AMI Otago Rugby Referee Awards 2009
Ross Barnett was named AMI Otago Rugby Referee of the Year at the annual awards evening held at Cairsbrook on Saturday night.
Barnett is 24 years old and has had a stellar season with the whistle, notching up his first 1st class game and also officiating the Dunedin Premier Club Final.
A notable milestone was also acknowledged with the presentation of a life membership to Merve Kinaston who has served the Otago Rugby Referees for over 40 years. Two AMI Referee Scholarship’s were also presented to panel referees Ben O’Keeffe and Brad Taylor.
Award Winners
Ross Barnett (AMI Otago Rugby Referee of the Year),
Mark Walton (Otago Senior Referee of the Year), Liam Scanlon (Otago Junior Referee of the Year), Wayne Carruthers (Otago Referee Personality of the Year)
2009 Representative Referees
South Island Zone Squad: Tim Baker and Ross Barnett, South Island Under 18: Ben O’Keeffe, Liam Scanlon and Adam Morrison, South Island Under 16: Hamish Davis and Ryan Palmer, 1st Class Fixture: Ross Barnett (North Otago v King Country), South Island Under 18 Final: Liam Scanlon, Women’s Wider Trainning Squad: Bridget Tyler, 100 Premier Games: Doug Rodgers
2009 Club Rugby Awards
Ross Barnett (Most Improved Premier Referee - Lester Te Au Memorial)
Ben O’Keeffe (Most Promising Referee - Brian Fletcher Whistle)
Curtis Stumbles (Most Promising 1st or 2nd year - Angus Hulligan Trophy)
Shane McKenzie (Chairman’s Award)
Medals presented to the club finals referees
Ross Barnett (Dunedin Premier 1), Adam Morrison (Dunedin Premier 2), Roger Hill (Central Otago), Neville Muir (South Otago), Chris Faatoese (Dunedin Senior Grade) Steve Green (Dunedin Women’s), Ben O’Keeffe (Dunedin Colts Division 1), Michael Smail (Dunedin Colts Division 2)
Life Membership & Service Awards
Merve Kinaston and Dave Barnett(Life Membership), Kevin McLaughlan (50 years service), Peter Thomas (50 years service), Merv Kinaston (40 years service), Dave Barnett (33 years service), Shane McKenzie (30 years service), Pat Cooney (20 years service), Mark Walton (20 years service)
AMI Referee Scholarship
Ben O’Keeffe and Brad Taylor
The six Otago referees, who officiated in South Island tournaments last week, produced top class performances and subsequent appointments.
Liam Scanlon controlled the grand final of the South Island u18 tournament in Lincoln
Adam Morrison - u18’s, Hamish Davies - u16’s and Bridget Tyler – schoolgirls all also performed with great distinction.
These results are almost unprecedented for Otago referees and are a great achievement for all those involved. Well done to the referees, coaches and everyone who has supported them this season.
