Dress code puts Halberg award nominee Quin in a spin

By Kelly Exelby
Give her a steep mountain, a pushbike and a 100kmh terror-filled whiteknuckle ride to the bottom and Vanessa Quin's in the zone.
Send her an invitation to New Zealand sport's big night out - dress code formal - and the self-confessed Tauranga tomboy is already in panic mode.
Quin, the world downhill mountainbiking champion, has been named a finalist in the 2004 Halberg Awards, lining up against Olympic pursuit champion Sarah Ulmer, Rachael Anderson, winner of the surf race at the world lifesaving championships, and aerobics champion Angela McMillan in Sportswoman of the year.
Quin said today she didn't know what would make her more nervous - making her way down the red carpet or finding something to wear to New Zealand sports' big night.
"I'm stoked and pretty blown away to have made the final in such illustrious company but now there's mild panic about what to wear.
"I'm gonna have to bust out a dress and some mascara for the big evening, but I don't really do dresses - I can't even remember the last time I wore one. I think I'm going to have to engage some help for this one."
Quin had been out riding the Tauranga streets when she learned she had made the final four.
"Mum and Dad saw it on the television news but I thought they were having me on when they told me.
"I was just rapt to have made the initial 16 nominees but now it's bonus country and a pretty ace way to start the year."
Cycling has pedalled its way to the front of the finalists' field, with Ulmer and Quin joined by world scratch race champion Greg Henderson and Ulmer's partner and coach Brendon Cameron.
"It's great for the sport and shapes up as a pretty big night, although I'd hate to be choosing the men's winner," Quin said. "Sarah's a shoe-in for sportswoman but it's cool just being in the final four alongside her."
Ulmer is one of six Olympic medallists among the finalists.
Following their inclusion in the New Year's honours list Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, Hamish Carter, Bevan Docherty and Ben Fouhy have all been named as finalists.
The Evers-Swindell are finalists for the fourth consecutive year in the team of the year category.
Unbeaten since 2002 in the double sculls, the Cambridge twins won golden glory in last year's Olympics. Other finalists in the team of the year category are the Black Sox, who became the first team in history to win three consecutive world softball titles when they beat Canada in Christchurch last year, the New Zealand sevens team, winners of the IRB series for the fifth time, and world bowls pair champions Sharon Sims and Jo Edwards.
Triathletes Carter and Docherty feature in the sportsman of the year category alongside kayaker Ben Fouhy and Henderson.
The coach of the year category is hotly contested with Cameron up against Dick Tonks, coach of the Evers-Swindell sisters, Black Sox coach Don Tricker and Chris Pilone, who coached athletes Carter, Nathan Richmond and Dale Warrender. Award finalists:
of the Year: Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, rowing, Black Sox, softball, Sharon Sims and Jo Edwards, bowls, Sevens rugby team.
Sportsman of the Year: Hamish Carter, triathlon, Bevan Docherty, triathlon, Ben Fouhy, kayaking, Greg Henderson, cycling.
Sportswoman of the year: Sarah Ulmer, cycling, Angela McMillan, aerobics, Rachael Anderson, surf lifesaving, Vanessa Quin, mountainbiking.
Coach of the Year: Don Tricker, softball, Dick Tonks, rowing, Chris Pilone, triathlon/marathon, Brendan Cameron, cycling.