Bond and Murray awarded rowing’s top honour

Hamish Bond and Eric Murray have won international rowing’s top award, the Thomas Keller Medal.

The award celebrates athletes who have had an outstanding career while showing exemplary sportsmanship and technical mastery of the sport.

Murray and Bond teamed up in 2009 and won a staggering 69 straight races over the next seven years, claiming two Olympic gold medals and eight world championship titles during their partnership.

Above: Murray and Bond at Rio 2016

32 year old Bond says receiving the highest honour the sport of rowing offers is special.

“When you look at the list of previous winners, the potential to have your name up along such luminaries is more than I ever expected to achieve in the sport.

“Typically the award is given to individuals but given that my career has been intertwined with Eric's, it's an honour to win this award together."

The Kiwi Pair will receive the medal at next month's World Cup in Switzerland.

It's the second time the award has been awarded to New Zealanders after Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell received the medal in 2016.