Race for favourite sporting moment of 2011 hots up

Breakers players celebrate their 2011 ANBL championship victory. Photo / Sarah Ivey

A surge in voting for the New Zealand cricketers and Breakers has meant the race to determine New Zealand's favourite sporting moment is still being hotly contested less than a week before the winner is announced at the Halberg Awards.

The final whistle of the Rugby World Cup final and Lewis Brown's try to send the Warriors to their second NRL grand final had established a handy lead over four other special moments in New Zealand sport last year but recent successes by both the Black Caps and Breakers had seen them receive support in the public vote.

The winner will be announced at Thursday's Halberg Awards.

The contenders:

1. NZ Breakers - Win Australian National Basketball League championship

2. Valerie Adams - Dominates the field to win gold at the world championships

3. Men's Pair - Hamish Bond and Eric Murray win gold at the world rowing championships

4. NZ Warriors - Lewis Brown's try against Melbourne sends the Warriors to NRL grand final

5. All Blacks - The final whistle of the Rugby World Cup final

6. Black Caps - Doug Bracewell bowls Nathan Lyon to win second cricket test against Australia, Hobart