Ko in elite group of 25 finalists
Lydia Ko, Val Adams, Scott Dixon and Kieran Read headline the finalists for next month’s Halberg Awards.
Nominations were last night whittled down from 58 names to 25 finalists across six categories for New Zealand’s major sporting gongs, to be awarded at Auckland’s Vector Arena on February 13.
The women’s category is particularly competitive.
Ko, the teenage golf sensation who recently turned pro and is already ranked No 4 in the world, is pitted against shot put world champion Adams, world champion canoeist Lisa Carrington and swimmer Lauren Boyle, who won three bronze medals at the world championships.
The achievements of the finalists are also impressive.
IndyCar champion Dixon and world rugby player of the year Read would appear the favourites.
But also in the mix are world No 1 equestrian rider Andrew Nicholson and track cycling world champion Aaron Gate.
The team finalists are the All Blacks – who enjoyed a perfect 2013, the world champion Black Sox, allconquering rowing pair Hamish Bond and Eric Murray and two yachting combinations; Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, and Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.
Coach of the year will be drawn from Eddie Kohlhase ( softball), Guy Wilson ( golf), Nathan Handley ( yachting) and Steve Hansen ( rugby).
Paralympic swimming champions Sophie Pascoe and Mary Fisher, who each won five gold medals at the world championships, are finalists in the disabled category, along with David Monk ( bowls) and Mike Johnson ( shooting).
men’s