This year’s ILT Southland Sports Awards finalists will be unveiled at a free event for the community and will include an all-star guest panel at ILT Stadium Southland on June 3.

Finalists in the ILT Senior Sportsperson of the Year, Vodafone Junior Sportsperson of the Year, Southland Kia Team of the Year, Ricoh Southland Coach of the Year, BDO Administrator of the Year, Creation Signs Official of the Year and NZME Masters Achievement will be announced.

The annual ILT Southland Sports Awards, presented by Sport Southland on behalf of the Southland Amateur Sports Trust, have been running since 1953 and are New Zealand’s longest-running regional sports awards.

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Despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic Southlanders had continued to achieve at a high level, Sport Southland chief executive Brendon McDermott.

“These awards aim to inspire the Southland community, recognise and honour outstanding achievements and service, and promote positive sporting role models for Southlanders,” McDermott said.

“While we’ve seen a number of pinnacle events cancelled, postponed or modified due to the pandemic, it’s truly impressive looking at the highlights which have been achieved by Southlanders over the past 12 months and we are looking forward to showcasing that success again this year.”

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A special guest panel of Sharks coach and Australian basketball coaching legend Rob Beveridge, United States import Courtney Belger, and Southern Steel’s English sharpshooter George Fisher will also be interviewed by MC Nick Jeffrey.

“It’s going to be really interesting to get an international perspective of what Southland sport is all about. All three of our guests have got fascinating stories about how they came to be in Southland,” McDermott said.

The ILT Southland Sports Awards will be staged at Ascot Park Hotel on June 25.