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The 2006 sporting year provided us with a host of memorable performances and after much debate at the tvnz.co.nz offices and some passionate input from you, we've come up with the year's top 10 moments.
A couple of things to note about the list:
- We gave more weight to those athletes/teams whose efforts came on the world stage rather than in national or regional competitions such as the Super 14.
- Where tied, an individual athlete got the nod over a team.
So sit back, soak up the list and if you think someone deserves a higher spot or was left off the list entirely, post a comment on the message board below.
10. Bathurst
Mt Panorama has always been a lightning rod for drama and with tragedy defining this year's 1000km epic, the endurance classic was again enthralling viewing.
After a litany of pace cars and retirements, Craig Lowndes edged out Rick Kelly by half a second to take Ford's first win for eight years and claim the inaugural Peter Brock Memorial Trophy.
However, Kiwi fans may remember the race for different reasons after a horrific Friday crash across the top of the mountain claimed the life of Mark Porter during a support race.
9. FA Cup Final - Liverpool 3 West Ham
3 (Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties)
A two goal lead is the shakiest in football.
West Ham were in that position late in the first half of May's FA Cup Final thanks to a Jamie Carragher own goal and a Dean Ashton strike.
Then the fun started.
Djibril Cisse pulled one back and Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard slammed home the second half equaliser.
The Hammers recovered and re-took the lead only to have it emphatically erased by Gerrard's last minute 30-metre thunderbolt.
By the time penalties rolled around, West Ham had nothing left and eventually lost 3-1.
8. Mahe Drysdale's second Rowing World
Championship title
New Zealand has a proud history in rowing which Drysdale himself had enhanced in 2005 with his first world title at Gifu.
But without the luxury of sneaking up on anybody this time around, Drysdale began the defense of his single sculls crown at Eton with a large bulls-eye on his back.
In a gripping final, Drysdale stormed home to pip Germany's Marcel Hacker by just nine tenths of a second to claim back-to-back world titles.
Oh, and in world record time too.
7. Maxi Rodriguez's World Cup second
round extra-time winner v Mexico
Lost amid the head-butt drama in the final, a piece of brilliance from Rodriguez should have been the defining moment of the tournament.
With Argentina struggling to quell the challenge of the plucky Mexican side, Rodriguez fired in the goal of the tournament to book his side's place in the quarterfinals (where they would lose on penalties to hosts Germany).
However, that was the high point of the year for Rodriguez.
After the loss to Germany, he punched Bastian Schweinsteiger and was fined $NZ6000 and banned for two matches.
Then in October he tore his ACL in a match against Spain and was ruled out for six months.
6. South Africa chase down world record
434 to beat Australia
When you score 434 in the first innings of an ODI, you expect to win it.
Australia and Ricky Ponting (who scored a magnificent 164) could be forgiven for thinking they had just secured a 3-2 series win over South Africa in Johannesburg in March.
But facing a staggering required run rate of 8.68 per over, South Africa got home with one wicket and one ball to spare thanks in large part to Herschelle Gibbs' 175 from just 111 balls.
The chase eclipsed the Black Caps' effort in 2005 against Australia at Jade Stadium and was largely forgotten because it was played in South Africa and not televised here.
It's a shame. We missed the best ODI ever.
5. Second Ashes test
England started the final day of the Adelaide test with a 97 run lead and nine wickets in hand.
Enter Shane Warne.
The Australian leg-spinner took 4-49 triggering a dramatic England collapse that had the visitors all out for 129.
The Australians knocked off the 168 they needed in the final session with an arrogant ease that also killed off any chance of an England recovery in the series.
4. Kiwis v Kangaroos Tri-Nations
Final
When Brian McClennan's Kiwis won the Tri-Nations series in 2005, many considered the 24-0 pounding they dished up to the Kangaroos a fluke.
A 50-12 pasting at the hands of Australia in May added fuel to that fire.
But after taking the scenic route to the 2006 final in Sydney, the Kiwis proved they are no longer the poor cousins of the trans-Tasman rivalry.
After losing Steve Matai, Manu Vatuvei and Motu Tony to injury during the match, a wonderfully gutsy effort from the Kiwis pushed the game into golden point extra-time where a Darren Lockyer try finally won it for the Kangaroos.
Despite being on the wrong side of the final scoreline, Kiwi stalwarts Ruben Wiki, Stacey Jones and Nigel Vagana went out strong.
3. Tiger Woods' season
According to pgatour.com, any US PGA Tour affiliated event Tiger Woods entered after July 20 of this year, he won.
Eight straight wins including two majors (Bristish Open, US PGA).
He earned $NZ14.1 million to finish top the US PGA Tour money list.
Jim Furyk finished second with $10.2 million from 24 events.
Tiger played in 15 tournaments.
2. All Blacks 2006 season
Graham Henry's side took 12 wins from 13 tests this year.
But it wasn't just the wins. It was the way they won.
Led by the multi-award winning ruck artist Richie McCaw, the All Blacks confirmed their World Cup favouritism in fine style in 2006 while also developing depth in crucial positions.
Now to add the final piece to the puzzle in 2007.
1. Roger Federer's dominance
12 titles.
Three grand slams.
92 wins from 97 matches.
Enough said.
Honourable mentions: Black Ferns, NZ Commonwealth Games gold medallists, The Crusaders' Super 14 win in the fog, Justin Henin-Hardenne, Tall Blacks series win over Australia, Middlesborough's two Uefa Cup comebacks, Waikato's Air NZ Cup win, North Harbour's Ranfurly Shield victory, State of Origin I, Formula One title race, Ladainian Tomlinson breaking the NFL single season touchdown record.
