Finalists for NZ's Favourite Sporting Moment of 2014

MEDIA RELEASE

5 JANUARY 2015

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR NEW ZEALAND’S FAVOURITE SPORTING MOMENT OF 2014

Voting open for public choice category at 52nd Halberg Awards

Ten sporting highlights from 2014 have been announced today for the New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment Award, the only category voted for by the public at the Halberg Awards.

The favourite sporting moment award gives the New Zealand public the opportunity to choose the ‘country’s most exciting, remarkable, or compelling sporting moment, game or series in 2014’. Boxing, cricket, cycling, football, golf, motorsport, rugby, rugby league, weightlifting all feature in the list of sporting moments.

Brendon McCullum scoring a record 302 runs against India, Scott McLaughlin ‘giving it the jandal’ at the V8 Supercars, Lydia Ko’s US$1.5 million pay day and the men’s sprint team winning their first ever track world championships are just some of the favourite moments from last year in line for the gong.

Commonwealth Games highlights that gripped the nation including Richie Patterson’s final gold medal winning lift, Anton Cooper and Sam Gaze taking the top two podium places in the mountain bike cross country and David Nyika’s boxing gold also feature in the finalists list.

Big moments for football, rugby and rugby league fans are also up for the public vote. The fairy tale run for Auckland City FC at the FIFA Club World Cup, the All Blacks sealing the win in the final minute of the Bledisloe Cup and the Kiwis Four Nations final victory make the list.

Kiwi sports fans can vote for their choice of 'New Zealand's Favourite Sporting Moment’ once a day by text message or online through the Halberg Awards or Radio Sport websites.

The finalists were selected by a panel of media representatives who compiled the list of great sporting moments from 2014 for the public to vote on.

The Award winner will be announced at the 52nd Halberg Awards, organised by the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, on Wednesday 11 February, 2015 at Vector Arena, Auckland. The event will also be televised live on SKY SPORT.

Halberg Disability Sport Foundation CEO Geoff Burgess says it’s important for the vocal New Zealand sporting public to acknowledge the extraordinary sporting moments that gripped the nation in 2014.

“Giving the public the opportunity recognise the athlete or team that made us laugh, cry or shout with joy is what the New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment award is all about. It gives sports fans the chance to recognise their sporting stars at the prestigious Halberg Awards,” says Burgess.

The full list of 2014 New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment finalists are:

1. Brendon McCullum – scores a record 302 against India (BLACKCAPS v India, 2nd Test, Basin Reserve, Wellington)

2. Men’s Team Sprint – win their first ever Track World Championship (2014 UCI Track World Championships, Cali, Columbia)

3. Scott McLaughlin – ‘gives it the jandal’ in the opening round of the V8 Supercars (2014 Clipsal 500, Adelaide, Australia)

4. Richie Patterson – leaves it to his final lift to win weightlifting gold (2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, Scotland)

5. Anton Cooper and Sam Gaze – take gold and silver in the Mountain Bike Cross Country (2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, Scotland)

6. David Nyika – stuns the crowd to win boxing gold (2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, Scotland)

7. All Blacks - Malakai Fekitoa and Colin Slade seal victory for the All Blacks in the final minute (All Blacks v Australia, Bledisoe Cup, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)

8. Kiwis - clinch the Four Nations in an epic 22-18 final win over Australia (Kiwis v Australia, Four Nations Tournament Final, Wellington Stadium, Wellington)

9. Lydia Ko – wins US$1.5 million in one day (CME Globe Points Race and CME Group Tour Championship, Naples, Florida)

10. Auckland City FC – make a fairy tale run in the FIFA Club World Cup (2014 FIFA Club World Cup, Morocco)

How to vote:

Voting is now open for the New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment award. You can vote once a day from now until 9.00pm on Wednesday 11 February 2015.

1. Online

Vote at www.halbergawards.co.nz or www.radiosport.co.nz.

2. TXT

Text your Favourite Sporting Moment’s unique code to 455:

1. Brendon McCullum txt Sm1 to 455

2. Men’s Team Sprint txt Sm2 to 455

3. Scott McLaughlin txt Sm3 to 455

4. Richie Patterson txt Sm4 to 455

5. Anton Cooper and Sam Gaze txt Sm5 to 455

6. David Nyika txt Sm6 to 455

7. All Blacks txt Sm7 to 455

8. Kiwis txt Sm8 to 455

9. Lydia Ko txt Sm9 to 455

10. Auckland City FC txt Sm10 to 455

Texts cost 20c on Vodafone and Spark, 8c on Skinny Mobile and 9c on 2Degrees.

Everyone who votes in the New Zealand Favourite Sporting Moment Award before midnight on the 4 February, 2015 goes in the draw to win a trip for two including flights and accommodation to the 52nd Halberg Awards at the Vector Arena, Auckland on Wednesday 11 February 2015. Visitwww.halbergawards.co.nz to read the competition terms & conditions.

ENDS

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