Awards: Will shearer John Kirkpatrick pip Olympians?

Hot favourite: John Kirkpatrick could become the second world champion shearer to win the Hawke's Bay Sportsperson of the Year award in seven years. Photo/File

Will John Kirkpatrick become the second world champion shearer to win the Hawke's Bay Sportsperson of the Year award in seven years?

This question was asked when the finalists for the May 20 function to be held at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena were announced yesterday. Kirkpatrick became a hot favourite for the award when he won the individual title and was also a member of the winning team at the world shearing championships in Invercargill in February.

However, unlike when fellow shearer Cam Ferguson won the award in 2011 Kirkpatrick is a finalist in an Olympic year. To win the premier award he first has to beat Olympic Games rower Emma Twigg and kayaker and 2016 winner of the premier award Aimee Fisher as well as world record holding freediver William Trubridge in the tussle for the senior award.

Another Olympian and 2015 winner of the premier award, cyclist Regan Gough, could emerge as the winner of the junior award. It's a case of quality galore in 2017.

Winners of the Disabled, Masters, Junior and Senior Sportsperson and Junior and Senior Teams awards all become automatic finalists for the premier award.
Sport Hawke's Bay commercial manager Ryan Hambleton said there were a record number of nominations from 34 different sports and the six judges had a tough job narrowing them down to 51 finalists across the 14 categories.

"The quality of nominations continues to increase and with 25 sports represented across the categories this year looks to be another great opportunity to celebrate all that is great about sport in the Bay," Hambleton said.

Long-time judge, Napier City Rovers AFC life member and Hawke's Bay United Football Club board member Terry Parkin said every year it got harder to decide the category winners.

"This year we had young athletes performing in senior competitions and winning them while some of our top sportspeople were representing New Zealand at their pinnacle events for their chosen sport. It's not an easy task and shows the great depth of talent we have here in the Hawke's Bay region," Parkin said.

Waka ama is the sport with the most nominations and follows a successful year for a number of clubs from the code in raising awareness of the sport and growing capability within the region.

After an absence of three years there will be another two Hawke's Bay Sports Hall of Fame inductions. The inductees will be announced later this month.

Radio Sport breakfast hosts Nathan Rarere and Kent Johns will be co-hosts for the evening. Tickets for the function are on sale and can be purchased from the Sport Hawke's Bay office at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena or by visiting the www.sporthb.net.nz website.

Finalists are:

Administrator: Carl Larsen (mountainbiking), Kathryn Samia (basketball), Graeme Robinson (sailing), Mike Bond (triathlon).

Coach: Leon Birnie (football), Paul Henare (basketball), Myka Nuku (waka ama), Rob Jones/Todd Astill (hockey).

Disabled Sportsperson: Amy Jane (AJ) MacDonald (waka ama), Guy Harrison (athletics/golf).

Grassroots Club: Greendale Tennis Club, Ocean Beach Kiwi Surf Lifesaving Club, Haeata Ocean Sports Club, Napier Old Boys Marist Rugby Club.

Ngati Kahungunu Contribution to Maori Participation: Heretaunga Ararau O Ngati Kahungunu Waka Ama, Kohupatiki Marae, IronMaori.

Innovation: Haeata Ocean Sports (waka ama), Nimon Court in the Bay Netball Festival, Hawke's Bay Role Models in Education (rugby), SL Racing (rowing).

Junior Sportsperson: Briana Stephenson (netball/athletics), Georgia Hulls (athletics), Regan Gough (cycling), Finn Reynolds (tennis), Piera Hudson (alpine ski).

Junior Team: Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV, Hawke's Bay under-15 girls premier hockey, Hawke's Bay Gisborne 4 x 400m Relay, Napier Boys' High School Orienteering.

Contribution (both are winners): Doc McDonald (rowing), Jane Sheldrake (gymnastics).

Official: Gail Hussey (triathlon), Lee Erskine (hockey), Joanna Burns (synchronised swimming), Tipene Cottrell (rugby).

Senior Sportsperson: Aimee Fisher (kayaking), John Kirkpatrick (shearing), William Trubridge (freediving), Emma Twigg (rowing).

Senior Team: Hawke's Bay United (football), Scott Pedersen and Hayden Percy (sailing), Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes (speedway).

Masters: Dennis O'Leary (athletics), Michael Bassett-Foss (surf lifesaving), Linda Exeter-Grant (triathlon), Roni Nuku (waka ama).

Sports Organisation: Basketball Hawke's Bay, Hawke's Bay Mountainbike Club, Hawke's Bay Hockey Association, Hawke's Bay Netball.