Hot-shot Walsh reigns supreme at Halbergs
Three big triumphs helped Tom Walsh land the supreme Halberg award.
The shot putter claimed the biggest honour last night at the 56th Halberg Awards after earlier being named the 2018 Sportsman of the Year.
Walsh won the Diamond League men’s shot put crown in Zurich last August to provide the cream on a year which had already seen him win gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and the world indoor championships.
The 26-year-old also recorded the best throw of his career last year of 22.67 metres and is aiming to break the long-standing world record of 23.12m set by drug cheat Randy Barnes in 1990.
Walsh defeated freeskier Nico Porteous and motor racers Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin to win the Sportsman category.
Lisa Carrington claimed the Sportswoman of the Year award for the third successive year.
The canoe sprint champion collected a gold and three silver medals at the world championships last year and saw off stiff competition from squash player Joelle King, equestrienne Jonelle Price and snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott.
Adam Hall won the Para Athlete/Team gong after claiming gold and bronze at the Paralympic Winter Games, while the Black Ferns Sevens took the Team of the Year honours after winning gold at the Rugby World Cup and Commonwealth Games.
The Coach of the Year crown went to canoe sprint guru Gordon Walker, who defeated Allan Bunting (Black Ferns Sevens), Leon Birnie (NZ Football under-17 women’s) and Ireland rugby coach Joe Schmidt in that category.
Maddison-Lee Wesche won the Emerging Talent award. The shot putter claimed gold at the under20 world championships.
Former Black Fern Dr Farah Palmer was presented with the Sport New Zealand Leadership Award, ex-Supreme Halberg Awards winner and discus throwing champion Beatrice Faumuina was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame and Barry Hunt was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for services to athletics. ❚ ❚ ❚ ❚ ❚