Richard, who won the Class 4 landsailing division and finished third in Class 3 against strong US and European competition at the PACRIM 2000 World Cup regatta held in Ivanpah, Nevada, in late March this year, was one of the three finalists for the Sportsman of the Year Award.

Richard was overwhelmed by his success at the awards especially, as he said later, he was in esteemed company against such other nominees as Dean Barker of America's Cup fame.

In his acceptance speech Richard was quick to acknowledge Sport North Harbour's contribution to landsailing and congratulated them and the judges on having the strength to support minority sports such as landsailing.

"Too often the big names and professionals walk away with awards and the accolades while the smaller sporting codes are forgotten," Richard said.

Richard also voiced his thanks to the sponsors of the New Zealand team saying that without the likes of Columbus Line New Zealand Ltd, United Airlines and the Lion Foundation the very same minority codes wouldn't be able to compete at international level.

Richard was part of the Columbus Line-sponsored New Zealand landsailing team competing at the PACRIM 2000 regatta. The 15 person team was highly successful with three members returning home with World Cup trophies and another seven gaining top six rankings.

Richard, sailing a New Zealand Class 3 and 4 craft designed by Aucklander Colin Palmer, excelled in the "big boat" divisions staving off strong challengers from European and US opposition.

Up against 34 of the best from Belgium, France and the host country the USA, Richard showed in the first race of the Class 4 event on March 24th that he was right on top of things with a resounding third and a promising fourth in Class 3. After three further races over the following three days Richard went on to win the World Cup in his favoured Class 4, just one point ahead of US Champion Dennis Bassano of Santa Cruz who also sailed a Colin Palmer-designed landyacht.

In Class 3 Richard was the first New Zealander home in third place after five races behind Nord Embroden and Dennis Bassano of the US, finishing with a second, two fourths, a fifth and a sixth placing.

Richard is again looking towards the United States for his next international success.

He plans on competing at the SASSAS Black Rock Challenge, a endurance event on the legendary Black Rock Desert in north Nevada. The event attracts a large fleet of European pilots and New Zealand is planning on sending a representative team to contest the event. Some three hours drive north-east of Reno, the eight miles wide and 30 miles long Black Rock Desert was where Richard Noble with "SSC Thrust" broke the sound barrier and set a new landspeed record. The area is a mecca for landsailors around the globe because of its excellent racing surface and wind conditions.

The Black Rock event is a lead up to the World Championships in 2002, ironically being staged at Ivanpah Drylake in Nevada, a venue now firmly set as Richard's "favourite piece of dirt".