Sailor of the Year- Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy
by Script: Peter Montgomery and Jodie Bakewell-White on 21 Nov 2007
There were eight finalists for the Carlson Wagonlit Travel sailor of the Year Award Richard Gladwell
www.photosport.co.nz
The final award was the presentation of the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy for Carlson Wagonlit Travel Sailor of the Year 2007. The prize package for the winner included Qantas flights to the value of $2500 generously gifted by Qantas Airways.
The finalist nominees…
Jo Aleh
Five major medals in 2007… the Women’s 420 World Championship, 1st at Kiel Week, silver at both the Pre-Olympics Regatta and at Hyeres and bronze at Princess Sofia. Jo is nominated by the Takapuna Boating Club.
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Thomas Ashley
The highlight was a gold medal at the Pre-Olympic Regatta. This year Ashley has also won at Hyeres, Princess Sofia and the RS:X South American Championships. Tom is nominated by Takapuna Boating Club and the RS:X Class Association.
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Peter Burling & Carl Evans
Back to back 420 World Champions, then graduating to the Olympic 470 class to place 6th at the 470 European Championships earning them a place in the Yachting New Zealand Olympic Squad. Carl and Peter were 9th at the Pre-Olympics in Qingdao.
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Emirates Team New Zealand
Emirates Team New Zealand won the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007 and the right to challenge for the 32nd Americas Cup off Valencia, Spain. Emirates Team New Zealand, lead by Grant Dalton successfully raced through to win Louis Vuitton capturing and inspiring the New Zealand public and restoring their faith after the disappointment of 2003 with an outstanding performance. In doing so, they put sailing back into the headlines in such a positive way.
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Barbara Kendall
Barbara Kendall sailed into her third decade of windsurfing success with another podium finish – this time silver at the ISAF Sailing World Championships, Cascais, Portugal. This latest World Championship medal and a win at the Grade One Princess Sofia regatta are the latest additions to four world titles, three Olympic medals and numerous other podium finishes. Yesterday NZOC confirmed Barbara’s selection for her fifth Olympic Games and she was recently inducted into the ISAF Sailing Hall of Fame. Barbara Kendall is nominated by the RS:X Association.
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Andrew Murdoch
Two major medals this year - silver at the Pre-Olympics and world championships silver in Portugal. Andrew also medalled at Princess Sofia and at Semaine Olympique Francaise this year, where he finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Murdoch is nominated by the Kerikeri Cruising Club.
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NZ International 420 Worlds Team
Clean sweeping all six medals up for grabs at the Open and Women’s 420 World Championships 2007, the New Zealand team performance was unprecedented. They won the overall team trophy for the first time ever for New Zealand with 1st, 2nd and 3rd in both the Men’s and Women’s Championships, 1st under 19 male crew, 1st under 19 female crew, and 1st under 17 female crew.
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Chris Steele
Chris Steele has already been recognised with a Merit Award earlier this evening… Chris Steele won the Optimist World Championship for 2007 – it’s the first time ever by a New Zealander – he beat 250 other competitors from 56 countries. Chris Steele pulled off this milestone off Cagliari, Italy in conditions ranging from slight to severe winds. He was consistent throughout the regatta with six top three finishes over the thirteen races sailed. He is nominated by both NZIODA and Wakatere Boating Club.
Debbie Kelly from Carlson Wagonlit Travel presentrd the winners certificate and the Qantas Airways travel voucher.
His Excellency the Governor General presented the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy.
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