Annual sporting event Halberg awards (now branded Westpac Halberg awards) was dominated by Kiwi oarsmen this year, who won the Supreme Award. Men’s pair of Olympic champions Hamish Bond and Eric Murray showed an ultimate performance in Auckland. The two have been named New Zealand’s sports team of the year. The team said they were highly pleased and planned to continue the winning streak. Their victory was a fruit of intense training, hard work, and ambition.
Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan, who followed up the winners, were voted ‘New Zealand’s sporting moment of 2012’ with their impressive and spectacular performance in London; the team pulled out a dramatic victory, getting gold in the last 250 m.
As rowers won every category of the event, another Olympic champion rower New Zealand’s own Mahé Drysdale was awarded with the ‘sportsman of the year’ title. Drysdale resumed the position he took in 2009. In Drysdale’a category there were London 2012 bronze winners Andrew Nicholson (team eventing) and cyclist Simon van Velthooven. Alongside Drysdale, rower veteran and national team boss Dick Tonks became the coach of the year. However, Tonks’ award was not collected by himself as the coach opted to concentrate on training for the next day. Drysdale collected the award on Tonks’ behalf.
Two-time Olympic champion shot putter Valerie Adams, formerly known as Valerie Vili, won her seventh consecutive sportswoman of the year title in intense competition.
2012 was very memorable for sports in general, and for rowing particularly.
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