Halberg nominees revealed

Thirty-eight nominations for the 2005 Halberg Awards have been announced.

The nominations span four categories -- sports team of the year, sportsman, sportswoman, as well as for coach of the year.

From each of the first three categories, a panel of 26 journalists and athletes will select four finalists.

The supreme Halberg Award winner will then be chosen from the 12 finalists.

There were 13 nominations for the sportsman, nine in both the sportswoman and team categories, and seven nominations for coach of the year.

The category finalists will not be announced until early next month so late performances by individual athletes or teams during 2005 can be considered by the Halberg Academy.

The awards ceremony will be held on February 17.

NOMINATIONS

Sportsman of the Year
Cameron Brown (triathlon)
Michael Campbell (golf)
Daniel Carter (rugby)
Kalon Dobbin (speed skating)
Mahe Drysdale (rowing)
Ben Fouhy (canoeing)
Stacey Jones (rugby league)
Andrew Murdoch (yachting)
Ryan Nelsen (soccer)
Dene O'Kane (snooker)
Mickey Ross (skiing)
Daniel Vetorri (cricket)
Jonathan Wyatt (mountain running)

Sportswoman of the Year
Vilimaina Davu (netball)
Andrea Hewitt (triathlon)
Kate McIlroy (mountain running)
Hannah McLean (swimming)
Vanessa Quinn (mountain biking)
Irene van Dyk (netball)
Valerie Vili (athletics)
Sam Warriner (triathlon)
Adine Wilson (netball)

Sports Team of the Year
All Blacks (rugby)
Daniel Shirley & Sara Runesten Petersen (badminton)
Georgina & Caroline Evers-Swindell (rowing)
George Bridgewater & Nathan Twaddle (rowing)
Kiwis (rugby league)
Nicky Coles & Juliette Haigh (rowing)
NZ Badminton Team, Silver Ferns (netball)
Team Inspiration (yachting)

Coach of the Year
Ruth Aitken (netball)
Robbie Deans (rugby)
Graham Henry (rugby)
Brian McClennan (rugby league)
Hugh McCutcheon (volleyball)
Gordon Tietjens (rugby)
Richard Tonks (rowing)

- NZPA