Spray flies as competitors’ pre-start nerves give way to the thrill of the race at Challenge Wanaka in February. Photos: Gregor Richardson.
My favourite image of the year is Eliza McCartney at the moment she broke the New Zealand record at the Caledonian Ground in March (the same height that earned her an Olympic bronze medal later in the year). It was a delight to see Eliza’s joy.
Not something you see every day in this part of the country. On my way home from work I caught a glimpse of people throwing themselves into Steamer Basin and had to check it out. These Tongan high school pupils were having fun and cooling off.
Another superstar of athletics at the same meet, shot putter Val Adams hit form to throw a world’s best distance for the year to that date and to electrify the crowd. This is the moment she turns to her Swiss coach and celebrates.
The image and the incident will stay with me for a long time. There were other images from the event: the fun ones, the band on stage, the crowd having a great time, the uglier ones, people being crushed against the stage, people fighting, the injured.
Otago Daily Times photographer Gregor Richardson shares his favourite shots of 2016.
