27th Life Member

KartSport New Zealand awarded its 27th Life Membership at the governing body’s annual National Conference Dinner on the weekend.

After five decades of service to the sport, which continues to this day, well-respected race official Eddie Donnelly was appropriately awarded with the 27th Life Membership to the organisation.

“The Life Membership is well deserved and was respectively appreciated by all those in attendance” KartSport NZ posted. “Congratulations Eddie!”.

There were multiple other awards recognised on the night.

This year, KartSport New Zealand adjusted the Volunteer of the Year Award system to recognise a North Island volunteer and a South Island volunteer. Nominated by their clubs, Simon Church picked up the North Island award, while Shayne McLaren won the South Island equivalent.

Shutter Media Group NZ’s David ‘DJ’ Mills took a clean sweep of the Kartsport New Zealand Photographer of the Year awards, netting the “Supreme Award”, “Best Action Photo”, “Best Photo Story”, “Under 25 Best Action Photo” and the “Under 25 Best Photo Story”.

The Club Of The Year Award went to KartSport Canterbury, winning by a single vote.

“From the nominations received, two clubs clearly demonstrated a strong year of operation – this being KartSport Canterbury & KartSport Hawke’s Bay” KSNZ stated. “Both clubs made massive investments into their facilities, which is commendable considering the economic climate.

“In a wide range of areas, they were either almost identical or only marginally better than the other. These two clubs are a great display of club culture for karting in New Zealand.”