Evers-Swindell Twins Take Supreme Award

World Championships silver medallists in the women’s double and quadruple sculls Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell have won the Supreme Award at the national Halberg Awards today (Thursday) in Wellington, New Zealand.

This prestigious award, which is the New Zealand equivalent of the British sportsperson of the year award is the country's top sporting honour.

The awards have several categories such as sportsman of the year, sportswoman of the year, team of the year or coach of the year.  The winners of each of these categories become eligible to take the supreme award.

The twins, who had two chances of winning the award, being part of two of the nominated teams (the women’s double sculling crew and the women’s quadruple sculling crew) won the team award and then went on to be presented the Supreme award.

Rob Waddell had held the award for three consecutive years before handing it over to the two rowing sisters.

Rowing has featured strongly in the awards history and rowers or rowing crews have won the supreme award 8 times in the last 30 years. Previous winners include Phillipa Baker when she won lightweight single scull gold in the World Championships in Vienna in 1991, Brenda Lawson and the New Zealand men's eight in 1972.