Campbell aces Halberg Awards

Michael Campbell celebrates victory at the Halberg Awards last night. Picture / Richard Robinson

Michael Campbell's career came full circle last night when he won the Halberg Supreme Award for his achievements as a professional golfer - 13 years after he clinched the title as a member of the Eisenhower Trophy amateur team.

Before more than 1000 people gathered at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau, Campbell was also named 2005 sportsman of the year for winning the US Open at Pinehurst and the world matchplay championship at Wentworth, England.

An emotional Campbell choked back tears during the highly-charged presentation. He smiled and laughed as his children, Thomas and Jordan, hammed it up in a live TV cross and was clearly moved as the Patea Maori Group performed a song for him written by his grandmother.

The song "Kia Kaha" exhorts Campbell and his iwi Ngati Ruanui and Nga Rauru, and his whanau to follow their dreams and stay strong.

Campbell acknowledged the exploits of the Grand Slam All Blacks, the Tri-Nations winning Kiwi league team and world champion rowing teams, telling the audience: "We should be proud as a nation of what we've done in sport as a nation."

He received his award from last year's overall winner, cyclist Sarah Ulmer, at the black tie event, which drew sporting greats from Sir Murray Halberg and former speedway star Ivan Mauger to Olympic champion triathlete Hamish Carter.

Also attending was Tana Umaga, the recently retired captain of the All Blacks - a finalist in the team of the year category.

The team category was won by rowers George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle. Mountain runner Kate McIlroy was crowned sportswoman of the year and Dick Tonks (rowing) coach of the year.

Swimming coach Duncan Laing and Soccer player Wynton Rufer were both inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame.

Former New Zealand rowing selector Fred Strachan, who took the lifetime achievement award, said, "I really came along here tonight to support our rowing nominations.

"If I had known that something like this was going on, I would have brought my toupee."