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.

Finalists announced for the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards
February 20, 2024 • 0 Comment
Sports Awards Night

The stage is set for an electrifying showcase of rural sports prowess as the finalists for the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Sports Awards 2024 have been unveiled. The Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Sports Awards, this prestigious event is […]

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Ford New Zealand goes full throttle championing rural sports
October 16, 2023 • 0 Comment
NZ Rural Sports Awards

Ford New Zealand goes full throttle championing rural sports Palmerston North is set to rumble with the power and excitement of rural sports this coming March, as Ford New Zealand takes pole position as the naming rights sponsor of the […]

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Congratulations to the winners of the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards 2023
March 10, 2023 • 0 Comment

The New Zealand Rural Sports Awards 2023 have recognised and celebrated the extraordinary achievements and dedication of rural sports athletes and supporters. The winners were announced during a gala dinner at Awapuni Racecourse in Palmerston North. Nathan Twaddle, the Judging […]

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Finalists announced for the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards
February 12, 2023 • 0 Comment
The Sports Awards tables before guests arrive.

Athletes and administrators from timbersports, shearing, harness racing, rodeo, tree climbing, highland heavies, gumboot throwing and fencing have been announced as finalists in the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards. In its seventh year, the awards honour the athletes and the […]

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Rural Games Weekend will be back for 2023
January 25, 2022 • 0 Comment

The Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games scheduled to be held in The Square, Palmerston North in March is the latest national event to fall victim to the predicted spread of the coronavirus. New Zealand’s largest rural sporting event was […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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, […]

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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 […]

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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.