A stellar line-up of rural sport athletes representing an array of disciplines has been named as finalists for New Zealand’s premier celebration of rural sports – the Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.
Awards judging panel chairman Sir Brian Lochore says the awards is about celebrating traditional sports and the people who keep events running year-in and year-out in the towns and settlements across NZ.
“This year’s finalists come from a range of rural sporting disciplines including tree climbing, fencing, shearing, rodeo, endurance horses, wood chopping, gumboot throwing and, for the first time, egg throw and catch,” Lochore said.
“It’s a fantastic line-up of finalists aged from 11 to 77 from those at the pinnacle of their sport internationally to those who have supported and enabled others in rural sports for generations.”
This is the second year the awards have been held.
Rural sports have been a key part of NZ life for generations, C B Norwood Distributors chief executive Tim Myers said.
“We’re proud to help highlight the hard work and dedication of our rural athletes but also the organisers of rural sports – the volunteers who make events happen.
“They’re the true heroes in the towns and settlements across NZ.”
The judging panel comprises Lochore, a founding board member of the NZ Rural Games Trust, Shearing Sports NZ president Sir David Fagan, Olympic equestrian medallist Judy Tinks Pottinger, Taranaki-King Country MP Barbara Kuriger, Hilux NZ Rural Games founder and trustee Steve Hollander,and agricultural journalists Craig Wiggy Wiggins, Tony Leggett and Jamie Mackay, who will also MC the event. Wiggins and Mackay are Farmers Weekly columnists and Wiggins also presents the Farmers Voice video series.
The awards dinner is on Friday March 9 in Palmerston North, the night before the Hilux NZ Rural Games in Palmerston North where nominees and winners will be competing.
Finalists:
The Norwood NZ Rural Sportsman of the Year
Corey Church, Rotorua, rodeo
James Kilpatrick, Tauranga, tree climbing
Shane Bouskill, Waipawa, fencing
John Kirkpatrick, Napier, shearing
The Skellerup NZ Sportswoman of the Year
Maryanne Baty, Gisborne, shearing
Chrissy Spence, Morrinsville, tree climbing
The Fonterra Young NZ Rural Sportsperson of the Year
Rebecca Birkett, Taumarunui, endurance horses
Tegan O’Callaghan, Doubtless Bay, rodeo
Robbie Hollander, Dairy Flat, egg throwing and catching
The Federated Farmers Contribution to the NZ Rural Sports Industry
Jason Semenoff, Hikurangi, wood chopping
Nick Liefting, Auckland, fencing
Jude McNab, Owaka, shearing
The inaugural Toyota Lifetime Legacy Award
Paul van Beers, Porangahau, fencing
Hugh McCarroll, Whangamata, shearing
Elizabeth Mortland, Taihape, gumboot throwing
