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New Zealand's America's Cup winning sailing syndicate has claimed New Zealand’s top sports honours for 2017 year at the 55th Halberg Awards.

Presented at Spark Arena in Auckland last night, Team New Zealand was named the Team of the Year before being presented with the supreme Halberg Award by Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Patron, Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy.

Sportswoman of the year Lisa Carrington (canoe sprint), sportsman of the year Tom Walsh (shot put) and disabled sportsperson of the year Sophie Pascoe (swimming) were the others in contention for the major prize on offer.

It is the second time Team New Zealand have won the supreme Halberg award, after they also claimed the prize for their first America's Cup triumph in 1995.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern presented Lisa Carrington with the High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year for the second year. Carrington, who claimed medals in all her four events at the World Kayaking Championships – including two gold edged out golfer Lydia Ko, Black Ferns Portia Woodman and double international Black Fern and Black Ferns Sevens player Sarah Goss.

Sophie Pascoe won the Halberg Disabled Sportsperson of the Year for the fifth time. The Para swimmer who set six world records in 2017 was named ahead of Para athletes William Stedman and Holly Robinson and Para skier Corey Peters.

Shot putter Tom Walsh was named the Sportsman of the Year after becoming New Zealand’s first male to win an IAAF Track and Field Championship. Walsh headed off All Black Beauden Barrett, Formula One driver Brendon Hartley and Blackcap Ross Taylor for the win.

Gordon Walker won the Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year for the second year running. Walker, who guided four canoe racing boats, including Lisa Carrington, to medals at the World Kayak Championships was named ahead of Black Sox coach Mark Sorenson, Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore and rowing coach Gary Hay.

Track cyclist Ellesse Andrews, who won the individual pursuit and a world record at the UCI Junior Track World Championships in 2018 received the Emerging Talent award. Andrews was named ahead of sailor Josh Armit, freeskiier Nico Porteous and rower Matthew MacDonald.

Crusader Mitchell Hunt’s last minute drop goal to secure the win against the Highlanders was chosen as New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment of 2017 – the only award voted on by the public.

During the ceremony All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was presented the Sport New Zealand Leadership Award. Rob Waddell was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame and Morrie Chandler was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award for services to motorsport.

The Halberg Awards are the nation’s pre-eminent event to honour and celebrate sporting excellence by New Zealand teams and athletes. The annual Awards are the major fundraiser for the Halberg Foundation, the charity set up by Olympic champion Sir Murray Halberg (ONZ) in 1963 to enhance the lives of physically disabled young New Zealanders by enabling them to participate in sport and recreation.

Full list of winners and finalists for the 55th Halberg Awards:

Supreme Halberg Award winner: Emirates Team NZ (yachting)
Finalists: Lisa Carrington (canoe racing), Tom Walsh (athletics), Sophie Pascoe (para swimming).

High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year winner: Lisa Carrington (Canoe Racing)
Finalists: Lydia Ko (golf), Portia Woodman (rugby union), Sarah Goss (rugby union).

Sportsman of the Year winner: Tom Walsh (athletics)
Finalists: Beauden Barrett (rugby union), Brendon Hartley (motorsport), Ross Taylor (cricket).

Halberg Disabled Sportsperson of the Year: Sophie Pascoe (para swimming)
Finalists: Corey Peters (para alpine skiing), Holly Robinson (para athletics), William Stedman (para athletics).

Team of the Year winner: Emirates Team NZ (yachting)
Finalists: Black Ferns (rugby union), Black Sox (softball), Women’s K2 – Lisa Carrington & Caitlin Ryan (canoe racing).

Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year winner: Gordon Walker (canoe racing)
Finalists: Gary Hay (rowing), Glenn Moore (rugby union), Mark Sorenson (softball).

Emerging Talent winner: Ellesse Andrews (cycling)
Finalists: Josh Armit (yachting), Matthew MacDonald (rowing), Nico Porteous (freeski).

New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment winner: Mitchell Hunt (rugby union)
Finalists: Martin Guptill (cricket), Mitchell Hunt (rugby union), Michael Venus (tennis), Black Ferns Sevens (rugby union), Emirates Team New Zealand (yachting), Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber (motorsport), Black Sox (softball), Tom Walsh (athletics), Black Ferns (rugby union), Lisa Carrington (canoe racing), Ross Taylor (Cricket).

Sport New Zealand Leadership Award winner: Steve Hansen (rugby)

Lifetime Achievement Award winner: Morrie Chandler (motorsport)

Hall of Fame inductee: Rob Waddell (rowing)

Image: Supreme Halberg Award winner Emirates Team NZ.

2nd February 2018 - 55TH HALBERG AWARDS SET TO RECOGNISE NEW ZEALAND’S TOP SPORTING TALENT 

11th February 2017 - CANOEIST LISA CARRINGTON CLAIMS TOP HONOURS AT 54TH HALBERG AWARDS

12th April 2016 - NEW ZEALAND AWARDS RECOGNISE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SPORT AND RECREATION

19th February 2016 - HALBERG AWARDS HONOUR SPORTING AND SPORT LEADERSHIP ACHIEVEMENTS

8th January 2016 - 53RD HALBERG AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

14th April 2015 - SPORT SECTOR EXPLORES NEW ZEALANDERS’ CHANGING NEEDS

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