Winners of the 2022 Swimming NZ Awards
We are excited to congratulate winners of the 2022 Swimming NZ Awards. These awards were presented across the 5 days of competition at the 2023 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships in recognition of the outstanding performances achieved by members of our community during the 2022 calendar year.
Lewis Clareburt (Capital) took out the Baxter O'Neill Trophy as the supreme swimmer of the year for the fourth consecutive time, following his world class performances at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, as well as his promotion of the sport and leadership.
Lars Humer (Swim Dunedin) was recognised as the supreme coach of the year for the second time in recognition of the Swim Dunedin programme and coaching of performances by Erika Fairweather and Caitlin Deans on the domestic and international stage in 2022.
Dianne Farmer (Palmerston North & Swimming Manawatu) received the Jackie Clarke Award as the volunteer administrator of the year for her dedication and support for delivering swimming within the Manawatu region.
Ross Gillespie (Northland) won the Bill Matson Award for the second time as the international technical official of the year in recognition of being one of two starters at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
North Shore Swimming retained the Duncan Laing trophy as the top scoring club across the 2022 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships, the 2022 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships and the 2022 Apollo Projects NZ Short Course Swimming Championships.
A list of the winners for each award are listed below in the order they were presented across the championships. We are very proud of them all and would like to congratulate them all on their achievements in 2022.
Winners the 2022 Swimming NZ Awards
The finalists have been announced in the order of presentation, with the respective time they will be awarded at the event. Please note some awards don't have finalists, so the winner will be announced at the event.
Domestic Swimmer of the Year
It is presented to a swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand competitions during the 2022 calendar year.
Finalists
Lewis Clareburt (Capital)
Helena Gasson (Coast)
Carter Swift (Club 37)
Erika Fairweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin)
Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin)
Winner: Erika Fairweather
Erika received this award for her strong performances at both the 2022 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships and 2022 Apollo Projects NZ Short Course Swimming Championships, where she achieved world-class FINA A times across three distances.
Domestic Technical Official of the Year
It is presented to a technical official for outstanding contribution within New Zealand in the 2022 calendar year.
Finalists
Barry Ashcroft (Auckland)
Glenys McKenzie (Canterbury West Coast)
Dianne Farmer (Manawatu)
Dawn Dutton (Northland)
Peter Deans (Otago)
Rowan Williams (Taranaki)
Sandra Sutcliffe (Waikato)
Jacqui Forsythe (Wellington)
Winner: Peter Deans
Peter is the inaugural recipient of this award for his outstanding commitment and contribution to Swimming Otago competitions throughout the region, amassing more than 170 hours of officiating in the 2022 calendar year, where he was regularly the Technical Director and provided support at development meets during a time where Covid-19 restrictions impacted the delivery of events. Peter also attended every development meet in 2022 to offer training, guidance and mentorship to fellow officials.
Domestic Coach of the Year
It is presented to a coach who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2022 calendar year.
Finalists
Gary Hollywood (Capital)
Michael Weston (Coast)
Mitch Nairn (Club 37)
Lars Humer & Kurt Crosland (Swim Dunedin)
Winner: Lars Humer & Kurt Crosland
Lars and Kurt received this inaugural award for their joint coaching performance of Erika Fairweather at both the 2022 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships and 2022 Apollo Projects NZ Short Course Swimming Championships, where she achieved FINA A times across three distances. Kurt and Lars also supported other members in the Swim Dunedin squad to achieve FINA A times, such as Caitlin Deans where she made her first Aquablack team in the 1500m Freestyle.
Domestic Para Coach of the Year
It is presented to a Para swimming coach who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2022 calendar year.
Finalists
Tom Onley (Whangarei)
Mat Woofe (Hamilton Aquatics)
Frank Tourelle (SwimZone Racing)
Winner: Tom Onley
Tom received this inaugural award for his coaching performance of Cameron Leslie at the 2022 Apollo Projects Swimming Championships, which was highlighted by his World Record breaking performance in the final of the 50m Freestyle.
Domestic Para Swimmer of the Year
It is presented to a Para swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2022 calendar year.
Finalists
Cameron Leslie (Whangarei)
Nikita Howarth (Hamilton Aquatics)
Erin Knox (SwimZone Racing)