Who can name the international athletes and officials in the Timaru District Council's "Hall of Fame"?

Who knew we had one?

Well, we do and the list is impressive but some sports organisations need to nominate a couple of glaring omissions.

The Hall of Fame was the initiative of 1970s Timaru City mayor Russell Hervey, and was aimed at recognising the significant achievements of citizens of the district. It officially opened in 1986, and lists 11 sports people and administrators.

To be eligible a candidate must have been born in South Canterbury, or lived in the district for a significant portion of their life.

An advisory committee researches the candidates and a council selection committee approves their inclusion.

So someone simply needs to nominate the omissions.

Those who need consideration are double Olympic medallist Marc Ryan, Production World Rally Championship Hayden Paddon and Christine Burke, the first Kiwi woman to summit the highest mountain on each of the world's seven continents - both the original and revised list.

There is certainly a precedent for nominating athletes while they are still competing.

Speed skater Nicole Begg is there on the back of her two world titles and is only 24. She and Black Fern Anna Richards were the most recent inductees.

A glaring omission is rowing's Les O'Connell, who won Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 1984 in the coxless four.

Although he had moved from Timaru when he had his Olympic success, he learnt his trade on Saltwater Creek and Timaru's harbour. He fits the same criteria as Richards, who has four Rugby World Cup titles to her name.

Richards actually excelled at athletics, netball and tennis in Timaru and didn't actually play rugby until she moved to university in Christchurch.

She is, however, in our hall of fame and quite rightly so - let's grab them all. Not mixing up things up too much, there is a case for Phar Lap.

He was Australasia's favourite racehorse and has plenty of exposure so why not claim him?

The "Hall of Famers" are honoured with their photos outside the council chambers and, more recently, a sign erected on top of the Bay Hill celebrates some.

So who else is in the coveted hall? Have a guess before you refer to the list.

International rugby referee Colin Hawke is there as one of the first professional whistleblowers.

The 1936 Olympic 1500m winner and world mile record holder Jack Lovelock features, along with Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Dick Tayler.

Boxer Bob Fitzsimmons, the world heavyweight champion from 1897-99, gets the nod. He first took the title at age 35.

Clark McConachy MBE was world snooker champion in 1951 and runner-up on four occasions. He also won the New Zealand professional billiards champion from 1914 to 1968.

Waimate's almost-forgotten All Black captain John Manchester is also included. He played 27 times for the side, including nine tests and captained the team on their 1935-36 tour to Britain. Waimate's home ground is named after him but probably few are aware of the link.

Sports administrators also have a presence with Sir Cecil Cross, boxing administrator Syd Ashton MBE, and international yachting official Joe Butterfield.

Ashton was an Olympic and Commonwealth Games boxing official and president of the New Zealand Boxing Association four times.

Cross was appointed to the Commonwealth and Olympic teams' selection panel in 1957, later becoming chairman. In 1960s he won a seat on the International Olympic Committee and was subsequently elected chairman of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association.

He also founded the New Zealand Men's Basketball Association.

Butterfield has a long association with yachting including serving as president and chairman of New Zealand Yachting. He has officiated at the likes of the Cowes and Congressional cups as well as world match racing championships.

The South Canterbury Sports Awards would be the perfect occasion to induct a nominee as it already celebrates the best of the district's sportspeople and administrators.

Temuka's Scottish rugby international Brendan Laney and All Black Isaac Ross, New Zealand cricketers Craig Cumming and Hamish Bennett are all in the mix.

But perhaps just making it onto the international stage is not enough - there had to be something significant achieved, such as in Richards' case, appearing in several world-cup winning teams.

If you have any other ideas or omissions email stu.piddington@timaruherald.co.nz.

AT A GLANCE

Who would you like to see inducted into Timaru District Council's sports Hall of Fame?

(Vote on the poll on left)

Hamish Bennett (Black Cap – 1 test, 12 ODIs)
Christine Burke (mountaineer, 7 peaks, 7 continents)
Craig Cumming (Black Cap – 11 tests, 13 ODIs)
Brendan Laney (Scottish rugby international, 20 tests)
Les O'Connell (1984 Olympic rowing gold medallist)
Hayden Paddon (Production World Rally Championship winner)
Isaac Ross (All Black, 8 tests)
Marc Ryan (twice Olympic team pursuit bronze medallist)

- © Fairfax NZ News

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