March 11, 1998
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

Finalists announced for the annual sports awards

Rosalind Pound, chairperson of the Awards Program, would like to announce the names of the finalists for the 1997 Sport Newfoundland and Labrador Annual Awards.

The finalists for the Elizabeth Swan Memorial Plaque for Labatt Senior Female Athlete of the Year are: Tracy Hussey of Athletics; Maria Maunder of Rowing; and Ann Murrin of Basketball.

The finalists for the Ferd Hayward Memorial Plaque for the Labatt Senior Male Athlete of the Year are: Peter Benoite of Basketball; Bill Hogan of Swimming; and Gerry Williams of Five-Pin Bowling.

The finalists for the Brookfield Dairy Group Provincial Junior Female Athlete of the Year are; Suzanne Drodge of Swimming; Darlene Mansfield of Five-Pin Bowling; and Anita Pushpanathan of Tennis.

The finalists for the Brookfield Dairy Group Provincial Male Athlete of the Year are: Chris Mooney of Rugby, Ryan O'Neil of Softball and Billy Russell of Boxing.

The finalists for the Edward Browne Memorial Plaque for the Labatt Air Atlantic Team of the Year are: Memorial University Men's Basketball Team; Newfoundland Junior Boxing Team; and the Newfoundland Under 19 Rugby Team, 1997 Canada Games Team.

The finalists for the John Drinkwater Memorial Plaque for the 3M Coach of the year are: Clem (Junior) Edwards of Soccer; Pat Parfrey of Rugby; and Glenn Taylor of Basketball.

The finalists for the Graham Snow Memorial Plaque for the Investors Executive of the Year are: Harry Bartlett of Baseball; Ivan Hapgood of Softball; and Glenn Normore of Basketball.

"We would like to sincerely thank our major sponsor Labatt Brewery, along with our associate sponsors Air Atlantic, Brookfield Dairy Group, Investors, and 3M for their continued financial support for the Awards Program", says Pound.

The Provincial Awards Program Banquet and presentation of Awards will take place at the Delta Convention Centre on March 28. Anyone wishing to obtain tickets to this event may do so by calling Sport Newfoundland and Labrador's office at (709) 576-4932.

Contact: Renee Dowden, (709) 576-4930.