Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Art & Entertainment | Book Reviews | Education | Entertainment Video | Health | Lifestyle | Sport | Sport Video | Search

 

All Blacks Take Supreme Honour At 53rd Halberg Awards

All Blacks Take Supreme Honour At 53rd Halberg Awards

The All Blacks have claimed New Zealand’s highest sports honour for 2015 at the 53rd Halberg Awards ceremony at Vector Arena in Auckland tonight. The IRB Rugby World Cup champions were named the Microsoft Surface Team of the Year before being presented the supreme Halberg Award by Valerie Adams and Willie Apiata.

Hosted by the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation the 53rd Halberg Awards is the nation’s pre-eminent event to honour and celebrate sporting excellence by New Zealand teams and athletes in 2015. The Awards is the major fundraiser for the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, the charity set up by Olympic champion Sir Murray Halberg (ONZ) to enhance the lives of physically disabled New Zealanders through sport and recreation.

To win the nation’s top sporting honour the All Blacks headed off four other Halberg Award contenders. Golfer Lydia Ko who claimed the High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year, BLACKCAP Kane Williamson who was named the High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportsman of the Year and Para-Swimmer Sophie Pascoe who won the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Disabled Sportsperson of the Year were all eligible for the supreme trophy.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The world champion All Blacks won the Microsoft Surface Team of the Year category ahead of last year’s supreme winners, the Men’s Pair of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray. The BLACKCAPS and Men’s 49er crew of Peter Burling and Blair Tuke were also up for the hotly contested category.

Golfer Lydia Ko, who won five LPGA tournaments and finished 2015 ranked number one in the world, won the High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year for a third consecutive year. Ko edged out road cyclist Linda Villumsen, swimmer Lauren Boyle and canoeist Lisa Carrington, who were all finalists for the female category.

BLACKCAP Kane Williamson, who became the number one ranked Test batsman in the world in 2015 was named the High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportsman of the Year. Williamson, who had an outstanding year which included five Test centuries and three ODI Centuries, won the award ahead of golfer Danny Lee, All Black Dan Carter and IndyCar driver Scott Dixon.

Para-Swimmer Sophie Pascoe was named the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Disabled Sportsperson of the Year after winning three golds, a silver and two bronze medals at the IPC Swimming World Championships. Pascoe won ahead of Para-Skiier Corey Peters, Para-Shooter Michael Johnson and fellow Para-Swimmer Nikita Howarth.

Steve Hansen was name the Coach of the Year award for steering the All Blacks to the Rugby World Cup championship win. Hansen edged out Gordon Walker (Lisa Carrington), Hamish Willcox (Men’s 49er crew) and Mike Hesson (BLACKCAPS) to claim the coach honours.

Pole vaulter Eliza McCartney, who broke a world junior record in December, won the SKY NEXT Emerging Talent award and a $10,000 sporting scholarship. The category - designed to identify and assist a young athlete in their quest to become an Olympic, Paralympic and/or World Champion, and hopefully one day win the Halberg Award - was hotly contested by track cyclist Campbell Stewart, basketball player Tai Wynyard and trampolinist Dylan Schmidt.

Grant Elliott smashing a six off the second-to-last ball of the semi-final to put the BLACKCAPS into the Cricket World Cup final was named the Radio Sport Sporting Moment of the year winner. The award is the only category voted for by the public.

During the Awards ceremony, retiring BLACKCAPS captain Brendon McCullum was presented the Sport New Zealand Leadership Award.

Lance O'Sullivan (Horseracing), Sir Don Rowlands (Rowing), Lesley Rumball (Netball) and Mark Sorenson (Softball) were all inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. Ashley Taylor was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award for services to athletics.

The full list of winners and finalists for the 53rd Halberg Awards:
Halberg Award winner: All Blacks (Rugby)
Finalists: Kane Williamson (Cricket), Lydia Ko (Golf), Sophie Pascoe (Para-Swimming).

Microsoft Surface Team of the Year winner: All Blacks (Rugby)
Finalists: BLACKCAPS (Cricket), Men's Pair; Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (Rowing), Men’s 49er Class; Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (Yachting).

High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportsman of the Year winner: Kane Williamson (Cricket)
Finalists: Daniel Carter (Rugby), Danny Lee (Golf), Scott Dixon (Motorsport).

High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year winner: Lydia Ko (Golf)
Finalists: Lauren Boyle (Swimming), Linda Villumsen (Cycling), Lisa Carrington (Canoeing).

Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Disabled Sportsperson of the Year winner: Sophie Pascoe (Para-Swimming)
Finalists: Corey Peters (Para-Skiing), Michael Johnson (Para-Shooting), Nikita Howarth (Para-Swimming).

SKY NEXT Emerging Talent winner: Eliza McCartney (Athletics).
Finalists: Campbell Stewart (Cycling), Dylan Schmidt (Trampoline), Tai Wynyard (Basketball).

Coach of the Year winner: Steve Hansen (Rugby)
Finalists: Gordon Walker (Canoeing), Hamish Willcox (Yachting), Mike Hesson (Cricket).

Radio Sport Sporting Moment of the year winner: Grant Elliott (Cricket)
Finalists: SKYCITY Breakers (Basketball), Kiwis (Rugby League), The Highlanders (Rugby), Vodafone Warriors (Rugby League), Richie McCaw (Rugby), Lydia Ko (Golf), All Blacks (Rugby), Ross Taylor (Cricket), Football Ferns (Football).

Sport New Zealand Leadership Award: Brendon McCullum (Cricket)

New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame induction: Lance O'Sullivan (Horseracing), Sir Don Rowlands (Rowing), Lesley Rumball (Netball) and Mark Sorenson (Softball).

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ashley Taylor (Athletics)

Ends

For more information please contact:
Bonnie Smail, Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, 022 6929 846, bonnie@halberg.co.nz
Go to www.halbergawards.co.nz, search ‘Halberg Awards’ on Facebook or @Halberg_DSF on Twitter #HalbergAwards.

About the Halberg Awards
Named after Olympic champion Sir Murray Halberg (ONZ), the Halberg Awards is the country's pre-eminent event to honour and celebrate New Zealand sporting excellence. It also provides the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation with a flagship fundraising opportunity for Sir Murray's charity, which aims to enhance the lives of physically disabled New Zealanders by enabling them to participate in sport and recreation. This includes a team of Disability Sport Advisers who connect physically disabled people to sport and recreation opportunities, it also provides grants for adaptive sports equipment, lessons and camps and hosts the Halberg Junior Disability Games - a national three day sports competition for physically disabled young people in Cambridge. For more information go to www.halbergawards.co.nz.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Culture Headlines | Health Headlines | Education Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • CULTURE
  • HEALTH
  • EDUCATION
 
 
  • Wellington
  • Christchurch
  • Auckland
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.