Halberg awards: Tough task for judges

Lydia Ko runs a driving workshop with young players. Photo / Michael Craig

Lydia Ko is in line for another good year at the Halberg Awards but she will face tough competition based on the initial batch of nominations.

Eighty athletes, coaches and teams have received nominations across six different categories, with each field set to be narrowed down to a group of finalists before the February awards.

Ko, unsurprisingly, earned nomination for the Sportswoman of the Year category, a prize she won last year before going on to take out the Supreme Award. The teenage golfer will face competition from the likes of Valerie Adams, Lauren Boyle, Lisa Carrington and Emma Twigg.

The Sportsman of the Year trophy will also be hotly contested, with Brendon McCullum, Brodie Retallick, Richie McCaw and Shaun Johnson standing out in the team sports. That quartet are joined by Steven Adams, Tom Walsh, Mahe Drysdale and seven cyclists in the 19-strong field.

The team of the year and coach of the year categories have received sixteen nominations apiece. Teams put through include the All Blacks, Black Caps, Kiwis, six rowing crews, two yachting crews and two cycling teams. Last year's winner Steve Hansen is again up for the coach award, along with a list which features Mike Hesson, Stephen Kearney and five-time winner Dick Tonks.

Ten athletes were nominated for the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year, including three-time winner Sophie Pascoe. A voting academy of 28 former athletes, coaches and media representatives will now vote to determine the finalists, which are announced on January 3, before the annual awards night takes place on February 11.

All the contenders

Sportsman of the Year
Anton Cooper (mountain biking), Brendon McCullum (cricket), Brodie Retallick (rugby), David Nyika (boxing), Jack Bauer (cycling), James McDonald (thoroughbred racing), Jason Wynyard (wood chopping), John Holdzkom (baseball), Mahe Drysdale (rowing), Marc Ryan (cycling), Richie McCaw (rugby), Sam Webster (cycling), Shane Archbold (cycling), Shaun Johnson (league), Simon Van Velthooven (cycling), Steven Adams (basketball), Steven Kent (surf lifesaving), Tom Scully (cycling), Tomas Walsh (athletics).

Sportswoman of the Year
Emma Twigg (rowing), Jo Edwards (bowls), Lauren Boyle (swimming), Linda Villumsen (cycling), Lisa Carrington (canoeing), Lydia Ko (golf), Melissa Timperley (taekwon-do), Sally Johnston (shooting), Samantha Lee (surf lifesaving), Suzie Bates (cricket), Teneale Hatton (canoeing), Valerie Adams (athletics).

Team of the Year
All Blacks (rugby), Black Caps (cricket), Kiwis (league), Macrobertson Shield team (croquet), Men's lightweight four (rowing), Men's pair - Hamish Bond, Eric Murray (rowing), Men's team pursuit (cycling), Men's team sprint (cycling), NZ women's 470 team - Jo Aleh, Polly Powrie (yachting), NZ men's 49er class team - Peter Burling, Blair Tuke (yachting), Surf Life Saving New Zealand, Team Seagate (adventure racing), Women's double scull - Zoe Stevenson, Fiona Bourke (rowing), Women's four (rowing), Women's lightweight double - Julia Edward, Sophie Mackenzie (rowing), Women's pair - Rebecca Scown, Louise Trappitt (rowing).

Coach of the Year
Anthony Peden (cycling), Bruce Wells (free skiing), Chris Knight (alpine skiing), Dave Thompson (rowing), Dayle Cheatley (cycling), Gary Hay (rowing), Gordon Walker (canoeing), Hamish Willcox (yachting), Jonathan Hailstone (para-cycling), Marion Horwell (rowing), Mike Hesson (cricket), Richard 'Dick' Tonks (rowing), Roly Crichton (para swimming), Scott Bartlett (surf lifesaving), Stephen Kearney (league), Steve Hansen (rugby).
Disabled sportsperson of the Year
Corey Peters (para-skiing), Emma Foy and Laura Fairweather - pilot (para-cycling), Mary Fisher (para-swimming), Michael Johnson (para-shooting), Nikita Howarth (para-swimming), Open triples disabled bowls team (bowls), Phillipa Gray and Kylie Young - pilot (para-cycling), Rebecca Dubber (para-swimming), Sophie Pascoe (para-swimming), Tim Williams (para-cycling).

Emerging talent
Andrew Trembath (surf lifesaving), Corey Main (swimming), Eliza McCartney (athletics), Jesse Reynolds (para-swimming), Regan Gough (cycling), Sam Gaze (mountain biking), Zoe McBride (rowing).