Otago's sporting year

Otago has world champions, national champions and . . . an Australian coaching its rugby team? Yes, 2009 was quite a year. The Otago Daily Times sports department reviews the good, the bad and the plain interesting from the past 12 months in this sporting province.

Sportsperson of the year

ALISON SHANKS (cycling)
Our pick for Otago's top overall achiever for a second straight year.

There was no doubt we were going to pick Shanks as soon as she rode to a world individual pursuit title in Poland in March.

Add a world silver medal in the team pursuit, success at World Cup and Oceania level, a couple of New Zealand records and even a Rail Trail Classic team title and it adds up to one extraordinary year for the golden girl of Otago sport.

The year ended on a rather sour note when it was confirmed the individual pursuit would be axed from the London Olympics.

But we still expect Shanks to win a medal in some event - anything on two wheels, really - in 2012

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The next nine

Hamish Bond (rowing): No longer part of a foursome but still oarsome.

Bond climbed out of the New Zealand four and into the pair, with fellow long-armer Eric Murray.

The new crew had immediate success, winning at the world championships in Poland in August.

He also claimed four red coats at the national championships, breaking his own Otago record.

Brendon McCullum (cricket): The master blaster averaged nearly 35 in test cricket and 33 in one-day cricket in 2009.

He scored his third test century (115) against India in Napier in March, and went back to Napier last month to belt 89 against Pakistan.

McCullum also posted his second one-day ton (131) against Pakistan in Dubai, popped across the ditch to play for New South Wales in the Big Bash final, and took one of the great leg-side catches when he dismissed Rahul Dravid in April's third test.

Shireen Crumpton (athletics): New Zealand 10,000m, half-marathon and marathon champion. Now that's what you call a good year.

Adam Thomson (rugby): Another cracking season by the tearaway loose forward.

Again shone for the Highlanders before being selected in the All Blacks for a second season.

Lost weeks because of injury but returned to cement his status as the best blindside flanker in the country.

Tionette Stoddard (skeleton racing): Finished 12th at the world championships in New York and was second on the America's Cup circuit.

Now burning a trail through the ice as she heads for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February.

Greg Henderson (cycling): Otago's king on two wheels is something of a veteran now but he rode with the flush of youth this year.

Henderson had an exceptional year with his Columbia HTC team, highlighted by his win on the third stage of the Tour of Spain in September.

He also won the final stage of the Tour of Catalunya in May.

In between, Henderson and wife Katie welcomed their first child, daughter Charlie.

Suzie Bates (cricket and basketball): Juggling two sports has become the norm for the talented double international.

Bates again played hoops for the Tall Ferns in what was something of a rebuilding year.

But cricket provided her moment to shine.

Bates whacked 168, the highest score in the history of New Zealand women's one-day cricket, to guide the White Ferns to a 223-run win against Pakistan in the World Cup in Sydney in March.

Tom Donnelly (rugby): Years of grinding away for Otago and the Highlanders were rewarded with a deserved first test cap.

But that wasn't enough for Donnelly, who was one of the best All Blacks on the northern tour and looks set to be an integral part of the team