May and O'Reilly make finals

Harness Racing New Zealand is thrilled to announce that two of our industry participants have made the finals for this year’s Norwood Rural Games Awards.

The awards are held to celebrate sports with animal and rural backgrounds in conjunction with the New Zealand Rural Games in Palmerston North on March 14 and 15, the Norwood Awards are to be held on Friday 13 March at Awapuni Racecourse.

Sarah O'Reilly has made the final three for the Fonterra New Zealand Rural Youth of the Year, with last year’s NZ Junior Driver Championship and Australasian Young Drivers Championship victory putting her in contention. 

Ricky May made the final cut for the second year in a row for the prestigious Toyota Lifetime Legacy category.

The award is for sportspeople who have consistently delivered at the elite level in their sport – fitting for a seven time New Zealand Cup winning driver, with strong rural roots through his career in farming.

Harness Racing New Zealand congratulates Sarah and Ricky on this huge achievement to just make the finals.

We wish them all the very best for the Awards on March 13. Full information on the Rural Games can be found at www.ruralgames.co.nz

The finalists are:

Norwood New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year:

• Tony Bouskill – Fencing – Hawke’s Bay
• Scott Forrest – Tree Climbing – Kawerau
• Alan Oldfield – Blade Shearing – Geraldine

Skellerup New Zealand Rural Sportswoman of the Year:

• Darcell Apelu – Wood Chopping – Mount Maunganui
• Pagan Karauria – Wool Handling – Alexandra
• Steph Tweed – Dog Trials – Waipara

Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year:

• Ritson Galloway – Duck Calling – Manawatu
• Chris Lord – Wood Chopping – Otorohanga
• Sarah O’Reilly – Harness Racing – Rakaia

Levno Contribution to Rural Sport:

• Doug Laing – Shearing – Napier
• Gemma Oliver – Rodeo – Winchester
• Sally Mallinson – Sheep Dog Trials – Geraldine

 Toyota Lifetime Legacy:

• Greg Herrick – Shearing – Carterton
• Ricky May – Harness Racing – Methven
• Sheree Taylor – Wood Chopping – Te Aroha