Championing best of rural sports
Rural New Zealanders have always been competitive, and they’ve turned everyday farm jobs like shearing and fencing into highly competitive sports, as well as providing some of the country’s top athletes in more traditional sports.
The Norwood NZ Rural Sports Awards honour the best of our rural athletes, and now is the time for rural sports organisations to get their nominations in for the 2020 awards.
The awards honour athletes, volunteers and administrators who make their sports possible, from fields as varied as shearing, horse-riding, tree-climbing and fencing.
The Sir Brian Lochore Memorial Award for Outstanding Sportsperson from a rural background honours an outstanding Kiwi athlete from any sports code who comes from a rural background.
Named for the late Sir Brian Lochore, the award acknowledges the extra challenges faced by elite athletes from rural backgrounds, including the lack of facilities, lack of coaching, and the immense distances travelled to train and compete.
Black Ferns captain and Golden Shears finalist Sarah Hirini was named the first winner in the inaugural SBL award for 2019.
The other 2019 winners were
‘I know every rural sport nominee has a passion for their sport and is often as committed as a professional athlete, and I look forward to helping celebrate their achievements over the coming years. ’
— Nathan Twaddle, convenor of judges and former Olympic rower
young cowboy shooter Bradley McDowell, champion fencer Tony Bouskill, master woolhandler Pagan Karauria, tree climbing administrator and judge David James and veteran shearer Hugh McCarroll.
Convenor of judges and former Olympic rower Nathan Twaddle is excited about next year’s awards.
“I know every rural sport nominee has a passion for their sport and is often as committed as a professional athlete, and I look forward to helping celebrate their achievements over the coming years.”
Nominations are now open for: The Norwood New Zealand
Rural Sportsman of the Year; The Skellerup New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year; The Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year; The Levno Contribution to the New Zealand Rural Sports Industry; The Toyota Lifetime Legacy Award; The Sir Brian Lochore Memorial Award for Outstanding Sportsperson from a Rural Background.
Nominations for the 2020 awards close 4pm Friday January 17, 2020 and finalists will be announced in February 2020.
Tickets are available from Kris Taylor at Taylored Events on 021 488 424 or email kris@tayloredevents.co.nz.