NZ sporting heroes to gather for Halberg Awards

Ko won’t be able to attend the Halberg Awards in Auckland tonight – where she’s favourite to win Sportswoman of the Year.

After an outstanding year which included five Test centuries and three ODI tons, he won the award ahead of golfer Danny Lee, All Blacks five-eighth Dan Carter and IndyCar driver Scott Dixon.

Hosted by the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, the awards are the nation’s pre-eminent event to honour and celebrate sporting excellence by New Zealand teams and athletes. His efforts also saw him become the first New Zealand batsman to claim the No. 1 batting spot in the ICC Test rankings.

The 18-year-old golf sensation will be hoping to continue her winning streak, after picking up the Young New Zealander of the Year award last night.

The first award to go their way went to their coach Steve Hansen who beat the likes of Black Caps coach Mike Hesson and Hamish Wilcox, the coach of sailors Blair Tuke and Peter Burling.

Lisa was also a finalists for Sportswoman of the Year, which was won for the third consecutive year by world ranked number one golfer Lydia Ko.

They were named Team of the Year, Steve Hansen was Coach of the Year and the team won the award everyone wants – the Supreme Halberg.

This year’s nominees abound with legendary sporting moments and successes.

Meanwhile, retiring Test skipper Brendon McCullum who plays his last worldwide career match in the next Test, won the Halberg Award for leadership.

McCullum’s exploits include a berth in the final for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, which was a first for New Zealand after making the semi-final on multiple occasions in the past.

World champions the All Blacks are up against the Black Caps and rowers Hamish Bond and Eric Murray for Team of the Year.

The pole vaulter, who broke a world junior record in December, will be up for the emerging talent award later in the evening.

You must be logged in to make a comment.