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.

Disability Award Introduced & Nominations Being Sought for the Best of the Best of Rural Sports
October 13, 2021 • 0 Comment

The 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 2022 awards. In its sixth year, the awards honour athletes and the […]

Read More

Double Olympic champion to speak at inaugural New Zealand Rural Sports Awards
September 10, 2021 • 0 Comment

Organisers of the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards have announced Olympic rowing gold medallist Mahé Drysdale as guest speaker for the inaugural event that takes place at Awapuni Racecourse, Palmerston North on Friday 10th March 2017. Launched to celebrate sporting […]

Read More

Winners for prestigious Rural Sports Awards announced
March 9, 2021 • 0 Comment

The 2021 New Zealand Rural Sports Awards winners were announced this evening at Awapuni Racecourse in Palmerston North. New Zealand Rural Sports Awards Judging Panel Convenor Nathan Twaddle said he was thrilled to be celebrating so many people who had […]

Read More

Finalists announced for prestigious Rural Sports Awards
February 16, 2021 • 0 Comment

The finalists for the 2021 New Zealand Rural Sports Awards have been announced today ahead of the sold-out awards ceremony on 12 March. The finalists have been selected from five award categories, and are leaders in rural sports including shearing, […]

Read More

The winners of New Zealand’s Premier Celebration of Rural Sports Announced
March 17, 2020 • 0 Comment

The NZ Rural Sports Awards were announced this evening at Awapuni Racecourse in Palmerston North. Convenor of the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards Judging Panel, Nathan Twaddle, says the awards celebrate traditional sports and the people who keep events running […]

Read More

Glittering night for rural sports stars at Rural Sports Awards
March 8, 2019 • 0 Comment

The New Zealand rural sports community gathered at Awapuni in Palmerston North to honour their best and brightest. The winners of the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards were announced at a gala dinner this evening, on the eve of the […]

Read More

Kiwi sporting legend honoured with new Rural Sports Award
March 4, 2019 • 0 Comment

It’s time for rural sports organisations to get their nominations in for the prestigious annual NZ Rural Sports Awards. The Awards celebrate the cream of New Zealand’s rural sportspeople and will be presented at a gala function on Friday 8 […]

Read More

Championing the best of rural sports
July 1, 2018 • 0 Comment

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 NZ Rural Sports Awards […]

Read More

Page 2 of 2

Stay in the loop

Subscribe To Our Newsletter