2017 Sports Awards Winners

New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year Award

Rowland Smith
For 2016, Rowland Smith is the reigning World Champion and won a remarkable 23 open titles throughout the country. The Hasting’s shearer is also the reigning Golden Shears, Hilux New Zealand Speed Shear and New Zealand Open Champion; and in 2016 received the honour of Master Shearer.

New Zealand Rural Sportswoman of the Year Award

Morinsville aborist Chrissy Spence

Morinsville aborist Chrissy Spence has taken her tree climbing talents to the top of the world winning the International Tree Climbing Championship in 2016. It is her fourth world title and she is also the reigning Asia Pacific Tree Climbing Champion.

 

Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year Award

Jack Jordan

Jack Jordan is quickly making a name for himself in the sport of wood chopping. The Taranaki youngster shone in 2016 winning three underhand open wood chopping world titles which for a youth axeman is an amazing achievement.

Contribution to the Rural Sports Industry

Whangarei’s Lance Waddell

Whangarei’s Lance Waddell has served shearing in NZ for almost 50 years and Shearing Sports NZ for more than 30 years as a judge, supplier of shearing plant and as a leader of the Shearing Sports NZ electronic points system scoring team. He has been involved with the points scoring system since 1985 and attends 14 competitions each season, setting up and operating the timing equipment non-stop throughout the competitions. His outstanding dedication and many hours of volunteer work over many years thoroughly deserves this award.

Giving Back Through Sport: The 2026 Charity Auction
July 19, 2026 • 0 Comment
Framed NZ Olympic uniforms

Every year, the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards brings the community together not just to celebrate excellence, but to give back. In 2026, we harnessed the spirit of rural NZ to raise vital funds for two incredible causes: Lean on […]

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Hall of Fame launched and the inaugural contribution to rural mental health award presented
March 14, 2026 • 0 Comment
Jack Jordan receiving one of his awards

The Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards made history tonight, celebrating not only the nation’s finest rural athletes but also the launch of the New Zealand Rural Sports Hall of Fame and the presentation of the inaugural Hydroflow Contribution to […]

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A New Hall of Fame, Inaugural Mental Health Award, and Nation’s Top Rural Sports Finalists Set for Historic 2026 Awards Night
January 29, 2026 • 0 Comment
Three Rural Sports Awards finalists

The Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards are set for a landmark event on Friday, 13 March 2026, as organisers announce the finalists for the nation’s premier rural sports honours alongside the launch of the New Zealand Rural Sports Hall of Fame and […]

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TVNZ backs Rural Sports
November 26, 2025 • 0 Comment

Rural sports are set to reach a national audience like never before. Next year, TVNZ 1 will air the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games 2026 highlights programme and stream a further nine programmes on TVNZ+. The Ford Ranger New […]

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New award to recognise rural mental health heroes
October 29, 2025 • 0 Comment
Trophies at the 2025 Ford NZ Rural Sports Awards

A new award will shine a light on rural mental health heroes at the 2026 Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards, for which nominations are now open. Ford New Zealand’s Managing Director, Annaliese Atina said both Ford and the team […]

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Steph Dryfhout Reigns Supreme at the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards
March 7, 2025 • 0 Comment
Steph Dryfout and Tom Clancy

The Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards celebrated the very best of rural athleticism, with world champion tree climber Steph Dryfhout taking centre stage as the Ford Supreme New Zealand Rural Sportsperson. Steph’s outstanding achievements also earned her the RX […]

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Finalists for the 2025 Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards
February 11, 2025 • 0 Comment
Rural Sports Awards finalists

The finalists for the 2025 Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards have been announced. The awards celebrate the dedication, skill, and achievements of rural athletes, sports administrators, and coaches from across the country. Convenor of Judges Paul Allison MNZM highlighted […]

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Nominations are sought for the 2025 Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards
October 31, 2024 • 0 Comment
Rural Sports Award Recipients

Nominations are now open for the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards! Convenor of Judges, Paul Allison MNZM said the 2024 awards were his first and he was incredibly impressed by the calibre of nominees and professionalism of the awards. […]

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Palmerston North Showcases Spectacular Weather for 9th Ford Ranger NZ Rural Games & new New Zealand record was set
March 15, 2024 • 0 Comment
People walking through the Rural Games event entrance.

The Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games celebrated its ninth year with splendid weather and an exceptional display of rural sportsmanship. Founder Steve Hollander expressed delight at the heightened level of competition across various events including timbersports, shearing, sheep dog […]

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Jack Jordan reigns supreme again at the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards
March 10, 2024 • 0 Comment
Jack Jordan with Simon Rutherford

The Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards showcased the pinnacle of rural athleticism, with Jack Jordan reclaiming the spotlight as the Ford Supreme New Zealand Rural Sportsperson and the PTS Logistics New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year for the […]

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Steve Hollander

Steve Hollander

Founder

Steve Hollander is the founder of the NZ Rural Games Trust and a key figure in promoting New Zealand’s rural sports and community. In 2013, his pioneering vision led to the creation of the Trust, which successfully launched flagship events including the NZ Rural Games, the Rural Sports Awards, Agri Futures, and Clash of The Colleges.

His entrepreneurial drive extends beyond events. He is also involved with Future Post, an innovative company that recycles plastic waste into durable fence posts. A Christchurch-born sports enthusiast with a degree in Physical Education from the University of Otago, Steve has played multiple sports at a premier club level and still enjoys cricket and a hit of golf on a Wednesday afternoon.  His favourite rural sport is wood chopping.  

After extensive international travel, he returned to New Zealand, where his experience in the travel industry evolved into a specialisation in event travel management for major sporting events. Along with his wife Karen, he is passionate about harness racing and has been breeding, owning and amateur driving horses for many years out of their lifestyle property north of Auckland.