Rural sports awards to Hawke's Bay

CAREER REWARD: Porangahau farm fencer Paul Van Beers after receiving the Lifetime Legacy award at the second Rural Sports Awards in Palmerston North. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Hawke's Bay picked up two of the five honours at the second Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards in Palmerston North on Friday night.
Napier shearer John Kirkpatrick was named Rural Sportsman of the Year, in recognition mainly of his 2017 world championships individual and teams titles in Invercargill, and Porangahau farm fencer Paul Van Beers received the Lifetime Legacy Award, recognising his two world championships, 14 national Golden Pliers wins and multiple other victories, and a role in establishing competitions authority New Zealand Fencing Competitions.
In winning the Sportsman of the Year title, Kirkpatrick succeeded fellow Hawke's Bay shearer Rowland Smith, who won the inaugural award last year. Another finalist, as was also the case last year, was current Golden Pliers champion and former world farm fencing champion Shane Bouskill, an instructor at farm cadet training institution Smedley Station, near Tikokino.
Kirkpatrick's world titles, including his first world individual title in four attempts, were also recognised last May when he was named Supreme Award winner and Sportsman of the Year at the Hawke's Bay Sports Awards.
Along with trophies, winners on Friday were presented with blazers, Kirkpatrick receiving his from awards special guest and All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
The awards were presented on the eve of the fourth New Zealand Rural Games, which were held in the Palmerston North Square on Saturday and yesterday.