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 March 2019, as part of the New Zealand Rural Games celebration in Palmerston North.
The Sir Brian Lochore Outstanding Sportsperson from a Rural Background Award is a new addition to the awards for 2019. It will honour an athlete from any sports code from a rural background. The award highlights rural people’s contributions to the wider New Zealand sporting community.
“Many of New Zealand’s greatest athletes have come from rural backgrounds,” says award patron Sir Brian Lochore.
“The challenges for rural athletes can be great, including lack of facilities, lack of coaching, and immense distances travelled to train and compete. I’m delighted to be associated with an award that recognises the extra challenges these athletes have had to meet and overcome to succeed in their fields and their contribution to New Zealand.”
Nominations are now open for:
- The New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year
- The New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year
- The Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year
- The Contribution to the New Zealand Rural Sports Industry.
- The Lifetime Legacy Award
- The Sir Brian Lochore Outstanding Sportsperson from a Rural Background
The 2018 winners were multiple international tree climbing championship winner Chrissy Spence, New Zealand and World Champion shearer John Kirkpatrick, young international rodeo rider Tegan O’Callaghan, shearing sports administrator Jude McNabb and multi award winning fencer Paul van Beers.
Nominations close at the end of January 2019 and finalists will be announced in February 2019.
