55th Halberg Awards set to recognise New Zealand’s top sporting talent

New Zealand’s Halberg Awards, highlighting the country's best sporting talent, will presented next week at Auckland’s Spark Arena.

Named after Olympic champion Sir Murray Halberg, the Halberg Awards is the country's pre-eminent event to honour and celebrate New Zealand sporting excellence.

The 55th edition of the Awards will honour teams, players and coaches in sports for their 2017 feats, including rugby, cycling, softball, freeski, canoeing and para sports.

Finalists for the 55th Halberg Awards are:

*High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year: Lisa Carrington (canoe racing), Lydia Ko (golf), Portia Woodman (rugby union), Sarah Goss (rugby union).

*Sportsman of the Year: Beauden Barrett (rugby union), Brendon Hartley (motorsport), Ross Taylor (cricket), Tom Walsh (athletics).

*Halberg Disabled Sportsperson of the Year: Corey Peters (para alpine skiing), Holly Robinson (para athletics), Sophie Pascoe (rara swimming), William Stedman (para athletics).

*Team of the Year: Black Ferns (rugby union), Black Sox (softball), Emirates Team NZ (yachting), Women’s K2 – Lisa Carrington and CaitlinRyan (canoe racing).

Coach of the Year: Gary Hay (rowing), Glenn Moore (rugby union), Gordon Walker (canoe racing), Mark Sorenson (softball).

Emerging Talent: Ellesse Andrews (cycling), Josh Armit (yachting), Matthew MacDonald (rowing), Nico Porteous freeski).

The Halberg Foundation has also announced the 11 finalists for ‘New Zealand's Favourite Sporting Moment of 2017’ – the only category that is selected by the public for the annual Awards.

1. Martin Guptill smashes 11 sixes to give the Black Caps a seven wicket ODI win. (NZ v. South Africa, Hamilton)

2. Mitchell Hunt drops a stunning last-minute drop goal securing the win for the Crusaders during the Super Rugby season. (Crusaders v Highlanders, Christchurch)

3. Michael Venus wins the French Open men's doubles final to become the first New Zealand male Grand Slam champion since 1974. (French Open, Paris)

4. Black Ferns sevens win the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series. (Black Ferns Sevens v Australia, Clermont-Ferrand)

5. Emirates Team New Zealand win the America's Cup. (Emirates Team New Zealand v Oracle Team USA, Bermuda)

6. Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber win the Le Mans 24 hour race. (Le Mans, France)

7. Black Sox win the World Softball Championships title for the seventh time. (Black Sox vs. Australia, Canada)

8. Tom Walsh wins the shot put gold medal to become the first New Zealand male to win an IAAF track and field championship. (IAFF World Track and Field Championships, London)

9. Black Ferns win the Women's Rugby World Cup for the fifth time. (Black Ferns v England, Belfast)

10. Lisa Carrington wins the K1 200m gold medal for the fifth time at the World Canoe Sprint Championships.(World Canoe Sprint Championships, Czech Republic)

11. Ross Taylor achieves a record equalling 17 test centuries with the Black Caps in the second test against the West Indies. (NZ v West Indies, Hamilton)

*Eligible for the supreme Halberg Award

Lower image shows Lisa Carrington at the 2017 Awards were she was named High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year.

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