On Friday night Hugo scooped the 2014 Journalist of the Year award at the Eden Sport Awards held at the George Civic Centre. Earlier this year Hugo was crowned National Caxton/Group Editors Sport Writer of 2013 at a glamorous event in Johannesburg.
Hugo says he is elated but stunned to be honoured in this way. "I never expected the Eden award to come my way after just two years in the George Sport Editor chair. I feel humbled and honoured to share the stage with the cream of Eden's sport stars."
Group Editors Operations Director Nicole Rimbault was overjoyed upon hearing the news. "Group Editors is extremely proud of Hugo’s achievement at the awards. His commitment and enthusiasm to ensuring that as many sport events and functions as possible are covered every week in the George Herald, is invaluable to our company and the community."
Dirk van der Westhuizen, regional manager of sport at the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, says everyone in sport owes journalists a huge thank you. "Sport cannot exist without the media making the sporting achievements known to the public. Hugo is the first journalist to scoop this title and he is a most deserving winner."
Van der Westhuizen says the award has been established to enable an Eden sport writer provincial and national awards participation and recognition. "Hugo will represent Eden at the Western Cape Sport Awards with the chance to make it through to the National Sport Awards in Johannesburg."
The three finalists, freelancer André Stander, Hugo and Jacques Swart of Oudtshoorn Courant, George Herald's sister publication, were nominated by the 45 Eden Sport Council affiliated federations. The 11 judges on the judging panel are representatives of Eden Sport Council, the Provincial Sport Department and George Municipality.
Senior Sportsman of the year is Protea ace shot Jaco Brink, while surfing sensation Bianca Buitendag is Senior Sportswoman of 2014.
Junior Sportsman is golfer Jovan Rebula and athlete Jo-Ane van Dyk is Junior Sportswoman of the year.
NMMU's Deon Davids is 2014's rugby coach of the year.
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Hugo Redelinghuys (right) during the Eden Sport Awards with his partner Kristy Kolberg and freelance sport journalist Andre Stander, one of the three Eden finalists.
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