The winnerS of the Finn Lowery Award for 2021 are...

The Finn Lowery Foundation is delighted to announce that Ella Roberts and Luke Blackburn have won the 2021 Finn Lowery Award.  Given last year was not your typical year, the Finn Lowery Foundation presented not one but two Finn Lowery awards. Given both were award recipient's applications were well regarded by the FLF trustees, both Ella and Luke have received a $2,500 scholarship. 

Ella loves the sport of water polo, which she has played since aged 10 . She has always worked hard to maintain a solid and stable life in and out of the water. Throughout Ella’s  time at North Harbour she has always been a committed, positive, member of her team and the club. Water Polo has been a constant in Ella’s life, something she has been able to  rely on, a sport where she can spend time with her group of amazing friends. Ella has been a valued member of all our age group teams during the past years and is a current member of the U18B team this season. She continues to give back to the sport regularly by coaching a number of NH U12 teams over the past years. Ella loves sharing her passion for the sport with the next wave of young players just starting out in this sport. Support from her family has remained constant and Ella is keen to acknowledge her mother, who also volunteers in many roles within NH.

Luke has been playing water polo since the age of 7. He has played for NH since the u12 eg group and is a committed club member in every respect. In u14 his goal was to make the U14A boys team but he fell short of his goal, and the following year he was named in a NH u16 D team. For Luke quitting was never an option on the road to success. He was keen to find a way forward. With a positive mindset and a willingness to persevere, there was little beyond his reach. The attitude of being ready to work even in the face of challenges and despite odds is what has made all the difference in Luke’s life. Luke took this as an opportunity to work at the sport he loved and continued to train hard and work on developing his game. Eventually he made the u16A team and was rewarded with a National Title. Luke says WP has offered him an opportunity to make great connections with team mates and coaches, and has taught him the value of hard work and dedication. Much of what Luke has achieved over the years both in and out of the pool,  he has had the solid support of his grandparents behind him throughout.