The football players of FC Emmen, the cyclists David Haverdings and Maike van der Duin and taekwondoka Brian Prent took home the prizes on Monday evening during the Sports Gala Drenthe in a full and atmospheric Ogterop theater in Meppel.
It was a wonderful conclusion in the Ogterop theater, which hosted the Drenthe sports elections for the first time. All nominees from the twelve Drenthe municipalities gathered on stage again at the end to be honored with fireworks and a standing ovation for their achievements in 2022. Yet only a few could be the winners. Where last year golfer Sven Maurits, cyclist Anna van der Breggen, tennis club Suthwalda and high jumper Britt Weerman took home the prizes, this year four other athletes rolled out of the bus.
Sports talents
First it was the turn of the sports talent category, in which cyclocross rider and mountain biker David Haverdings was the roast rooster. The 18-year-old cyclist from Zuidlaren received the trophy from deputy Henk Brink, an avid cycling enthusiast, who is on his farewell tour. During the ceremony, he made a peppery political statement on the stage of the Ogterop theatre. ,,Besides a cycling fan, I am also a football fan and – I’ll just say that on my own title – I wish FC Emmen a new stadium in addition to survival in the premier league.”
As said, Haverdings was the sportsman who was put in the spotlight by Brink. The cyclist won the prize based on his first place in the world junior cyclo-cross rankings in 2022. He also won the Dutch cyclo-cross title and came second in the NK mountain bike. Haverdings left drafts player Roland Kreeft from Hoogeveen and football player and PSV talent Tygo Land from Peize behind.
‘Very beautiful’
Of course, Haverdings was the king too rich. Last year he was also one of the nominees, but just missed out on the prize. He described his participation in the Cyclocross World Championships in Fayetteville as his most important sporting moment of the past year. ,,Even though it failed, it was still the most important match”, the talented Drent looked back on the early crash that killed him. “I really didn’t expect to win the prize for talent of the year, although it is very nice that it happened.”
In the sports teams, the battle was between beach handball players Eva Heuten and Meike Luis, who finished second in the under-18 world championship last year, the Suthwalda tennis players who extended their national title and FC Emmen who won the championship in 2022 for the first time since joining professional football. was in the first division.
FC Emmen
FC Emmen received the most votes and took the prize. Trainer Dick Lukkien and defender Miguel Araujo received the trophy. Lukkien also referred to the plight of the situation in which FC Emmen is currently bivouacked. ,,But this is about 2022. On the championship that we achieved then. I am very proud of that. It makes me happy that we can now receive this award for this. The statue is placed in the middle of the dressing room. That must be a huge incentive to knock Excelsior off the mat on Saturday.”
The sportswoman of the year was Maike van der Duin from Assen based on her formidable achievements in cycling. In 2022, the 21-year-old super talent won two silver medals at the Track Cycling World Championships, among other things. She left kickboxer Saskia Koekoek from Balinge (European champion in two classes) and obstacle runner Daphne Spreen from Rolde (amongst others world champion in the long distance section) to bite the dust.
Tour of Drenthe
Maike van der Duin was not physically present in Meppel, but called in from a training camp. ,,We are preparing for the Track World Cup”, she said via the screen. ,,But first I will come back to Drenthe next weekend for the Ronde van Drenthe. That is high on my list. This prize is a very nice reward for my performance over the past year.” Presenter Jannes Mulder, also active as a cycling speaker at the race, took a foretaste of Van der Duin’s victory in the Ronde next weekend with a few big shots. from Drenthe. ,,That would be a very nice finish”, the winner laughed. “I sign for it. A dream scenario.”
The election of sportsman of the year was the closing act of the Drenthe sports gala. The prize, which was awarded by mayor Marco Out van Assen. went to taekwondoka Brian Prent. The martial artist from Hoogeveen is Dutch champion. He collected slightly more votes than tennis player Max Houkes from Sleen, who won his first professional tournaments in 2022. Mountain biker Tim Smeenge from Zeegse also missed out on the prize. He wonders, among other things, the Drenthe 200.
Early alarm clock
Brian Prent was the king too rich. ,,I had no expectations of it at all,” he said after receiving the accompanying image to a round of applause. “I am a humble person. This is a real surprise, especially when I look at the competition that is currently all abroad for training internships. We sometimes go abroad, but only for the competitions.” Prent is busy earning a living as a roofer. ,,Tomorrow morning at six o’clock the alarm will go off again”, he said when he quickly made preparations to go home. “A job in Assen.”