The Halberg Cup
The Halberg Cup - presented by Halberg Foundation CEO.
Criteria for The Halberg Cup Award -Click Here
2023 Receipient - Gary Forster - Canterbury
2022 Recipient - Paul Alexander - Northland.
Paul joined Northland Eagles in 2013.
Captain 2017-2019, President 2019 – 2021, Committee 2015 – present.
In 2022 Northland was chosen to run the Under 17’s Boys and Girls Championship and Paul took on the role as Tournament Convenor. He set up a “made in happen” framework for the committee and he spent endless hours working through every aspect to make the tournament successful.
He donned his red jacket and knocked on just about every business door in Mangawhai for fundraising donations for the very successful wheelbarrow raffle. He also arranged a deal with the Tara Iti Golf Club to get a percentage of their green fees to assist with the fundraising.
Paul’s home course is Mangawhai where the tournament was being held and he arranged at zero cost green fees, trundlers, use of the Dot golf system, referees for the Tournament.
As billeting would be a problem, Paul negotiated with Campbell Park Christian Camp which is near the course to host the boys and girls, any chaperones and Eagles helpers.
Committee members organised the catering and Paul assisted by arranging with local businesses to provide whatever supplies were needed at discounted prices.
Paul had input into every aspect of this tournament and it would not have been so successful without his leadership. – Mike Gavin President Northland.
Congratulations Paul, you absolutely deserve this award for your hard work and leadership – well done. – Bob Brent – National President. Congratulations and well done Paul.
Paul being presented with the trophy by Bob Rosevear
2020/2021 Recipients – Joint Winners -Brian Marcroft – Waikato and Ian Simpson – Northland
Due to Covid restrictions the 2020/and 2021 Conventions had to be cancelled and as a result Shelley McMeeken CEO of Halberg Foundation agreed that since we had two very worthy candidates for Eagle of the Year that the award would be made jointly.
Brian Marcroft– Waikato.
Brian became a member of Eagles in 2004 and has held numerous roles within the organisation on committees, Club Captain, President (2013-2015), and Convenor National Convention (2021 & 2022).
Over the years Brian has spent significant hours coaching juniors and actively promoting junior golf and strengthening junior golf in the Waikato.
Brian has been very active within his Ngahinapouri Golf Club as secretary for 10 years, course convenor, club president, junior and intermediate champion and was made a life member in 2009.
This brief resume does not do justice to the contributions Brian has made over the years to golf and the Eagles within the local region.
Congratulations and well done Brian.
Ian Simpson – Northland
Ian joined the Eagles in 1987. Ian has accomplished much over the last 25 years. Ian’s door to door knocking for sponsorship in the Waitangi/Pahia district has provided our annual Halberg Tournament with most of the prizes given out at that event. Over this period, sponsorship to the tune of over $100,000 value for prizes was obtained by Ian, which allowed the Northland Eagles to donate $116,000 towards the Halberg Foundation and varying sums of money every year for the support of Junior Golf in Northland.
Ian is now well into his 90’s, enjoys his golf when he can and proudly wears his red jacket when doing the rounds seeking sponsorship.
Ian is a Life member of Northland, is always cheerful to talk to and a very positive member of the Northland team.
Congratulations and well done Ian
2019 Recipient - Richard Gibbs - Captain, Wellington Society
Richard Gibbs from Wellington is the 2019 winner of the Halberg Trophy, initially won by Brian Osmand of Auckland.
In 2018, the Eagles invited interest from their membership to resurrect and modernise our website, which had been dying a slow death for some years. Richard put up his hand, and has spent hundreds of hours ensuring that our revitalised site is up to date, modern, and relevant to Eagles today. It is a complicated business, and one that Richard has thrown himself into conscientiously. Eagles are very grateful to him.
In addition, Richard was the chairman of last year's highly successful national convention in Wellington. The Eagles hope that his devotion to the cause will remain undiminished for many years, and we are proud to put his name forward as the winner of the trophy for 2019.
From David Howie (President) and Jeremy Ballantyne (National Secretary)
2018 Recipient - Brian Osmand - former New Zealand Patron
Inaugural Award - at the Halberg Awards dinner in 2018, Shelley McMeeken CEO of the Halberg Foundation had told us of the Halberg Foundation’s wish to commemorate our relationship by presenting an impressive trophy to Eagles, The Halberg Cup, and we have designated that it will be awarded for the most meritorious contribution during the year, with the executive to consider the winner.
Quite naturally, we felt this year it would be most appropriate to honour one of our founders and former patron, Brian Osmand, and past national president Myles Murphy had the pleasure of presenting the trophy to him at home in March. He admits to feeling his years more these days and couldn’t attend this year’s convention.
But he has been such a great role model for us all for very many years. He’s knowledgeable, loves a good laugh, and he is full of beans. His fund of stories must be unparalleled anywhere. On behalf of all your great mates in Eagles, Brian, our heartiest congratulations in receiving the inaugural award.