Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards

New Zealand’s premier celebration of our rural sporting athletes

March 2021, Awapuni, Palmerston North

New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year Award

New Zealand Rural Sportswoman of the Year Award

Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year Award

Outstanding Contribution to the New Zealand Rural Sports Award

Lifetime Legacy

The Sir Brian Lochore Memorial Award for Outstanding Sportsperson from a Rural Background sponsored by Allflex

2020 Awards

The Norwood New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year

Allan Oldfield

The Geraldine local holds both the individual and team’s category World Bladeshearing titles. Allan impressively became the first New Zealander to beat the blade shearing process of South African competitors. In 2018, Allan was named the second person ever to win blade shearing at the big four royal shows in the UK; the Royal Highland, Royal Bath and West, the Royal Ulster, and Royal Welsh. Recently, he won the blade shear competition at the 60th anniversary of the Golden Shears and he’ll soon head to Scotland to defend his World title in 2022.

Skellerup New Zealand Rural Sportswoman of the Year

Steph Tweed

The Waipara local became the first woman to win a New Zealand dog trial championship. Steph won the North Island and the New Zealand championship straight hunt, proving her to be a fierce and worthy competitor. Introduced to dog trials by her father when she was at school, Steph was ready to challenge the male-dominated industry. Entering her first National Dog Trial competition in 2013 at 21 years old, Steph became one of the youngest and only females in the sport. After competing in dog trial competitions against her father, Steph went on to claim third place in the South Island championships at Hanmer Springs before taking a stab at the national title, where she became the first woman in 130 years of the sport to be awarded the title.

Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year

Sarah O'Reilly

After finishing her first proper season in 2019, this Rakaia local is set to become one of the harness-racing greats of her time. Sarah cleaned up at the National Competition by becoming the 2019 New Zealand Junior Driver Champion and one of the Top 12 Junior Drivers in New Zealand – going on to claim the 2019 Australasian Young Driver Championship, becoming one of the Top 10 drivers in all of Australasia. Sarah continues to push to make a name for young women in the industry – with her sights now set on winning the Junior Driver Premiership.

Levno Contribution to Rural Sport

Doug Liang

The Napier journalist’s contribution to shearing is legendary. Doug first reported on the Golden Shears while at school in the 1960s and went on to co-found the New Zealand Shearing Magazine. Gathering all the results from 50 years of the world’s premier event, Doug also started the Golden Shears History which was published in 2010. After successfully documenting the history of shearing, Doug set his sights on the Hawke’s Bay A&P Show, where he helped revive the shearing championships. His unrivalled dedication to the sport saw him nominated for the role of Media Officer for Shearing Sports New Zealand where he became responsible for bringing shearing into the global spotlight. Not just a man of shearing, Doug believes in developing sports opportunities for everyone – his achievements include helping to revive rugby league in Hawke’s Bay.

Toyota Lifetime Legacy

Ricky May

From Rakaia, Ricky is one of New Zealand’s most successful drivers. A two-time winner of the harness racing category and winner of seven New Zealand Cups – a record no one else has beaten. After collecting more than $32,000,000 in stakes and becoming the third ever driver to reach 2000 race wins in New Zealand, Ricky continues to dominate the harness racing scene. Aiming to reach the big 3000 winner’s goal in 2020, Ricky sits just 51 wins (at time of writing) shy of his next record. Not just a legend on the track, Ricky also spends his time volunteering at the Methven Trotting Club, mentoring young harness racers and working hard on his farm. In 2019, Ricky dropped dead on the track at Omakau live on television. Thankfully he had an angel on his shoulder that day and has been given a second chance at driving and life.

The Sir Brian Lochore Memorial Award for an Outstanding Sports person from a Rural Background - Sponsored by Allflex

Casey Kopua

The pride of Matamata, Casey Kopua was integral to the 52-51 win over Australia in the 2019 Netball World Cup – New Zealand’s first win in 16 years. In 2014, the 23rd Silver Fern’s captain was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Her trophy cabinet includes two Commonwealth Gold Medals and three World Cup Silver Medals.

View the 2019 Winners

View the 2018 Winners

View the 2017 Winners

Our Panel

Former Olympic Rowing medalist

Nathan Twaddle — Convenor

Nathan Twaddle has been fortunate to be part of the New Zealand sporting scene during a golden period of international success. A two time Olympian, Olympic bronze medallist and world champion rower. Since retiring in 2010 he has worked for High Performance Sport NZ helping elite athletes achieve their potential in sport and their careers. He now People Development Manager at Schick Civil Construction, a local growing firm based in Hamilton.

While Nathan will admit to being a townie, Nathan’s family has a long history of working and involvement with the rural community. His uncle Jim Ward manages Molesworth Station and his Grandfather Ron Ward farmed for many years in Southland, (alongside being an All Black and coach of a Ranfurly Shield winning Southland rugby team). “I have great memories of time on the farm with my grandad, going to dog trials, dagging sheep, hooning around on motorbikes with my cousins, spotlighting” says Nathan. “My first couple of years trying to make the NZ team, I lived in a number of farm cottages through the generous support of local Cambridge dairy farmers Janet and Richard Myers (another All Black connection), we even raised funds by raising bobbie calves.” I know every rural sport nominee has a passion for their sport and is often as committed as a professional athlete, I look forward to help celebrate their achievements over the coming few years.”

President of Shearing Sports New Zealand

Sir David Fagan

Sir David Fagan is a New Zealand sheep shearer from Te Kuiti. Fagan has won the New Zealand Golden Shears contest a record 16 times, as well as setting 10 world records and winning numerous other world and national titles. Fagan was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2016 New Year honours, following his last season on the shearing circuit.

Taranaki-King Country MP

Barbara Kuriger

Barbara Kuriger is was elected as the Member of Parliament for Taranaki – King Country in 2014. In 2012, she was named Diary Woman of the Year and has been a of the Boards of DairyNZ, Primary ITO Board, Taratahi, Dairy Women’s Network, and NZ Young Farmers.

New Zealand Rural Games founder and trustee

Steve Hollander

Steve Hollander is the visionary behind the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games, the Property Brokers Running of the Wools and the Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards. A small landowner from Dairy Flat, Steve is the driving force behind the Games. He is dedicated to raising awareness of rural sports and athletes, helping to ensure farmers and their families have fun events to look forward to and celebrating New Zealand’s rural heritage while at the same time trying to close the rural urban divide.

Rural Sports Journalist

Craig ‘Wiggy’ Wiggins

Based in rural Canterbury, Craig ‘Wiggy’ Wiggins is a MC, Sports Commentator, Rodeo Compere, Horse Trainer and Farmer and is perhaps best known for his six years commentating the FMG Young Farmer of the Year.

Rural Sports Journalist

Tony Leggat

Based in Feilding, Tony Leggett was the Head of NZX Agri for almost 20 years. He owns Country-Wide and The New Zealand Dairy Exporter magazines and publishes these alongside Young Country.

Fencing Legend

Paul van Beers

Paul is the inaugural Toyota Lifetime Legacy Award winner at the Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards Paul retired from competing in 2016 after a fall from a horse on his sheep and beef farm. Paul’s competition career spanned the 1990s to 2016. No one else has ever – or is likely to ever again – repeat the staggering number of wins and podium finishes he had through his 31-year competitive fencing career. He has under his belt 14 Wiremark Golden Pliers New Zealand National Singles Championship Titles, 12 Fieldays Silver Spades New Zealand National Doubles Championship Titles and two Patura World Power Fencing Champion Titles. In 2014 he was half of the first father and son (Jason) combination to win the Fieldays Silver Spades. Paul continues to help drive NZFC.