It was a romantic Valentine’s Day date night for Kiwi sporting royalty Richie and Gemma McCaw at the Halberg Awards at Auckland’s Spark Arena last week.
“With three kids, it can be a bit hard to get out of the house,” the former hockey player admitted to Woman’s Day. “I wasn’t sure about the dress.” But she ruled the red carpet in a silver sequinned Self-Portrait frock.
However, the queen of the night was undoubtedly Dame Lisa Carrington, who took out the Supreme Halberg Award for the third time, joining Dame Valerie Adams and Rob Waddell as triple winners.
“It’s always really difficult to know what to say because there are so many people who help me stand here and receive these awards,” the five-time Olympic gold medallist gushed in her acceptance speech.
“I just want to congratulate and wish all the best to the amazing athletes out there on the world stage or just trying to do your best at grassroots. It’s a big year and I’m super-excited.”
Cycling champion Aaron Gate, who won Sportsman of the Year, told us, “I’ve been really stoked to wear the silver fern with pride on the road all year. It’s pretty special just to be nominated alongside this star-studded line-up.” With wife Kirstie by his side (right), he added that their four-year-old son Axel was following in his footsteps, saying, “Ripping around the pump track keeps him out of trouble.”
Meanwhile, the Black Ferns Sevens squad took out Team of the Year after an incredible 36-match undefeated streak. Star player Kelly Brazier said looking at the other nominees in the category, such as the All Blacks and the Warriors, made her proud to be a Kiwi, adding, “I know our group follows all the four teams nominated.”
See our red carpet pics below
