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Mahe Drysdale takes the glory - Source: Reuters -
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The finalists for the 2009 Halberg Awards have been selected, with rowing candidates dominating the list - add your thoughts to the messageboard at the bottom of the article .
Senior and lightweight single scull world champions Mahe Drysdale and Duncan Grant are both nominated for Sportsman of the Year, alongside Scott Dixon, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori.
The rowing pair of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond and the lightweight double scull crew of Storm Uru and Peter Taylor are nominated for Sports Team of the Year. They join the All Whites and the women's 420 sailing crew of Alexandra Maloney and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher.
Richard Tonks, who coached Mahe Drysdale and the men's pair to World Rowing Championship titles, is nominated for Coach of the Year, alongside All Whites coach Ricki Herbert, Valerie Vili's coach, Kirsten Hellier, and cycling coach, Tim Carswell.
A slew of world champions make up the Sportswoman of the Year finalists, with world shot put champ, Valerie Vili, world individual pursuit champ, Alison Shanks, world BMX Olympic class champ, Sarah Walker, and Sophie Pascoe, who won four gold medals at the World Paralympic Swimming Champs, being nominated.
The supreme Halberg Award winner will be chosen from the winners of the Sportsman, Sportswoman and Sports Team awards.
Four finalists have also been confirmed in the Westpac Emerging Talent category, which is limited to individuals yet to achieve international success at elite senior level. The award carries a $15,000 scholarship from Westpac.
Those finalists are Sam Webster (cycling), Aaron Cruden (rugby), Robbie Manson (rowing) and Sam Meech (sailing).
Voting for the Halberg Awards is carried out by an academy comprising of 29 media representatives, coaches and athletes.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Auckland on February 4.
The finalists for the 2009 Halberg Awards are:
New Zealand Sportsman of the Year
Scott Dixon (Motorsport):
Had eight podium
finishes including five wins in the 2009 IRL and his victory at
Ohio took his total IRL wins to 20, making him the most successful
driver in the competition's history.
Mahe Drysdale (Rowing): Won his fourth world single scull crown and voted male Rower of the Year for 2009 by FISA, world rowing's governing body. Unbeaten in all competition during 2009.
Duncan Grant (Rowing): Winner of lightweight single scull at 2009 World Rowing Championships - his third straight world championship single scull title. Also won World Cup regattas at Lucerne and Munich.
Richie McCaw (Rugby): Produced a series of outstanding performances late in the season which took the All Blacks to a clean sweep of Test victories in Europe. Was named IRB Player of the Year for 2009.
Daniel Vettori (Cricket): Capped a remarkable year finishing 2009 ranked the No.1 all-rounder in One Day Internationals and the No.2 in Test cricket. Scored three Test centuries with a batting average of 59.95.
New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year
Sophie Pascoe (Swimming):
Won four gold
medals, all in world record time, at 2009 World Paralympic Swimming
Championships.
Alison Shanks (Cycling) :
Beat Beijing
Olympic silver medallist to win women's individual pursuit gold
medal at 2009 World Track Cycling Championships. Member of NZ
pursuit team which won silver medal.
Valerie Vili (Athletics): Retained her shot put title at 2009 World Track and Field Championships. Unbeaten for year in major competition and one of five finalists for the IAAF Female Athlete of the Year award.
Sarah Walker (Cycling): Won two titles, the BMX Olympic Class as well as the Cruiser Class at 2009 World Cycling Championships. Also won UCI Supercross. New Zealand Sports Team of the Year
All Whites (Football): Qualified for 2010 FIFA World Cup after beating Bahrain in the home and away play-off, scoring a 1-0 home win in Wellington after a 0-0 draw in Bahrain.
Eric Murray and Hamish Bond (Rowing): Won the men's pair gold medal at 2009 World Rowing Championships. Unbeaten in their first year as a pair, at elite level, winning both World Cups.
Storm Uru and Peter Taylor (Rowing): Won men's lightweight double scull gold medal at 2009 World Rowing Championships. Also won both World Cup events at Lucerne and Munich.
Women's 420 (Sailing): The crew of Alexandra Maloney and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher won the women's 420 World Sailing Championship at Italy. Finished regatta nine points clear of second placed Italian pair.
New Zealand Coach of the Year
Ricki Herbert (Football): Coached All Whites to victory over
Bahrain to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Kirsten Hellier (Athletics): Guided Valerie Vili to a World Championship shot put title and NZ record.
Tim Carswell (Cycling): Head coach of the Kiwi team which won three medals at 2009 World Cycling Champs.
Richard Tonks (Rowing): Coached Mahe Drysdale and the
men's pair to Word Championship titles.
What do you think? Who should win? Who has missed out on a
nomination? Have your say on our messageboard below
Add a Comment:
Post new commentk1wibeca said on 2010-02-05 @ 06:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
2001 must've been a prety lean year for us, sporting wise if a Silver at their Worlds' is enough for the Evers-Swindell's to have won the Halburg Award for that year.
mwadsworth said on 2010-02-04 @ 16:33 NZDT: Report abusive post
Jeez why is it u guys are so critical of the All Blacks don't forget that it wasn't a full strength squad and they finished top of the IRB standings (above SA). There is no such thing as a perfect team.
radar832004 said on 2010-02-04 @ 16:00 NZDT: Report abusive post
The Halberg awards are for a momentous sporting achievements. The all backs haven't done anything that great since they won the world cup last! The All Whites making it to the world cup is! Valerie Villi winning gold at biejing the twins winning gold, Mahe drysdale rowing his heart and his guts out at beijing was inspiring, the All Whites making it to the world cup was amazing i have never seen a bigger better crowd ever in NZ. They were to me the most momentous and amazing sporting achievements
lazza33 said on 2010-02-04 @ 14:13 NZDT: Report abusive post
The All Blacks don't even deserve to make the nominations yes they retained the bledisloe cup but they had a really iffy northern Hemisphere tour play pathetically against france and italy when they were down her and, lets face it got thrashed by the Springbox good to see common sense prevail go the All Whites!
vilisoni said on 2010-01-03 @ 10:50 NZDT: Report abusive post
I really hope Valarie Vili WINS everything. She is representing us in a big way. she has dominated her sport for the last 5 years, and she is getting closer to getting a World Record.