Hesson, Bond named Halberg finalists

Eric Murray and Hamish Bond. Photo: Getty Images
Eric Murray and Hamish Bond. Photo: Getty Images

National cricket coach Mike Hesson, of Dunedin, is up for coach of the year, while North End rowing club member Hamish Bond is a finalist again in the Halberg Awards.

Mike Hesson is up for best coach. Photo: Craig Baxter
Mike Hesson is up for best coach. Photo: Craig Baxter

The list of finalists was released this morning and Hesson is in a quality group with the likes of All Black coach Steven Hansen, kayaker Lisa Carrington's coach Gordon Walker and yachting's Hamish Willcox who steered the Men's 49er team.

Bond and rowing partner Eric Murray, who won the Supreme Halberg Award last year, are again up for Team of the Year. 

The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation announced 24 finalists for six categories at the 53rd Halberg Awards - the nation's pre-eminent event to honour and celebrate sporting excellence by New Zealand teams and athletes in 2015.

Fifteen sports feature in the shortlist, with cricket and rugby providing the most finalists with three apiece.

Sixteen of the 24 finalists are in contention for the Supreme Halberg Award - the country's highest accolade for sporting excellence. The finalists in the Sportsman, Sportswoman, Disabled Sportsperson and Team of the Year categories are all eligible for the top award.

Rowing Men's Pair Bond and Muray are shortlisted for the Team of the Year against two other world title holders: the All Blacks and Men's 49er crew of Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. The Black Caps - New Zealand's first men's team to reach the Cricket World Cup final - round out the category.

The High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year will again be closely contested, with 2014 winner and world No 1 golfer Lydia Ko shortlisted alongside road cycling world champion Linda Villumsen, swimmer Lauren Boyle, who produced two silver medals at the FINA World Championships, and double world champion kayaker Lisa Carrington.

World Rugby Player of the Year Daniel Carter is a finalist for the Sport New Zealand Sportsman of the Year, along with golfer Danny Lee, who won the Greenbrier Classic on the US PGA Tour and was selected for the Presidents Cup Team. IndyCar Series winner Scott Dixon and cricketer Kane Williamson, who was named the world No 1 test batsman last month, also make the shortlist.

Para-Swimmers Nikita Howarth and Sophie Pascoe are up for the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award for their achievements at the IPC Swimming World Championships where Howarth won double gold, and Pascoe claimed three golds, a silver and two bronze medals. Para-Shooter Michael Johnson, who set a world record and won five world cup gold medals is a contender, along with Para-Skiier Corey Peters, who won two golds and a silver at the IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships.

Four promising athletes have been selected for the Emerging Talent award including pole vaulter Eliza McCartney, who broke a world junior record last month, and double junior world champion track cyclist Campbell Stewart. Tall Black and New Zealand Breakers development player Tai Wynyard and Dylan Schmidt who finished 10th at the Trampoline World Championships also make the list.

The awards will be handed out on February 18 in Auckland.

Add a Comment