Linton Sapper wins NZDF's top sports award

Linton Military Camp Sapper Paul Davis was named the top individual sportsperson of the year at the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) sports awards last week.

The former Hato Paora College student said it was a “pretty awesome feeling” winning the top individual sportsperson award and that the Army was a great place to work when keen on playing sport.

Sapper Davis, originally from Morewa in Northland, is an accomplished sportsperson. He represented Army rugby and Touch and was in the NZDF Senior Men’s Rugby Team that won the Pacific Nations Military Rugby Tournament in 2008. Paul’s performance at provincial level Touch for Manawatu saw him selected to the NZ U21 Men’s Touch Team in 2008.

“The Army is really flexible when it comes to supporting my sporting goals,” SPR Davis says.

It has obviously paid dividends as Sapper Davis has been selected for the NZ men’s open touch team (the touchblacks) which will compete in the Trans-Tasman competition in Australia in April.

“The importance of sport in the Defence Force cannot be stressed enough. It develops competitiveness, the desire to win, and instils the mental and physical toughness so important in our core business: the conduct of military operations,” Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae said on the awards night.

“Competing in sport gives individuals the opportunity to test their skill, agility and physical strength against opponents, and to meet the various unforeseen circumstances that occur during a game.”

The awards, which recognise sporting excellence in the NZDF, was attended by 120 guests including the Minister of Defence Dr Wayne Mapp, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, Service Chiefs, sponsors, sportsmen and women and invited guests.

Sapper Davis is currently undertaking his carpentry apprenticeship with the school of military engineering in Palmerston North.