Many Otago teams - and one in particular - struggled in 2010, but an assortment outstanding individuals did the province proud. The Otago Daily Times reviews the year in Otago sport.
Sportsperson of the year
This was an exceptionally tough award to make, with a world champion rower, a gun cyclist and a test cricket double centurion unlucky to miss out.
But we salute Hall, the plucky kid from Outram who overcame a fall to win gold in the slalom at the Vancouver Paralympics.
He was named Otago sportsperson of the year and New Zealand's top sportsman at the Attitude Awards.
A shining example that nothing - not even spina bifida - should get in the way of your dream.
The next nine
Hamish Bond (rowing): Just another world title for the laconic rower, who again teamed with Eric Murray to take gold in the pair at the world championships at Lake Karapiro. Bond also had two World Cup wins and three national titles.
Alison Shanks (cycling): Our golden girl of the track could not retain her individual pursuit world title, but she claimed bronze - and a world record - with the team, and won individual gold at the Commonwealth Games.
Brendon McCullum (cricket): Gave up the gloves in tests and immediately scored a magnificent double century in India.
Tom Donnelly (rugby): Otago's only All Black had an outstanding Tri-Nations and continued to look comfortable at the highest level. Had a disappointing end to the year, as Sam Whitelock looked to move ahead of him and then injured his knee playing against Ireland.
Duncan Croudis (golf): Those who know the former Otago Boys' High School pupil believe great things lie ahead, and his unbeaten run at the national interprovincial tournament suggests they might be right.
Carla Hohepa (rugby): Flying winger starred for the Black Ferns as they defended their World Cup crown, and was later named international women's rugby personality of the year.
Kendall Brown (snowboarding): Fought through the pain of a dislocated shoulder to finish 15th in the competitive snowboard halfpipe at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Andrea Miller (athletics): A surprise bronze medallist in the hurdles at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Jossi Wells (freeskiing): Named the world's best halfpipe freeskier and will be the early favourite if his sport gets welcomed to the Olympics.
Best of the rest
Adam Thomson (rugby), Ben Smith (rugby), Kelly Brazier (rugby), Nathan McCullum (cricket), Brent McEwan (golf), Neil Broom (cricket), Craig Cumming (cricket), Suzie Bates (basketball and cricket), Sarah Tsukigawa (cricket), Emma Campbell (cricket), Patrice McKenzie (basketball), Shireen Crumpton (athletics), Hannah Blair (athletics), Te Paea Selby-Rickit (netball), Fiona Bourke (rowing), Lucy Strack (rowing), Michael Nisbet (rowing), Anne Mitchell (archery), Monica Tulisi (golf), Nicky Samuels (triathlon), Hannah Blair (athletics), Daniel O'Shea (athletics), Leroy Rust (surfing), Juliane Bray (snowboarding), Rebecca Grant (triathlon), Justin Leov (mountain biking), Bryn Murphy (swimming), Sean Becker (curling), Bridget Becker (curling), Glen Craig (boxing), Debbie Hill (volleyball), Andy Boyens (football), Andy Coburn (football), Matthew Glassford (swimming), Anna Smythe (athletics), Marshall Hall (athletics), Tionette Stoddard (skeleton racing), Ken Walker (bowls).
Newsmakers
- Otago finishes 14th in the ITM. That's last, for those counting at home.
- Sweeping changes for the Highlanders, with a new coach and a new board and new players arriving to try to help the struggling franchise.
- Otago Nuggets extend losing streak to 27 games but the year ends with the exciting news of the signing of Craig Bradshaw.
- Bert Sutcliffe's ashes remain well hidden at Carisbrook, but a cracking book does justice to the great man and his cricketing exploits.
- The All Blacks farewell the `Brook with a 42-9 win over Wales.
- North Otago lays claim to being the best little province in New Zealand by winning both the Hawke Cup and the Meads Cup.
- The end of the old art gallery is finally bulldozed to allow expansion of the University Oval.
- Craig Cumming equals Sutcliffe's record of 18 centuries for Otago.
- Otago golf stages the year's best comeback by finishing fifth (women) and third (men) at the national interprovincial.
- The Hills course hosts another outstanding New Zealand Open, but 11 months later we still don't know where the event will be played in 2011.
- The Otago athletics team wins a record 14 gold medals at the national championships.
So long ...
- Glenn Moore: Highlanders coach squeezed out after three years of mediocre results.
- Greg Todd: Otago cricketer moves to Auckland.
- Mark Rogers: Basketball Otago chief executive moves to Tauranga.
- Jess Moulds: Promising Otago netballer signs for the Northern Mystics.
- Warren Shirley: Rugby broadcaster and cricket identity died in April aged 71.
- Don Harley: Former Otago rugby player died in August aged 64.
- Paul Girdler: Otago bowler gets a job in Sydney.
- Erik Vaafusuaga: Veteran Taieri club rugby player plays his 269th and (he claims) last premier game.
- Andrea Miller: Otago hurdler moves to Australia.
Distinguished service award
KEREYN SMITH
New challenges outside Otago await Smith, the first female secretary-general of the New Zealand Olympic Committee. But she will retain a special place in southern sporting hearts for her contributions, particularly to the Academy of Sport South Island.
Smith was the chief executive and driving force of the academy for 10 years.
She was also a key member of the Carisbrook Stadium Trust, a Highlanders director and a powerful figure in world netball.
