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Sailing was one of the success stories for New Zealand at last year’s Rio Olympics and that has been recognised with a handful of finalists in next month’s Halberg Awards.
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, who won gold in the 49er class by a mammoth 43 points – the most of any sailing class in the Olympics since the modern scoring system was introduced in 1968 – are finalists in the Team of the Year category.
Joining them among the four finalists for Team of the Year are Olympic women’s 470 silver medallists Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie. The pair, known colloquially as Team Jolly, endured one of the toughest regattas of their careers together but battled back from two disqualifications to finish second.
Hamish Willcox, who guided the 49er crew, was named a finalist in Coach of the Year.
(Peter Burling, left, and Blair Tuke celebrate Olympic gold with coach Hamish Willcox. Photo: Sailing Energy / World Sailing)
It is the fifth time Burling and Tuke have been named finalists for Team of the Year (2012-2015) and yesterday’s announcement follows their recognition in the New Year’s Honours list when they were named Members of the Order of New Zealand for services to sailing.
Aleh and Powrie, whose partnership recently came to an end after Powrie announced her retirement from Olympic sailing, were finalists in the team’s category in 2012 and 2013. Willcox was a finalist for Coach of the Year in 2015.
(Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, right, claimed silver in Rio. Photo: Sailing Energy / World Sailing)
Team of the Year (Eligible for the supreme Halberg Award)
Men’s 49er – Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (yachting), Men’s Pair – Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (rowing), Team Sprint – Eddie Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell and Sam Webster (cycling), Women’s 470 - Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (yachting).
Coach of the Year
Gordon Walker (canoeing), Hamish Willcox (yachting), Jeremy McColl (athletics), Steve Hansen (rugby).
