New Zealand sports awards puts rowing on a pedestal

On the back of their 2012 Olympic success rowing all but owned the gala awards ceremony that included red carpet treatment and was broadcast on local television.

The first award to go to rowing was for Team of the Year and the winners were the men’s pair of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond. “Usually Eric does the talking,” said Bond, making it to the microphone first. Both Murray and Bond wore dark suits, Murray with a tie and Bond a bow tie.

The Coach of the Year was then presented by the 1972 Munich Olympic Games gold medal men’s eight. All but one of the crew members were there. The award went to Richard Tonks, Rowing New Zealand’s head coach and coach of the men’s pair and men’s single sculls (Mahe Drysdale).

Tonks was unable to attend so Drysdale accepted the award on his behalf. This was the fifth time that Tonks had won the award and he has been nominated 12 times. “Richard is a hard task master, he pushes us to the limits and that accounts for our success. He doesn’t say much but when he does you listen to what he says. He has created a huge amount of success for New Zealand,” said Drysdale.

Calvin Ferguson, Coach of Olympic Champions in the men’s double sculls, Joseph Sullivan and Nathan Cohen and Olympic bronze medallists in the lightweight men’s double sculls, Peter Taylor and Storm Uru, was also nominated for Coach of the Year.

Drysdale was then back on stage to collect an award for himself; the Sportsman of the Year award. This is the fourth time that Drysdale has won the award and he paid tribute, amongst others, to the rowing team who compete against each other on a daily basis.

Decided by public vote, New Zealand’s most favourite sporting moment went to the London Olympic Games final of the men’s double won by Sullivan and Cohen. On stage Cohen, talking as fast as he races, admitted he was very surprised that anyone outside of their families voted for them. (Look back on this race here!)

When asked how life had changed since the London Olympics Cohen said, “Obviously standing up here. It’s a complete shock to us.” Sullivan was asked about his rowing plans and he said that that he did not know what he would be rowing leading up to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. “It depends on the selectors,” said Sullivan, “but it (rowing in the double with Cohen) would be a dream.”

Sullivan was also asked about why he competed in the Coast to Coast (all day multisport event) last weekend and he replied, “I’ve got no idea.” Drysdale, who is not back rowing yet, also competed in the Coast to Coast.

The final award for the evening, the Supreme Award, went to the men’s pair that were described as ‘chalk and cheese’, total opposites, off the water – Murray and Bond. In his thank you speech Murray described himself as a chubby kid before he started rowing stressing that he was an average ‘Kiwi bloke’ who just wanted to get out there. Bond gave a hint about his future. “I look forward to the future, to Rio and beyond.”

Adding to the rowing theme of the awards evening, Olympic Champion from Sydney 2000, Rob Waddell handed out the award for Sportswoman of the Year.