against Sri Lanka, where he turned the game in the space of one over, and being part of the New Zealand squad which made it to the final of the Champions Trophy, were highlights.

“In the position I’ve been in for the last three or four years, getting a series or a tour here and there, you put a lot of expectation and pressure on yourself and that potentially doesn’t bring the best out of you,” Duffy said.

“To get consistent game time…has been pretty cool. When you are out there in the big wide world against international teams you don’t know if you are quite good enough, but you get to prove to yourself that you are good enough to compete against, literally, the best in the world.”

Duffy thanked the Southland community who had continued to support him during his development and lengthy first-class career.

“I’ve always appreciated my support from down south. I’m very proud to call myself a Southlander. All the people through my upbringing, schooling and at Southland Cricket have played a huge part in where I’ve got to today and I’m forever grateful.”

A new format for this year’s ILT Southland Sports Awards saw 90 nominations from nearly 30 sporting codes recognised at a special function at ILT Stadium Southland.

Motorcycle racer Cormac Buchanan won the Te Rourou, One NZ Foundation Junior Sportsperson of the Year category after a massive year which included three podiums and a fifth placing overall in the 2024 FIM JuniorGP World Championships in Europe, helping secure a history-making contract in the 2025 Moto3 World Championships.

Middle distance runner James McLeay, the first New Zealand in several years to qualify for the world under 20 1500m final, was acknowledged with a new Distinction Award.

Golfer Robyn Boniface claimed the NZME Masters Achievement Award after winning her sixth National Senior Women’s golf title when the tournament was held in Invercargill in February.

The Inclusive Activity Murihiku Athlete with a Disability Award, a new category for 2025, was won by lawn bowler Julie O’Connell after helping the New Zealand Black Jacks to a series win over Australia.

Maadi Cup-winning under 18 double scullers Harry Lightfoot and Sebastian Watson won the Southland Kia Team of the Year category, with a Distinction Award going to the Hokonui Under 18 marching team, the first team in their grade to win three consecutive national titles.

Julian Ineson, coach of New Zealand representative cyclist Marshall Erwood, claimed the BDO Invercargill Coach of the Year award.

Erin Criglington, who was the chief judge at the 2024 Junior World Track Cycling championships, won the Creation Signs Official of the Year award, with Nicky McNaught, the only New Zealand referee selected for the World Squash Teams event in Hong Kong, receiving a Distinction Award.

The Community Trust South Community Impact award was won by the Southland Triathlon and Multisport Club, recognition for its long-time commitment to breaking down barriers to participation.

Murray Heath (bowls), Tim Ward (swimming), Craig Smith (football) and Danny Young (rowing) were all recognised with Invercargill City Council Services to Sports awards.

The ILT Southland Sports Awards are presented by Active Southland, on behalf of the Southland Amateur Sports Trust, and are the longest-running awards of their kind in New Zealand.

2024/2025 ILT Southland Sports Awards winners:

• ILT Senior Sportsperson of the Year: Jacob Duffy (cricket)
• Te Rourou, One NZ Foundation Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Cormac Buchanan (motorsport). Distinction Award: James McLeay (athletics)
• BDO Invercargill Coach of the Year: Julian Ineson (cycling)
• Southland Kia Team of the Year: Harry Lightfoot and Sebastian Watson (rowing). Distinction Award: Hokonui Under 18 Marching Team.
• Creation Signs Official of the Year: Erin Criglington (cycling). Distinction Award: Nicky McNaught (squash)
• NZME Masters Achievement Award: Robyn Boniface (golf)
• Community Trust South Community Impact Award: Southland Triathlon and Multisport Club
• Inclusive Activity Murihiku Athlete with a Disability Award: Julie O’Connell (lawn bowls)
• Invercargill City Council Services to Sport Awards: Murray Heath (bowls), Tim Ward (swimming), Craig Smith (football), Danny Young (rowing)