I met Cam Ferguson for the first time on Saturday night. It was just a quick hello and the chance to shake hands with a man who is fast becoming a living legend in these parts at the Unison Fibre Hawke's Bay Sports Awards.
Cam is every bit the athlete - fit, quiet, determined. He's also humble and appreciative of others, thanking his family and friends for all their support through a career in shearing that has seen him crowned world champion.
On Saturday night he was, of course, named the Hawke's Bay Today/Radio Network sportsperson of the year.
When Hawke's Bay Today General Manager Russell Broughton read Cam's name at the culmination of the awards night, the Pettigrew-Green Arena crowd erupted in applause. Cam was a popular winner, having earlier taken out the Hastings Leader/Napier Courier Senior Award against stiff competition from world champion surf lifesaver Daniel Moodie, Commonwealth Games sevens gold medallist Zac Guildford, All Blacks Tri Nations star Israel Dagg, Commonwealth Games cycling silver medallist Westley Gough and world rowing bronze medallist Emma Twigg. There were 530 guests at the awards, which in itself is a tribute to the importance of sport to our community. Sport is part of the fabric of who we are and the Unison Fibre awards are our chance to acknowledge not only the stars but also the administrators, clubs and officials who make it all happen.
Somebody else I met at the awards was softballer Chubb Tangaroa, who along with hockey star Caryn Paewai, was inducted into the Unison Hall of Fame. A three-time world champion with the Black Sox and world-class pitching coach, Chubb still has plenty of time for the grass roots of the game.When I mentioned the club I played for for many years, Braves in Wanganui, he laughed in recognition. Chubb remembered all the big names from my club from our tournaments of old.
That's the hallmark of a true champion - someone who has made it to the top of the world but never forgotten where he came from.