While the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce Business Awards is undeniably one of the most-awaited events for the entrepreneurs in the country but it was a surprise to many when a local entrepreneur collected a raft of prizes at ceremony recently.

Notably, Dr Sam Hazledine not only bagged the young entrepreneur of the year with his four-year-old medical recruitment agency MedRecruit but also claimed the medium business award and the crown of the overall supreme winner to his name.

It is to be mentioned here that Hazledine, 31, started MedRecruit in 2006 and as of today has 14 staff members on the regular payroll of the company. Moreover, he is also in the process of employing six more people to ensure better management for his $20 million business.

It may be noted here that since Hazledine was in Israel hence was unable to claim his awards at the awards ceremony that took place at the Skyline’s Bob’s Peak complex. Names like Central Otago Copiers owner Laurie Martin, AJ Hackett Bungy and Ziptrek Ecotours bagged the small business award for excellence, the large company accolade and the sustainability prize respectively.