Blair Tuke (left) and Peter Burling after winning silver at the London Olympics. Is this one of the most magical sporting moments in Northland history? Photo / One Edition
The hunt is still on to find Northland's most magical sporting moment for the 2013 People's Choice Award at the Konica Minolta Northland Sports Awards.
The Northern Advocate is keen to hear from readers what they think stands out as being the most "magical moment" that has occurred in Northland
sport.
Whether it be the Rugby World Cup matches at Toll Stadium - where the sold-out sign went up and the whole of Northland became involved - or in 1996 when our own Blyth Tait won a gold medal on Reddy Teddy at the Atlanta Olympics, sparking a celebratory street parade to welcome him home afterwards. Going further back in history, most will remember the North Auckland rugby teams of the 1970s creating "shield fever" with two massive wins to bring the Shield back to Northland.
More than 35,000 people were at Okara Park in 1972 to witness North Auckland's last Ranfurly Shield defence of the season against Auckland, and who could forget Chippie Semenoff kicking a penalty goal eight minutes into injury time to win the shield off Manawatu in Palmerston North in 1978? The only criteria for the People's Choice Award are that the moment has been agreed as magical, and will have either occurred in Northland or involved Northland teams or individuals - but not Northlanders as part of other teams. Of course there will be other magical Northland moments, which is why The Northern Advocate and Sport Northland are asking each sport, and the public, to nominate your own favourite moment from which the judges will select finalists for the public to vote on.
The winner will be announced at the 2013 Northland Sports Awards on November 29. To enter your moment, email sports@northernadvocate.co.nz.
