Feb 5th, 10. In a black tie function in Auckland last night, triple World Champion track star Sam Webster was awarded the Halberg Emerging Talent award.

The Halberg Awards are recognised as New Zealand's highest awards honouring excellence in sporting achievements.

Dressed in a tuxedo 007 would be proud of, or so Webster told his twitter fans, the teenager accept the award and the $15,000 scholarship from Westpac Bank.

"The night was good fun. It offered a chance to mix and mingle with the past and present champions of  New Zealand sport, which is something that normally doesn't happen as we come from fields so afar," Webster told RoadCycling.co.nz this afternoon.

"It means a lot to me to have won. The Halberg is the greatest recognition of sporting achievement New Zealand has I feel humbled to have won and it is the greatest end to my 2009 season."

Webster won against finalists in sports traditionally more popular with New Zealand's media; Aaron Cruden (rugby), Robbie Manson (rowing) and Sam Meech (sailing).

Webster's triple success at the UCI Junior World Track Championship in Moscow last August made him New Zealand's most successful junior cyclist and signalled a new era in Kiwi cycling - his wins were in sprint events rather than endurance.

However, the award wasn't just about past performance.  Part of the criteria for choosing the winner was the athlete's potential to go on to much bigger things and become a Halberg sportsperson of the year in the future.

World Champion cyclist Alison Shanks was a finalist for the Halberg sportswoman of the year award which was won by Valerie Vili (athletics).

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