The 2026 Canterbury Sport and Recreation Awards lit up Te Pae Convention Centre in Ōtautahi Christchurch on Friday night, bringing together more than 350 guests to celebrate the very best in sport and recreation. 

The tone for the evening was set from the first award, with the Community Diversity and Inclusion Award recipient - HCC Barbell Club – Rangatahi Tārewa Tū - receiving a rousing haka.  

Hamish Kerr was named High Performance Sportsperson of the Year for the third time, following earlier wins in 2023 and 2025. His 2026 season included his first outdoor world title and a Diamond League Final victory, confirming his place among the world’s leading high jumpers. 

“It’s really great to be here and to support not just myself, but the rest of the team and the wider community, and to take a moment to sit with the achievement,” he said. 

The Para Athlete of the Year award was presented to William Stedman, who claimed the title for a fourth consecutive year after another standout season. His year included international medals, national records, and championship performances across track and field. 

“It's cool to see how parasport has grown heaps in the last few years, so it's a real honour to have won this award again.” Stedman added.

Sport Canterbury Chief Executive, Julyan Falloon, said the excellence recognised on stage was matched by the community effort behind it. 

“Seeing athletes like Hamish and William rewarded for sustained excellence says a great deal about the calibre of athletes across Canterbury,” Falloon said. 

 “That excellence is supported right across the region, through community clubs, grassroots programmes, committed coaches, volunteers, and whānau who create the environment for athletes and teams to succeed.” 

Longstanding service was recognised with Leeston Bowls Club’s, Alan Jones being named Volunteer of the Year. Jones has given more than five decades to the club, including his work as greenkeeper, lifting the facilities to Bowls New Zealand national standard and enabling the club to host section play during the 2026 National Singles and Pairs Championships. 

The connection between community foundations and high performance was recognised in a new way this year with the introduction of the Outstanding Contribution to Sport and Recreation award. 

The inaugural award went to Special Olympics New Zealand 2025 National Summer Games, with gold medal athlete, Andrew Oswin accepting on behalf of the organisation and lifting the trophy skyward, drawing one of the night’s biggest ovations. 

The induction of former Canterbury Ram, John “Dutchie” Rademakers, as a ‘Sporting Legend of Canterbury’, provided another of the evening's highlights. Rademakers was one of New Zealand’s premier guards of the 1980s and an influential member of the Rams team through the golden era of Canterbury Basketball. The honour had been kept closely under wraps. 

“I’m absolutely elated,” he said. “It completely caught me off guard. I had no idea this was coming, so I’m really grateful and a bit blown away by it all.”

Emerging talent was also recognised, with Outstanding Youth in Sport awarded to Hamish Henderson following his gold medal performance at the 2026 FIS Freeride Junior World Championships, representing Broken River Ski Club. 

The VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix were named High Performance Sports Team of the Year following their first ANZ Premiership title, while the Kaiapoi Queens took Community Sports Team of the Year after a championship-winning season in premier women’s softball. 

Canterbury Sport and Recreation Awards 2026 – Winners

Active Health Community Diversity and Inclusion Award
HCC Barbell Club – Rangatahi Tārewa Tū – Youth Olympic Weightlifting

Anstice Optometrists Para Athlete of the Year
William Stedman – Athletics

Blackwells High Performance Sports Team of the Year
The VIP Frames & Trusses Tactix – Netball

Christchurch City Council Outstanding Contribution to Sport and Recreation
Special Olympics New Zealand 2025 National Summer Games – Special Olympics

Craig's Investment Partners High Performance Sportsperson of the Year
Hamish Kerr – Athletics

Douglas Furniture and Joinery High Performance Official of the Year
Logan Forrester – Touch

Gallagher Insurance Volunteer of the Year
Alan Jones – Bowls

Heartland Technology Community Official of the Year
Jamie Smith – Netball

Lincoln University Outstanding Youth in Sport
Hamish Henderson – Freeride Skiing

LnA Apparel Community Sportsperson of the Year
Rowan O’Gorman – Rugby

ORIX Community Sports Team of the Year
Kaiapoi Queens – Softball

University of Canterbury Community Coach of the Year
Garey Burgess – Boxing

University of Canterbury High Performance Coach of the Year
James Sandilands – Athletics

Article added: Wednesday 20 May 2026