Some of the Bay's best sports stars have been nominated for the 53rd Halberg Awards.
The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation has today announced the nominations for the six categories at the 53rd Halberg Awards - the nation's pre-eminent event to honour and celebrate sporting achievements by New Zealand teams and
athletes in 2015.
Twenty seven different sports are represented in the nominations, which are received from national sports organisations and an independent voting academy.
Nominees in the sportsman, sportswoman, disabled sportsperson and team of the year categories will be eligible for the supreme Halberg Award.
Current supreme Halberg Award winners Hamish Bond and Eric Murray are up for the Microsoft Surface Team of the Year category, running against the 49er crew of Tauranga's Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, the All Blacks, New Zealand Breakers, Blackcaps, the New Zealand Taekwon-Do team, three cycling teams and four more rowing crews.
Other local nominees include Adam Ling (rowing) and Kane Williamson (cricket), Zoe Stevenson (rowing), and Mahe Drysdale (rowing).
The full list of nominations for the 53rd Halberg Awards:
High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportsman of the Year (Eligible for the supreme Halberg Award)
Adam Ling (Rowing), Anton Cooper (Mountain Biking), Daniel Carter (Rugby), Danny Lee (Golf), Dexter Dunn (Harness Racing), Eddie Dawkins (Cycling), Kane Williamson (Cricket), Mahe Drysdale (Rowing), Matt Archibald (Cycling), Sam Gaze (Mountain Biking), Scott Dixon (Motorsport), Tomas Walsh (Athletics), Winston Reid (Football).
High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year (Eligible for the supreme Halberg Award)
Avalon Biddle (Motorcycling), Janina Kuzma (Skiing), Kimberley Chambers (Swimming), Lauren Boyle (Swimming), Linda Villumsen (Cycling), Lisa Carrington (Canoeing), Lydia Ko (Golf), Rachel Priest (Cricket), Sarah Walker (BMX), Zoe McBride (Rowing).
Disabled Sportsperson of the Year (Eligible for the supreme Halberg Award)
Corey Peters (Para-Skiing), Emma Foy and Laura Thompson (Para-Cycling), Jessica Hamill (Para-Athletics), Michael Johnson (Para-Shooting), Nikita Howarth (Para-Swimming), Rory McSweeney (Para-Athletics), Sophie Pascoe (Para-Swimming).
Microsoft Surface Team of the Year (Eligible for the supreme Halberg Award)
All Blacks (Rugby), BLACKCAPS (Cricket), Junior Women's Team Pursuit; Holly White, Bryony Botha, Madeleine Park and Michaela Drummond (Cycling), Men's Pair; Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (Rowing), Men's Team Pursuit; Piet Bulling, Alex Frame, Dylan Kennett, Marc Ryan, Regan Gough (Cycling), Men's Team Sprint; Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster, Eddie Dawkins (Cycling), New Zealand Breakers (Basketball), Men's 49er Class; Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (Yachting), New Zealand Taekwon-Do Team (Taekwon-Do), Women's Double Scull; Zoe Stevenson and Eve MacFarlane (Rowing), Women's Eight; Rebecca Scown, Genevieve Behrent, Kerri Gowler, Grace Prendergast, Kelsey Bevan, Ruby Tew, Emma Dyke, Kayla Pratt, Francie Turner (Cox) (Rowing), Women's Light Weight Double Scull; Julia Edward And Sophie McKenzie (Rowing), Women's Pair; Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast (Rowing).
SKY NEXT Emerging Talent
Bobbi Gichard (Swimming), Campbell Stewart (Cycling), Carlos Garcia Knight (Snowboarding), Clayton Lewis (Football), Dylan Schmidt (Trampoline), Eliza McCartney (Athletics), Jesse Reynolds (Para-Swimming), Richard Rahardja (Karate), Tai Wynyard (Basketball).
Coach of the Year Award
Anthony Peden (Cycling), David Plew (Mountain Biking), Gary Hay (Rowing), Gordon Walker (Canoeing), Hamish Wilcox (Yachting), Mike Hesson (Cricket), Raylene Bates (Para-Athletics), Ross Machejefski (Cycling), Steve Hansen (Rugby), Tim Carswell (Cycling), Tom Willmott (Snowsports).