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Women's softball rein Supreme at Army's top sports award
by Mr Dean Groves (Code Chairman)
The Army sports community assembled at the Trentham WO's and SNCO's Mess on 8 March 2012, for the annual awards dinner to celebrate Army's Sporting performances for the 2011 season.
Early in the evening, each Code Chairperson announced the codes Most Valuable award. For softball, the Code Chairman, acting on behalf of Patron Mr Des Hammond, announced PTE Cynthia Ries-Rupapera of 2CCSB as the Patron's Most Valuable Player of the 2011/12 Inter-Services Softball Tournament.
PTE Cynthia Ries-Rupapera, Army softballs Most Valuable for 2011 (AW-12-0329-1).
The dinner was held in the Trentham Junior Ranks Mess, where the Master of Ceremonies (MC) CAPT Grant McCarroll, entertained the guests throughout the evening. CAPT McCarroll, the former Softball Code Chairman has recently returned from service in the Sinai and is looking forward to getting back into softball again.
The awards categories started off with the Army Team of the Year, where softballs women's team were nominated for their devastating form in 2011 at the NZDF Inter-Services Softball Tournament, held in Melbourne, Australia from 30 October to 3 November 2011. The tournament was the first held abroad in the Defence Force's softball history. The tournament coincided with the Australian Defence Force Softball Associations 25th Anniversary. A number of Army women's team players were selected into the NZDF team for the test match against the Australian's.
The New Zealand Army Women's softball team were announced as the Chief of Army's Sports Team of the Year Award for 2011. Members of the team were presented with their trophy and medal's.
Insert pic: AW-12-0309-1
Read the "Sports Team of the Year" team's nomination.
Army softballers SGT Bex Dymock and LCPL Jenni Mumm, were both nominated by softball for the Army Sports Official of the Year and Individual Sports Person of the Year categories respectively. Unfortunately, both ladies missed out on winning their categories, but to softball, they are winners in our books. Good on you ladies and well done for your efforts in 2011.
Read SGT Dymock's nomination.
Read LCPL Mumm's nomination.
The last category of the Sports Awards was the Supreme Award, which is recommended by the Army Sports Committee and chosen by the Chief of Army (CA) Major General Tim Keating, ONZM. The nominee's are those who were the winners of the Team of the Year, Official of the Year, Individual Sports Person of the Year and Outstanding Achievement Award categories.
The CA's Supreme Award winners for 2011 were "The Army Women's Softball Team" said the MC.
2011 Army Women's Softball Team (AW-12-0309-1).
The culminating part of the evening saw the CA present the Army Pocket for Administration to Mrs Marion Kareko (Softball) and the Army Colour to WO2 Greg Mildon (Touch and Softball).
Marion Kareko is the Army Chief Scorer and also keeps score for the Army Women's Team. Marion has been involved with Army and NZDF Softball for a long period of time.
Read Marion's nomination.
Marion Kareko is presented the pocket and blazer by Chief of Army Major General Tim Keating, ONZM (AW-12-0329-2).
WO2 Greg "Millie" Mildon started his career off with softball 1992, where he was selected into the Army and Combined Services teams. He then took a break and began playing touch, which was a good decision as he reached National level honours. He is currently heavily involved with Army and Defence Force Touch. Earlier in the evening, Greg was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award.
Read Greg's Army Colour nomination.
WO2 Greg Mildon (left) receives the Outstanding Achievement trophy from LTCOL Bill Twist (AW-12-0329-3).
As you may have picked up on, softball's ladies had an amazing evening, winning Team of the Year and the Supreme Awards. The team will until further notice be referred to as "The Supreme's".
We also acknowledge Marion Kareko's pocket for outstanding service to softball.
Well done ladies and Greg.
This page was last reviewed on 02 April 2012 and is current.