Nominees for Halberg Awards

Machejefski (cycling), Shane McLeod (hockey) and Simon Mayne (para swimming).

Shot putter Tom Walsh, the 2018 Supreme Halberg Award winner, is again up for sportsman of the year, a category which features 12 athletes from 11 sports, including retired All Blacks captain Kieran Read.

Campbell Stewart (cycling), Israel Adesanya (mixed martial arts), Kane Williamson (cricket), Lewis Clareburt (swimming), Michael Venus (tennis), Nico Porteous (freeskiing), Paul Coll (squash), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (rugby league), Scott McLaughlin (motorsport) and Tom Sexton (cycling) are the others.

The sportswoman of the year award will be hotly contested with 15 athletes put forward from nine sports.

Canoe racer Lisa Carrington will be considered for her fourth straight win after a successful 2019, while Abby Erceg (football), Avalon Biddle (motorcycling), Courtney Duncan (motorcycling), Danielle McKenzie (canoe racing), Katrina Rore (netball), Kelly Brazier (rugby), Laura Langman (netball), Luuka Jones (canoe slalom), Michelle Montague (mixed martial arts), Phillis Meti (golf), Ruby Tui (rugby), Sarah Hirini (rugby), Tyla Nathan-Wong (rugby) and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (snowboarding) also feature.

Swimmer Sophie Pascoe has been nominated for the para athlete/team of the year, a category she has claimed six times.

Pascoe is joined by Cameron Leslie who is put forward for his para swimming and wheelchair rugby success, along with Eltje Malzbender (para cycling), Emma Foy and Hannah van Kampen (para cycling), Lisa Adams (para athletics) and the Wheel Blacks (wheelchair rugby).

Nominees for the sportswoman, sportsman, team and para athlete/team categories are all eligible for the Supreme Halberg Award – the country’s highest accolade for sporting excellence.

Finalists will be named next month, before the annual awards night on February 13.