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More than 200 people took to the waters of Lake Hood on Saturday for the South Island Dragon Boat championships.

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Use the footpath, pay for the privilege

BY SUE NEWMAN

SUE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ

Rakaia pep talk pays off P16

Business owners using the footpath as part of their place of trade could be hit with a sharp rise in the price of doing business street-side.

As part of its review of property fees, the Ashburton District Council is taking a long, hard look at the way it charges businesses who use the footpath for al fresco dining or short-term for activities such as building demolitions.

Currently cafes pay $220 a year for the privilege of including the footpath in their dining options, but district councillors are looking at creating tiers within that activity.

At a workshop last week, Russell Ellis questioned whether it was fair to charge the same rate for a small café that might have one or two tables outside as it did for a larger business that had several ta-

bles and drew a considerable part of its income from diners using the outdoor area.

“I see places such as Kellys, Allenton and Braided Rivers as more of a licence to occupy situation rather than al fresco,” he said.

One of the big drivers in changing the way charges were imposed for footpath use was to tidy up the issue of large items being placed on a footpath and left for months, said council business services manager Paul Brake.

“By charging $10 a day for containers it signals the free ride is over. Currently, because it’s free there’s no incentive to remove them. We need to start somewhere with this and I’m happy to keep putting the fee up,” he said.

Containers might be put in place to support a verandah or while demolition work was under way and often they

became an almost permanent fixture, Brake said.

While the street occupancy fees are still up for debate, councillors were happy to agree that a new range of fees for council staff time should be introduced from July 1.

The first hour of council staff time will be free in the property department but after that charges will kick in. If the commercial manager or senior property officer are involved the fee will be $150 per hour, for the property officer and facilities management officer, $110 and hour and for the administration officer, $90.

While many issues were resolved in less than an hour, commercial manager Colin Windleborn said he’d had a recent job where work involved more than 50 hours of staff time.

“This will stop frivolous requests,” he said.

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Monday, March 27, 2017

■ SUMNER ASSAULT

■ DAIRY INDUSTRY

Charges upgraded

Chinese dairy giant expands

The victim of a serious assault in Sumner, Christchurch on Thursday has now died in hospital, and the three people charged with the assault now face murder charges.

A person was found in a Sumner carpark on the evening of March 23 with serious head injuries and was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

A 38-year-old woman, 20-year-

old man, and a 16-year-old are due to reappear in court today over the assault.

Police arrested the woman and the teenager on Friday.

At the time the woman was charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to the alleged attack.

The teenager was charged with burglary and with being an ac-

cessory after the alleged assault.

Officers were conducting scene examinations at three Christchurch addresses on Friday.

They wanted to speak with anyone who may have seen a gold coloured Toyota Vitz car or its occupants near Ferrymead and Sumner late on Thursday, March 23.

They’re particularly interested

in sightings of the vehicle in the Sumner beachfront area near Clifton Terrace.

The police investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information can call to Christchurch Police Station on 03 363 7400 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

- NZME

■ FREEMASONS

Freemasons gather for annual conference Freemasons from around the South Island gathered at Methven for their annual conference at the weekend.

A highlight of the day was the presentation of the Heartland Bank Freemasons Charity Scholarship.

Recipient Emily Boyle, who attended Christchurch Girls’ High School, offered an impressive résumé that included peer tutoring and reader/writer selected to attend the Emerging Leaders’ Conference.

She intends to study a double degree in law and science at Otago University.

Her community involvement was Riding for the Disabled as a volunteer.

Boyle’s sporting prowess included hockey, soccer and equestrian pursuits.

Her musical abilities include singing and playing the flute, saxophone and guitar.

Wide-ranging topics were discussed at the conference including the surge in membership growth in the midland district, which covers Mid and South Canterbury.

Conference organiser John Kinvig said this could be attributed to a variety of reasons, including public awareness through social media and the Freemasons

Heartland Bank Ashburton manager Andrew Wilson presents Emily Boyle with the Heartland Bank Freemasons Scholarship of $6000, with Les Brenssell, Southern member for the Freemasons Charity.

PHOTO NOEL LOWE Charity, attracting younger members. Kinvig was pleased with the attendance of 100, including members who had travelled from Southland and Nelson.

Freemasons from the national office including the Grand Master for New Zealand Mark Winger attended the conference and delivered a report on Freemasons

activities and charities in New Zealand.

Partners were entertained with a bus tour around the district tourist sites.

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Chinese diary giant Yili is promising rising prices for farmers as it expands its dairy processing plant in Glenavy in south Canterbury.

China’s largest dairy company commissioned a $236 million milk processing plant on a 38ha block of land at Glenavy, near the Waitaki River, in 2014.

The company says the $400m second stage of the project is beginning. It includes a new UHT plant, infant formula canning line, blending facilities, a whole milk powder dryer, and facilities to manufacture UHT milk products and lactoferrin.

The company says it’s actively working with farmers in the district to augment its milk supply to meet its growing production needs.

Presently, 67 farmers supply milk to Oceania Dairy.

Yili says it’s developing a setprice mechanism for the price of milk whereby the milk price is guaranteed to improve year-onyear cash flow management for farmers.

Yili Oceania Dairy is also launching a major recruitment drive, having boosted employment at the plant during the stage two development.

Yili Group also announced on Saturday it’s launching a new premium PRO-KIDO Ruihu infant formula.

Yili Group New Zealand chairman Pan Gang said his company was fully committed to New Zealand, as evidenced by the significant and ongoing investment in Glenavy.

Yili has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Lincoln University near Christchurch.

Oceania Dairy’s research and development manager Dr Philip Wescombe is now based at the university to assist in the establishment of a new research and development centre.

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Ashburton Guardian

Monday, March 27, 2017

3

■ ASHBURTON DISTRICT COUNCIL

Parks staff drowning under workload

BY SUE NEWMAN

SUE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ

Without an injection of cash and staff, keeping the Ashburton District’s green spaces in top order is becoming increasingly difficult, says council open spaces manager David Askin.

He asked district councillors to approve an extra $100,000 in his budget for next year, but they wanted him to prove the need and at a workshop he spelled out the issues that would justify the extra money.

Health and safety regulations, an increasing estate to caretake and high public expectations were all putting immense pressure on staff and resources, he told district councillors at a budget meeting last week.

The council’s parks, reserves and sports fields might score highly in public surveys but keeping them in first class order was putting his department under immense pressure, he said.

“We’re doing far more work now with the same staff numbers.”

An example of growing community expectations came in the number of public generated complaints or work requests – 20 in 2011; 182 last year.

“Community expectations, society has changed and people expect better things today. When we cut grass we can no longer leave it on the ground, we have to cart it

away. With sportspeople used to be happy with a paddock, now it’s all about presentation, it has to be rolled, mowed and immaculate.”

Health and safety requirements involved at least an hour of every staff member’s time every working day just filling in forms, Askin said.

“It takes up a heck of a lot of time. It’s massive, phenomenal, but it’s legislation that we have to go with. We now have to have a paper trail. If the paperwork isn’t done and there’s an accident then we are under the gun.”

A large percentage of the department’s work required traffic management plans to be written and for signage to be erected. All of that took staff time away from actual work, he said.

Staff took pride in the district’s green spaces and in the high rating they were given by the community, but there were times when they were embarrassed about the condition some were in simply because they did not have the time or resources to carry out the work needed, Askin said.

“We serve the public from playgroup to the grave; we help keep them healthy in mind and body and we do a lot of things that are not our core business. Sometimes I think we’re the council’s mop-up department,” he said.

Councillors agreed to sign off the extra money.

Labour says it will not back a development project at Point England reserve in Auckland.

■ AUCKLAND HOUSING

Labour digs in on Point England issue Labour is reiterating it will not back a development project at Point England reserve in Auckland because it will be a precedent for other parks to be carved up for housing.

On Friday Labour’s housing spokesman Phil Twyford and Maungakiekie candidate Priyanca Radhakrishnan announced Labour’s decision to withdraw support for the Point England Development Enabling Bill which is before parliament.

The bill revokes the reserve status of 11a which the government intends to sell to Ngati Paoa for a housing development as part of its Treat of Waitangi settlement.

Labour is being accused of stopping a treaty settlement for a Maori tribe.

Labour’s Maori Development spokesman Kelvin Davis yesterday said the party was resolute.

“Labour will not back a plan

which would set a precedent for other public reserves such as Cornwall Park, Potters Park, Albert Park, and the local playground to get carved up to fix the National and Maori parties’ housing crisis.”

He said because the developers are local tribe Ngati Paoa, the Maori Party expects Labour to agree to carving up parks, reserves and playgrounds.

Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith says it’s a choice between housing and cows and Labour has contradictory positions on both.

“Eighteen hectares of this site have been grazed by cattle for 30 years. Twelve hectares are to be used for housing. The area of open space accessible for public recreation will be expanded with this development,” he says.

The development will provide 300 families with a warm, dry

home, enhance the recreational facilities and space for the surrounding community, as well as help settle Ngati Paoa’s treaty claim and provide a site for a marae, Dr Smith says.

Labour demands more homes be built but then opposes one housing development after another, he says.

“They want fewer cows because of concern about water quality and greenhouse gas emissions, except in central Auckland on prime land like at Point England.”

It is hypocritical of Labour to oppose this bill when they have supported reserve lands being used in other treaty settlements, Dr Smith says.

Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says the Labour move is a betrayal. Maungakiekie is a marginal seat in this year’s election.

- NZME

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Ashburton Guardian

Monday, March 27, 2017

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■ ASHBURTON TRUST

In brief

Trust hands $50,000 to hospital

BY SUE NEWMAN

SUE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ

Inner town Somerset House is about to pay the community a handsome dividend, a $50,000 donation to Ashburton Hospital.

The Ashburton Trust-owned building was planned as a long term dollar earner for the trust, with profits from rent on office space to be given to charitable organisations around the Ashburton District.

Once it was debt free the trust intended to use rental income to make community grants, but had decided its debt levels were now low enough to allow smaller grants to be made, said trust chief executive Robert Reid.

The trust had earlier committed to donating $50,000 to the hospital rebuild and last week board members decided the hospital cause would be the first donation from the Somerset Ashburton Ltd account.

The trust is making the donation through the Advance Ashburton Foundation as part of its $1.5 million plus commitment to the hospital rebuild.

As the trust reshapes itself after selling its businesses and moving into a new role as a landlord, it is also reshaping the way it makes grants and donations to the community, Reid said.

“Now we have to sit down and work out who can apply for what and how they apply,” he said.

The trust’s objective in building Somerset House was to have a freehold property that generated rental income that would in turn be given to the community.

Somerset House is valued at about $10 million and carries about $4 million of debt. When all debt is repaid and it is fully tenanted, it is anticipated to generate about $1 million a year in rental income, most of which will be returned to the community.

The trust now has three community funding streams available – the Lion Foundation (gaming machine profits) and Somerset Ashburton Ltd which are both charitable foundations and the trust itself which is able to grant money to organisations that are not charities.

In its new role as landlord, the trust is redefining its role as a community funder, particularly from the trust itself that will now earn an income from building leases rather than trading profits.

And that creates a new environment for the community groups it traditionally supported with sponsorship and grants, Reid said.

“We’ve spent the past 12 months telling people about the change and signalling that they needed to get in early for this year’s funds so that if they miss out they have the time to look elsewhere.”

There were many organisations that had received a lot of money from the trust over the years and the trust was working as quickly as it could to put in place a solid structure for all of its funding streams to ensure people knew what they could apply for and when, he said.

“It will be a process of education people that things have changed.”

Body recovered The body of a woman has been recovered from a car that ran off a road into the sea in Christchurch, police say. The car went off Main Road between Mulgans Track and Clifton Terrace shortly before 6pm on Saturday. The driver of the car managed to get out and has received hospital treatment.

He and the woman are related, police say. The Police Dive Squad managed to find the body within half an hour of starting their search yesterday.

- NZME

Attacked with bats

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will this week meet with New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English for a visit that’s considered significant for the relationship between the two countries.

■ CHINA TALKS

Chinese premier to hold talks with PM Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is on his way to Wellington for a visit that’s considered significant for the relationship between the two countries.

While he’s in the capital Premier Li will hold formal talks with Prime Minister Bill English, followed by a joint media conference.

There will be a signing ceremony to seal an agreement which won’t be revealed until their names are on it.

The two have met before, when Mr Li was deputy premier and Mr English deputy prime minister.

They’re expected to discuss the already strong relationship

between China and New Zealand, the free trade agreement which is due for an upgrade, and the future of free trade in the world generally.

China is a strong supporter of trade liberalisation, in contrast to the attitude taken by President Donald Trump’s US administration.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and China, and personal contact between the leaders is considered an important part of that relationship.

Premier Li leaves New Zealand on Wednesday.

- NZME

A father and son have allegedly been pulled from their car and beaten with baseball bats in Palmerston North, police say. A 38-year-old man and his 13-yearold son were pulled from their red Holden utility and assaulted near the intersection of Main and Princess Streets about 3.15pm on Saturday. The boy has a fractured arm and the father required hospital treatment. Their dog was also beaten, and the vehicle was badly damaged. The alleged offenders left the scene in a black Nissan.

- NZME

Search resumes Police will continue the search for an Auckland woman who is missing after she failed to return from a run. Kim Kim Bambus Bambus, 21, was last seen in Ponsonby after telling her friends she was going for a run in the west Auckland region of Piha. She was seen buying snacks at Countdown on Williamson Avenue, in Ponsonby around 9am.

She was wearing a dark coloured jacket, pink exercise top, black shorts and black and white Nike shoes. Her car has been found on Log Race Road, Piha.

- NZME

Lotto results Official Lotto results for draw number 1632 drawn on Saturday.

Winning numbers (in ascending order): 4, 9, 10, 24, 37, 38.

Bonus number: 36.

Powerball winning number: 8.

Strike: 37, 4, 9, 24.

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Ashburton Guardian

5

■ OPINION

The poll season is upon us

P

oll time is here again. Like our currently falling autumn leaves, political polls are now fluttering down all around us. Six months out from an election that is hardly surprising.

So, depending on our trust in such assessments of opinion, we are to understand the new Prime Minister is only half as popular as the old, the Labour deputy leader is more popular than her leader in the “preferred PM” category and Gareth Morgan’s “opportunists” are ahead in the battle of the minnows, albeit by a fraction of a decimal point, and well below even one per cent of the popular vote.

Also revealing, Bill English’s supposedly “controversial” decision – possibly, even, an election loser – to raise the age of Super entitlement by two years – but not until many of us will have passed over into a world where, presumably, pensions are no longer required – has, after all, gone down well with “our people”, 52 per cent of them thinking it a good move and a mere 42 feeling otherwise.

Thus, the psephologists (vote/ bean counting gurus) are emerging from their long winter hiber-

Nick Lindo

EYE ON POLITICS

nation – since 2014 – to give us an indication of how things are in the wonderful world of politics.

We are grateful for their concern.

Other reflections arising; that Jacinda Ardern is leading Andrew Little by approximately two per cent in the “preferred PM” stakes is hardly surprising. She is decidedly telegenic, has a winning smile and about her an air of invigorating optimism that is, as they say, infectious.

Andrew simply lacks those attractive characteristics and is seen – unfairly, in my opinion – as constantly angry, scowling into the eye of the camera showing his supposedly grumpy countenance.

If we are not surprised by Jacinda’s meteoric rise in the political firmament, I doubt whether Andrew is either. He must have seen this as a likely

outcome of the “forced” demise of Annette King and her replacement by a political starlet of magnetic potential.

Could it be that, for the sake of the party and its election prospects, Andrew would consider swapping places with Jacinda.

She could well be the winning leader for whom Labour has been seeking so diligently since Helen Clark abruptly left the field and disappeared to New York.

What a noble sacrifice that would be. Party before personal!

Andrew Little would gain entry into the pantheon of Labour heroes past despite never becoming Prime Minister himself. (He

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might even come across Michael Joseph Savage within the pantheon portals and what a moraleboost that would be).

When delivering these mouthwatering statistics recently, “Sir” Patrick Gower on Newshub even managed to conflate them into their leading to a dead heat between Right and Left, at 61 seats all, with the final outcome really depending, yet again, on the whimsical decision of Winston Peters, as to which of the tied teams would he magnanimously lend his support.

The slightly sinister smiling Paddy also thought Winston would require a suitable “bau-

ble of office” as a reward for his generosity, possibly, even, the deputy-leadership of the winning partnership.

I’m fairly sure I saw the marginally ghoulish Paddy rubbing his hands in pleasure at the prospect of so many more of these tantalising figures flitting across our screens between now and September 23 which he will then interpret for us.

As John Key stood to make his valedictory speech to Parliament – and more of that in a later article – again, it is not surprising his successor is struggling to sustain the PM popularity he inherited.

However, if he can be seen regularly shearing sheep down on the farm, maintaining his unflappable approach to the media and just “being himself” I fully expect his rating to rise.

Elsewhere, Trump continues to issue a stream of unproven allegations, leaving the unfortunate Mr Spicer to defend the indefensible. The president’s endlessly repeated mantra “making America great again” becomes more and more hollow. In fact America is in a very bad space at the moment. We should all be worried.

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Ashburton Guardian

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Monday, March 27, 2017

■ SAS IN AFGHANISTAN

Inquiry not ruled out Prime Minister Bill English met yesterday with Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Defence Force chief, Lieutenant General Tim Keating for a detailed briefing on claims against SAS actions in Afghanistan.

English has not ruled out an inquiry after a new book, Hit & Run, claimed six civilians were killed and 15 were injured in the Special Air Service (SAS) raid in Baghlan Province in 2010.

He may decide some form of inquiry is needed, but that could be announced after this week’s visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

Labour, the Green Party, NZ First and United Future have all called for an inquiry, as does RSA president BJ Clark.

Yesterday Q&A reported on an Official Information Act request by the Human Rights Foundation, in which the NZDF chief of staff Commodore Ross Smith states: “The 2010 raid in Baghlan involved a suspected civilian casualty”.

The raid was carried out with US air support and alongside Afghan troops New Zealand had been mentoring.

Past defence ministers have previously said they could not rule out civilian deaths at the hand of foreign troops, but that New Zealand troops were not responsible for inflicting civilian casualties or injuries.

The NZDF reiterated this in a statement last week, while saying that it did not undertake investigations into the actions of other nations.

“That was the role of the joint Afghan-ISAF investigation,” the Defence Force said.

The investigation by the Interi-

Pedestrian hit by car A pedestrian is in a serious condition after being hit by a ute on Harris Street in Huntly yesterday. The driver of the ute struck a pedestrian and a power pole at 11am, according to the fire service. The pedestrian is in a serious condition.

- NZME

Woman stabbed A woman is battling serious injuries after she was stabbed in the neck in the southern Auckland suburb of Manurewa. Police were called the address on Maich Road in Manurewa on Saturday around 8pm. The offender, believed to be a man, is still being sought.

- NZME

Motorway crash

Authors Nicky Hager (left) and Jon Stephenson make claims against SAS actions in their new book.

PHOTO NZ HERALD or and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) assessment team found that a malfunctioning gun sight on a coalition helicopter resulted in errant shots hitting a building by mistake.

The error “may have resulted in civilian casualties”, the investigators concluded at the time.

Wayne Mapp, who was Defence Minister at the time of the raid, said last week civilians were killed, and confirmed he had referred to the operation as a “fiasco”.

The book, by Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson, said the raid was a revenge attack on insurgents who were believed to be responsible for the death of SAS soldier Timothy O’Donnell, the first New Zealand combat death in Afghanistan.

Stephenson said yesterday the question of civilian deaths were not the only aspect that needed to be covered by an inquiry.

Hit & Run alleged an insurgent captured during the raid was badly beaten by an NZSAS member, and then transferred to the National Directorate of Security in Kabul.

“An organisation that was well known to torture detainees, and he was in fact tortured. The New Zealanders found out about that and they did nothing.

“I think this is a very important aspect that should be considered in any inquiry.”

Hager and Stephenson alleged that US helicopter gunships may have killed civilians in the two Afghan villages targeted in the raid.

In an interview with the New Zealand Herald last week a SAS soldier said the two people found shot dead were killed by SAS marksmen who believed they were acting under “Rules of Engagement” governing their actions on the battlefield.

The SAS soldier said the other four people killed died in a barrage of fire from United States aircraft called in by a New Zealander operating as the Joint Terminal Air Controller, who is responsible for directing air support.

While not personally involved in the raid the soldier spoken to by the Herald said he learned details as part of his role in the military which required detailed information on what transpired.

- NZME

■ POLITICAL POLL

Maori Party support surges in latest poll The Maori Party has surged in support in the latest poll – which is the second in which Labour’s Jacinda Ardern rated higher as preferred Prime Minister than Andrew Little.

A One News Colmar Brunton poll released last night also showed a drop in support for Bill English as preferred Prime Minister, and a pick-up in support for the Maori Party, up from 1 to 4 per cent.

National remains steady on 46 per cent, as do Labour (30 per cent) and the Green Party (11 per cent). New Zealand First drops 3 per cent to 8 per cent support.

On the question of preferred Prime Minister, Bill English is on 26 per cent – a drop of 5 per cent since the previous polling in February, and well below John Key’s rating of 36 per cent in November.

Next most popular are Winston Peters and Jacinda Ardern on 9 per cent, with Ardern climb-

In brief

ing 5 percentage points since being made Labour’s deputy leader in March.

Little is steady on 7 per cent.

The poll is the second since Ardern was made deputy leader and the second to have her ahead of Little as preferred Prime Minister – a Newshub Reid-Research poll on Tuesday had Little on 8.3 per cent while Ardern was up by almost 8 points to 10.5 per cent.

Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell told 1 News that New Zealanders were “coming to grips with our approach”.

“And very much seeing the pragmatic approach that we take.”

The One News Colmar Brunton poll of 1000 voters was taken March 18 to 22, and after the Maori Party announced on February 20 an agreement with the Mana Party to worth together until September’s general election.

Under the agreement the Mao-

ri Party won’t stand a candidate in the Tai Tokerau electorate and Mana won’t stand in the other six Maori electorates.

In a media interview after the deal was announced, Little said the Maori Party was not kaupapa Maori because of its agreement with National and concession on important issues affecting Maori.

Labour MPs who hold Maori seats announced on Tuesday they would not run on the party list, which Little described as a direct challenge to the Maori Party.

The decision is partly designed to stop voters from casting “twofor-one” votes, in which they gave their party vote to Labour – knowing that the party’s Maori MPs will get elected on the list while voting for the Maori Party or Mana candidate.

Little told the Herald the polling did not reflect the feedback to Labour about how Maori vot-

ers viewed the Maori Party.

“Which is not very favourably.

They are seen as having been shackled to the National Government for nine years and stood aside and let Maori homeownership fall, Maori homelessness grow and a whole heap of other things get worse.

“I just don’t detect, and neither do the Labour Maori MPs, detect any appetite among Maori voters for the Maori Party having a role in Government.”

On Labour’s showing in the poll, Little said the results were unusual.

“It’s not consistent with the amazing turnout we are getting at our meetings and the feedback all MPs are getting. The poll’s not bad for us, but there’s been no change in the last six weeks, which doesn’t seem right to me.”

The poll of 1000 voters has a margin of error of +/-3.1 per cent.

- NZME

A late-night crash on the South Western Motorway on Saturday night has left one person with life threatening injuries after their car rolled. Police say shortly after, three vehicles collided 100 metres from the original crash site. One person received moderate injuries and was taken to hospital. - NZME

Water use cut Aucklanders used the least water for this year to date, the city’s supplier says. On Saturday the total water consumption was 386 million litres of water, well below the 400 million target. Since March 9, the city’s supplier, Watercare, has been urging Aucklanders to reduce their water use by 20 litres per day due to wild weather cutting the Ardmore Treatment Station’s processing capability in half. Watercare are asking Aucklanders to continue saving at least 20L of water per day for the rest of the month, however says Saturday’s result was “fabulous”.

- NZME

Victim named The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council staff member who died in a workplace accident in Central Hawke’s Bay on Friday night can now be named. He was 44-yearold Michael Francis Taylor of Hastings. Mr Taylor died after his vehicle left a rural farm track and rolled on a worksite on Tukituki Road in Ashley, Clinton. The alarm was raised on Friday night when Mr Taylor had not returned to work and his vehicle tracker was not moving. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chairman Rex Graham said the council community was in shock and would be gathering today.

- NZME

Funeral delayed The family of a Kiwi man who was swept away in Bali trying to save his girlfriend say they are waiting until she is well enough to attend before holding his funeral. Temson Junior Simeki, known as TJ went missing last Monday when he was swept away in Bali trying to save his German girlfriend, Leonie Hafke. The pair were trying to take a selfie at the Angel Billabong holiday spot when she was hit be a rogue wave. She was rescued four hours later in a critical condition, but the body of the 23-year-old, who had dived in to save her, was not found until Friday when a fisherman discovered it. Both Hafke’s and Simeki’s families are with Hafke at a Bali Hospital.

- NZME

Arts Monday, March 27, 2017

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ARTS DIARY ■

April 1 - The Topp Twins Heading for The Hills, Ashburton Trust Event Centre, 8pm–10. 30pm. New Zealand’s well-loved national treasures, The Topp Twins, are hitting the road on April’s Fools Day bringing their original style of merriment, mayhem and mirth to the regions.

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April 2 – New Zealand singer and recording artist Anna Hawkins’ Bold, Brave and Beautiful New Zealand Tour, Ashburton Trust Event Centre, 7.30pm.

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April 3 – Nominations close for New Zealand Arts Access Awards. The awards celebrate providing access to the arts, and contributions of artists and writers with a physical, sensory or intellectual impairment, or lived experience of mental ill-health.

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April 8 – Ashburton Art Gallery silent auction for Conservation Collective artworks begins.

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April 23 – My Name is Moana at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre, 4pm, $23.

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April 26 - Moscow Ballet La Classique presents Swan Lake at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre,

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■ PRISCILLA REVIEW

Ashburton’s Ollie Bubb (left) delighted the audience in his role as Benji, the son of transvestite Tick Mitzi (Isaac Pawson), in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

Glitz and glamour on stage

BY MICHELLE NELSON

MICHELLE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – The Musical; the opening night began with an explosion of colour, music and pageantry – and ended with a standing ovation!

You won’t see a more professional outfit than this production from Showbiz anywhere, and the three Ashburton performers did us proud in the Christchurch leg of a show that has toured the globe.

Young Ollie Bubb delighted the audience in his role as Benji, the son of transvestite Tick Mitzi (Isaac Pawson), however flying high above the stage diva former Ashburton College student Jane Leonard also made her mark as

W! O N ON

one of the three glittering divas that descend on wires from above to provide a camp Greek chorus and belt out some disco classics.

Greta Casey-Solly also appears in the role of Tick’s ex-wife Marion, who runs a pub in Alice Springs.

If you think you know Priscilla from the movie, be prepared for a surprise in the musical.

The stage is electric from the opening scene.

And the costumes just keep on coming, in an array of glitter and feathers.

Priscilla is in fact a bus, purchased to transport two drag queens and a transgender woman on a road trip across the Australian outback in a bus from

Sydney to Alice Springs to reunite Tick, or Mitzi, (Isaac Pawson) wants to reunite with his estranged son (Benji).

The road trip is an opportunity knock-out everything from M’s 1979 hit Pop Muzik to Village People’s Go West and a minor-key music box version of Burt Bacharach’s Say a Little Prayer, to a Kylie Minogue medley.

Country doesn’t miss a beat either, with lively version of Thank God I’m a Country Boy, complete with denim and working boots, in an outback Coober Pedy scene.

A surprise was a bizarre 1968 version of Richard Harrison’s MacArthur Park, complete with a cake – left out in the rain, of course.

From dancing paint brushes to gyrating cupcakes, Priscilla is the show which keeps on giving – it somehow reinforces and challenges stereo types while delivering a message of tolerance; a message made clear when Benji (Ollie Bubb) asks his newly acquainted father Tick (Isaac Pawson) whether his boyfriend will be moving in.

The slick choreography the performers light up the stage right to curtain call, where the entire cast appears mocked up as Australian wildlife, cockatoos, emus, frill-necked lizards, koalas, emus – and with own young Ollie dressed as a kangaroo joey stealing the show.

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Monday, March 27, 2017

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■ BRITAIN

Armed patrols around UK’s Wembley Stadium British terrorist Khalid Masood’s murderous spree took just 30 seconds from mounting the pavement on the Westminster Bridge to crashing into the perimeter fence at Parliament.

Within less than a minute he made his way on to the parliamentary estate, attacked Police Constable Keith Palmer, and was shot.

Police believe Masood acted alone on the day of the attack, and warned that while they continue to investigate why he committed the atrocity “that understanding may have died with him”.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the senior national co-ordinator for UK counter terrorism policing, said: “We still believe that Masood acted alone on the day and there is no information or intelligence to suggest there are further attacks planned”.

“We must all accept that there is a possibility we will never understand why he did this. That understanding may have died with him.”

He said officers are working to establish whether Masood was “a lone actor inspired by terrorist propaganda or if others have encouraged, supported or directed him”.

“Whilst the attack lasted only 82 seconds it will remain in the memories of many forever.”

Fears Masood was groomed for extremism in prison have heightened after it was claimed he turned to Islam behind bars.

Counter-terrorism officers have spent days piecing together what led the 52 -year-old to shed his birth name and later unleash carnage on the capital.

Only one man, 58, arrested in Birmingham remains in police custody after a 27 -year-old man was released with no further action at the weekend.

A total of 11 people were initially held after raids across the country.

The Saudi Arabian embassy in London said Masood worked in the country, home to some of the most virulent Islamic ex-

Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole

Liam Payne is a dad One Direction star Liam Payne is a dad.

His partner, former British X Factor judge and singer Cheryl Cole announced on her Instagram page at the weekend that she and Payne became parents to a baby boy last week. She posted a photo of the 23-year-old pop star dad cradling a baby with dark hair. Cole, 33, captioned the photo: “On Wednesday 22nd March Liam and I became parents to an incredibly beautiful, healthy baby boy, weighing 7lb 9 and looking like a dream. Although he still doesn’t have a name he is already stealing hearts. We are all madly in love and overwhelmingly happy with our little arrival.”

- PA People place flowers outside Britain’s parliament in London for the victims of the Westminster attack.

PHOTO AP tremism, for several years, raising the possibility he was radicalised overseas.

A childhood friend of the man then known as Adrian Elms told The Sun newspaper he first emerged as a Muslim after serving a jail sentence.

His abrupt religious conversion will fuel concerns about the rising threat of criminals being brought under the influence of hardened jihadists while in prison.

Ministers have announced plans to create specialist units within jails to tackle what a government-ordered review last year concluded was a “growing problem”.

His route to extremism could have also come from a stint living in the Middle East.

The Saudi embassy said Masood lived in the country between November 2005 and 2006 and April 2008 and April 2009, during which time he worked as an English teacher on a work visa, travelling to the country again for five days in March 2015.

Details of Masood’s history of criminal-

ity have continued to come to light, suggesting a propensity for violence which laid the groundwork for his armed rampage. The middle-aged Muslim convert was born in Kent, but moved around the country and used a variety of aliases including Adrian Russell Ajao.

Masood was known to police and MI5 but was a “peripheral figure” who was not implicated in any current probe.

He had convictions for assaults, including grievous bodily harm, possession of offensive weapons and public order offences.

Besides Masood four people died in the attack and two people remain in hospital in a critical condition, one with life-threatening injuries.

Police said armed patrols would take place around Wembley Stadium and extra officers would be at the ground when England played a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania today.

- PA

Slain UK cop’s family thanks responders The family of the British police officer killed in the London terror attack have thanked the Westminster MP and others who tried to save his life.

British Foreign Affairs Minister Tobias Ellwood ran towards gunfire to help PC Keith Palmer, who was stabbed in Wednesday’s attack by terrorist Khalid Masood.

Ellwood said he was “heartbroken” that his efforts to save the life of a police officer during the Westminster terror attack were unsuccessful.

But the officer’s family has responded saying in a statement released on Saturday night:”There was nothing more you could have done”.

“We have been overwhelmed by the love and support for our family, and most especially, the outpouring of love and respect for our Keith.

“We want to thank everyone who has reached out to us over the past few days for their kindness and generosity.

“We would also like to express our gratitude to the people who were with Keith in his last moments and who were working that day. There was nothing more you

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood arrives at the Houses of Parliament in London.

PHOTO AP could have done. You did your best and we are just grateful he was not alone. We care about him being remembered for his selfless bravery and loving nature. We miss him so much, but we are also incredibly proud of Keith.”

Ellwood, a former soldier whose brother died in the Bali bombings said he was just doing what he was trained to do, as he praised the “humbling” and “overwhelming” messages of support from the policing fraternity.

He intends to write to PC Palmer’s family to offer his condolences and said he was honoured to be appointed to the Privy Council by the Queen, alongside Security Minister Ben Wallace, in recognition of their roles in responding to the atrocity.

“I am heartbroken that I could not do more for PC Keith Palmer who gave his life in holding the line against terrorism and defending democracy,” Ellwood said.

“I’m deeply humbled and overwhelmed by the messages of support, especially from the policing fraternity, which I now realise is as close-knit as the military’s in supporting its own.

“It is right that we concentrate our thoughts on the victims as we stand side by side to protect all that we hold dear, including our precious values and way of life which will always prevail.”

- PA

Tom Amberry

Top free thrower dies A California man who made history when he shot 2750 consecutive basketball free throws has died. He was 94. Dr Tom Amberry died in Long Beach on March 18, said his granddaughter, Roxanne Amberry. The retired podiatrist earned a spot in Guinness World Records and brief celebrity in 1993 after he lobbed in shot after shot for 12 hours. Amberry said he could have shot many more free throws, but a janitor interrupted him because it was time turn off the lights and close the small rec centre gym in Orange County.

Amberry was offered a professional basketball contract but instead chose to attend podiatry school.

- AP Carrie Fisher

Last Jedi unchanged Disney CEO Bob Iger says the upcoming Star Wars sequel has not been changed due to the death of Carrie Fisher.

Fisher completed filming her role as Princess Leia in The Last Jedi before her death following a heart attack in December. Iger said that Fisher “appears throughout” the film and her performance “remains as it was.” Iger says Disney is discussing what could be another decade and a half of Star Wars stories. Iger’s remark came on the same day Disney ended speculation that he would retire this year by extending his contract one year to 2019.

- AP

World www.guardianonline.co.nz

Monday, March 27, 2017

■ PERU

Death toll rises to 90

The death toll in the worst flooding in Peru in decades has risen to at least 90, the National Emergency Operations Centres says.

Twenty people are still missing, Defence Minister Jorge Nieto said at the weekend, while around 350 are injured.

Some 29,000 houses have been destroyed or made uninhabitable and some 164,000 were damaged in the floodwaters.

Around 742,000 people have been affected by the extreme weather, many of whom have had to leave their homes.

The region has seen climate extremes since the beginning of the year, with neighbouring Chile experiencing the worst wildfires in its history following a drought.

Scientists have spoken about a “coastal El Nino,” with ocean temperatures about 5 degrees Celsius warmer than normal causing heavy rains in the Andes.

- DPA

Ashburton Guardian

9

In brief Boys found dead Two teenage boys have been found dead at cliffs in Cleveland in England’s northeast. The 17-yearolds were discovered at Huntcliff in Saltburn, North Yorkshire at the weekend. Police said inquiries are ongoing to establish what happened. “The families of the boys are being supported by specialist officers and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time,” Cleveland police said. - PA

Las Vegas shooting

A flood survivor in Carapongo, Peru.

PHOTO AP

■ AUSTRALIA

Queensland bunkers down as Debbie looms Queensland’s north is bunkering down and evacuation orders are in place in some areas as the most significant tropical cyclone since Yasi six years ago bears down on the coastline.

Evacuations began in coastal areas of the Whitsunday region yesterday as tropical cyclone Debbie continued to intensify.

The category 2 storm was expected to become a category 3 and authorities expect it to be a category 4 when it makes a forecast landfall some time early tomorrow.

The system, sitting 500km north east of Townsville in the Coral Sea, is expected to track west-south west and make landfall somewhere between Townsville and Proserpine.

Over 1000 emergency services staff as well as Australian Defence Force personnel are being deployed to the region in anticipation of the storm’s arrival.

Bureau of Meteorology deputy regional director Bruce Gunn says the storm is potentially far more dangerous than the last cyclones to reach land in Queensland.

“Queensland hasn’t seen a coastal crossing

for a couple of years now since Marcia or Nathan in 2015 but I think you could probably say that Debbie’s the most significant tropical cyclone since Yasi,” Mr Gunn said.

“Not so much because of it’s intensity ... mostly because of its size and extent. It’s quite a sizable system.”

Yasi, a category 5 cyclone, caused $800 million in property damage when it tore across north Queensland in February 2011 with structures in Townsville, Innisfail, Tully, Cardwell and the Dunk Island resort affected.

One man also died after he asphyxiated from carbon monoxide issuing from a faulty generator at a house in Ingham.

Winds of up to 260km/h are expected, along with a potential storm surge which could flood areas across the region.

The threat forced the Whitsunday Regional Council to order several low-lying areas along the coastline to be evacuated on Sunday afternoon, with a significant storm tide forecast.

Whitsunday mayor Andrew Willcox urged residents to move to higher ground.

“If you are unable to evacuate, the Cyclone

Shelters in Bowen and Proserpine will be opened on Monday as a last resort,” Mr Willcox said.

“The cyclone shelters have capacity for 800 people each and are only available to those people at highest risk from cyclone effects that have no other option.”

Even those well away from the centre of the cyclone are being urged to make preparations with category 3 winds over 100km/h and flooding expected throughout the affected area.

“Tomorrow will be too late,” State Disaster Coordinator Michael Gollschewski said.

“Just because they may be some way away from that area that doesn’t mean you may not be impacted.

“People need to be aware of what will be happening in their area.”

Twenty-five schools between Ayr and Prosperpine will be closed today and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk didn’t rule out further closers as the storm nears the coast.

Despite the concern of authorities, those in the affected areas were taking a laid back approach to their preparations.

- AAP

■ IRAQ

US investigating casualties in Mosul The US military has acknowledged that US aircraft struck at the request of Iraqi security forces a location in West Mosul where dozens of civilian casualties allegedly occurred.

US Central Command said that it took the allegation seriously and has opened an investigation “to determine the facts surrounding this strike and the validity of the allegation of civilian casualties.”

The news came as senior Sunni Muslim politicians expressed concern over reports of airstrikes that have allegedly killed more than 100 civilians in western Mosul where US-backed government troops are fighting Islamic State.

It was unclear who carried out the airstrikes,

but on Friday the US-led coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria said it was investigating the allegations. Residents reported two airstrikes hitting a residential area on March 13 and 17.

The Iraqi Defence Ministry has provided no immediate comment.

In tweets published on his official account, parliament speaker Salim al-Jabouri said “we realise the huge responsibility the liberating forces shoulder” and call on them to “spare no effort to save the civilians”.

In a statement issued on his website, Vice President Osama al-Nujaifi, himself from Mosul, described the incident as a “humanitarian catastrophe,” blaming the US-led coalition airstrikes and excessive use of force by

militarized Federal Police forces. Al-Nujaifi put the number of civilians killed at “hundreds.”

He called for an emergency parliament session and an immediate investigation into the incident.

Residents of the neighbourhood known as Mosul Jidideh said scores of residents were believed to have been killed by two airstrikes that hit a cluster of homes in the area. Resident Ahmed Ahmed said there were over a hundred people within the cluster taking refuge from the missiles.

Reporters saw at least 50 bodies being recovered from the wreckage of the buildings.

- AAP

One person is dead and another is injured after a shooting that has shut down the Las Vegas Strip. Las Vegas police said the shooting suspect was believed to be barricaded in a bus on the Las Vegas Strip yesterday, the main avenue connecting the gaming capital’s casino hotels, the Las Vegas Sun reported. AP reports a hospital spokeswoman says one person has died in the shooting along the Las Vegas Strip. The shooting near the Cosmopolitan Hotel took place just hours after burglars besieged a jewellery store in the another casino hotel overnight. Burglars used sledgehammers to smash the windows of the store in the Bellagio Hotel, police said. - DPA

Machineguns for police Victoria’s elite police force will reportedly be armed with more than 200 machineguns to help counter terrorist attacks. The force is taking delivery of more than 200 German-made SIG Sauer machine guns fitted with silencers, the Sunday Herald Sun reports.

Victoria Police did not confirm the weapons upgrade, but said its specialist Special Operations Group and Critical Incident Response Team have received, or will soon be receiving, new equipment as part of a standard process to replace equipment at the end of its life.

- AAP

Attack condemned The leader of millions of Muslims across the world has condemned the Westminster terror attack.

His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Caliph of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said that terrorist acts carried out in the name of Islam were against its true teachings.

“First of all, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to all those affected by Wednesday’s terror attack at Westminster. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of London at this tragic time.”

- PA

UK gas explosion A suspected gas explosion has destroyed several buildings in Merseyside in north west England, seriously injuring two people and 32 others are in hospital.

Emergency services were called to the “major incident” in Bebington, on the Wirral, near Liverpool on Saturday night. North West Ambulance Service said two people were in a serious condition in hospital, while 32 others were being treated for minor injuries.

Several properties had collapsed, Merseyside Fire and Rescue said.

Around 20 people have been evacuated from houses in the surrounding area.

- PA

MID CANTERBURY 20 SPORTS AWARDS 17 Nominations ARE now open!

• To be held Friday, May 12, 2017 at the Hotel Ashburton.

• Nominations close Thursday, April 13, 2017.

Nomination forms are available from • Sport Canterbury, EA Networks Centre (front desk) • Ashburton Guardian, 161 Burnett Street, Ashburton

Sports Awards categories: • Outstanding Senior Sportsperson • Outstanding Junior Sportsperson Outstanding Senior Sports Team • Outstanding Junior Sports Team • Outstanding Sportsperson with a Disability • Outstanding All Round Sports Person • Outstanding Coach • Outstanding Official, Referee, Umpire (Junior I Senior) • Outstanding Volunteer of Sport • Robilliard Trophy – Services to Sport (Selected by a panel) Proudly brought to you by

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TEST YOURSELF

Monday, March 27, 2017

YOUR CHILDREN

Yesterday’s top 5 stories on guardianonline.co.nz: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Child sex photos found Building escapes demolition Leadleys on a winner 2017 senior club rugby Maadi Cup time again

GOT GREAT PHOTOS?

Taking a break at the gypsy fair Caitlyn Burt, 3, was among many people who attended the recent gypsy fair at the Ashburton Domain.

PHOTO ROBYN HOOD 190317-RH-095

Do you have any photographs or recipes you could share with our readers?

Write to us!

Email us!

Call us!

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Your Place is the place to display the photos of your sports team, your pets, your school events, or just something ordinary from the present or days gone by.

Please send your photos to subs@theguardian. co.nz with the words 9 4 YOUR PLACE in the 8 line and 5we 9will subject run it in the or9 3 Guardian 7 our website 7 6 1 Guardianonline.co.nz

9 2

Answers: 1. Potato 2. 1979 3. Cricket 4.

Cirrostratus 5. Greece 6. 1 thousand 7. A 8. Elvis Presley.

Thai style chicken stir- fry (pad thai)

1 7

250g dried rice noodles Tegel Fresh Chicken Mince 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 mild red chilli, finely chopped 2 t brown sugar 1 T fish sauce 2 T lime juice 4 spring onions, cut into diagonal strips 150g mung bean sprouts 2 T crushed roasted peanuts

9 7 5 4 6 3 8 1 2

2 4 3 7 1 8 6 5 9

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3 9 2 8 5 4 1 6 7

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sprouts and cook for a further 2 minutes to reheat noodles.

■ Serve garnished with peanuts.

Recipe courtesy of Tegel www.tegel.co.nz

3 2 7

4 7 4 5 6 1 2 SATURDAY’S 3 4 2 9 ANSWERS 2 3

1 8 6 5 9 2 7 3 4

1

EASY SUDOKU

QUICK MEAL

■ Place rice noodles into boiling water and leave to soak for 10 minutes or until soft. Drain.

■ Heat a dash of oil in a frying pan. Add the chicken mince and garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes over medium heat, until golden brown. Mash with a fork to break up the chicken as it cooks.

■ Add chilli, brown sugar, fish sauce and lime juice and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add drained noodles, spring onions, mung bean

11

TOP 5 ONLINE

Test yourself with the Guardian’s weekday quiz 1 – Sebago, Dakota and Rua are all varieties of which vegetable? a. Leek b. Broccoli c. Potato 2 – In what year was the board game Trivial Pursuit created? a. 1979 b. 1982 c. 1985 3 – With which sport do you associate Bert Sutcliffe, NZ’s first Sportsman of the Year? a. Rugby Union b. Cricket c. Athletics 4 – Which kind of clouds float highest? a. Cirrostratus b. Cirrus c. Nimbostratus 5 – Which country does Metaxa brandy come from? a. Greece b. Mexico c. Spain 6 – How many kilometres are there in a megametre? a. 1 thousand b. 1 million c. 1 billion 7 – A single raised dot in Braille represents which letter? a. A b. I c. Z 8 – Tom Parker was the manager of which musical star? a. David Bowie b. Michael Jackson c. Elvis Presley

Ashburton Guardian

9 7 4 2 1 9 9 8 6 3 3 4 7 8 6 2 7 8 9 5 6 4 Solutions for today in tomorrow’s Your Place page.

1 4 9 7 8 5 2 6 3

Opinion 12

Ashburton Guardian

Monday, March 27, 2017

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OUR VIEW

Our talent punching well above its weight Michelle Nelson

M

id Canterbury punches well above its weight when it comes to talent on the stage, and exceptional diversity in our community.

A prime example is playing out in Christchurch for the next two weeks, in the form of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – The Musical.

Three of our talented youngsters feature in leading roles in the production, which is showing at the Isaac Theatre until April 8.

Eleven-year-old Ashburton Intermediate School student Ollie Bubb shines in his role as Benji, and does an outstanding job as the estranged son of a Sydney-based transvestite, and as a bouncy kangaroo joey in the curtain call.

Former Ashburton College student Jane Leonard appears as one of three glittering divas suspended on wires above the stage for much of the production, belting out an array of disco classics and camped up versions of Greek chorus.

And Methven’s own Greta Casey-Solly plays the part of Marion, mother of Benji and exwife of transvestite Tick.

That all three can fit so seamlessly in to the raunchy production, complete with all the glitter and feathers a world which crosses all boundaries in terms of gender and sexual assignment says something about the community they grew up in.

We tend to think of Mid Canterbury as a conservative backwater; simply because we are unaccustomed to seeing the transvestite community making a statement on the streets.

That doesn’t mean we are unaccepting.

As a community we’ve come a long way in recent years. We’ve embraced people from many cultures, races and beliefs and value their contribution to the place we now all call home.

We are becoming a more tolerant community.

The youngsters may have led the charge, however many of the older generations have also changed their tune.

Productions such as Priscilla, which began its life as a book, morphed into a film and has been adapted into an award-winning musical, does its bit to challenge the stereotypes which held us hidebound for far too long.

Maybe it’s time we instigated a pride parade?

WHAT YOU ARE SAYING

T

he Guardian continues its latest poll and discussion around rubbish dumping in Mid Canterbury.

Do you think it’s a serious issue that is getting worse? Have you spotted illegal dumping recently?

Last week we ran a story where a variety of household waste, ranging from a refrigerator to more than 100 empty aluminum cans, was discovered at the Ashburton River.

Ashburton District Council said it was an issue they receive reports on all too frequently.

The rubbish was removed quickly and if council can identify offenders, it will be followed up with a prosecution and fine.

A variety of options are available for people wishing to dispose of rubbish, for instance, it costs $8.50 for a trailerload or carload of rubbish, or for free if it is in council bags.

Is this reasonable? What more could council be doing to prevent the issue? Is there a harsh enough deterrent? To add your thoughts, visit the Ashburton Guardian Facebook page or vote on our poll at www.guardianonline.co.nz

ROLLING POLL

YOUR VIEWS ON FACEBOOK Tracy Maybe having a once a year road side collection of big items, most people dump because they can’t afford to take it to the dump.

Ben Hard rubbish collections definatly, twice a year, and proper bins, everywhere else has them, $11 for five bags, just ridiculous and prehistoric!!

John The fine from the council and the action the council take is too light. I know of someone who dumped rubbish and the council sent them a fine. They never paid the fine and the council never did anymore about it. So part of the issue here is the council. It would only take a few people to be caught and get a decent but fair punishment and make an example of them and that would start to deter some people. It’s not a complete solution but definitely a good place to start.

This week’s question Q: Is enough being done to stop and prevent rubbish dumping in Mid Canterbury?

Results up to 5pm yesterday: Yes 24%

Byron Surveillance cameras on the roads leading to these areas, every vehicle in or out gets snapped .

No one should be going to the river with a trailer, for example

Kirsty Ann Can’t even go to the beach to collect shells. Burn out cars, rubbish everywhere. It’s yuck. Absolutely disgusting No 76% The above Facebook comments have not been altered

Your

So tell us what you think

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Restorative justice benefiting victims R

estorative justice programmes have been running in Ashburton and Timaru for many years, delivering an opportunity for victims and offenders to meet face to face.

Restorative justice conferences are meetings between victims and offenders where they can discuss the crime and the harm caused.

Restorative justice is a community-based approach and is delivered for the Ministry of Justice around New Zealand.

In both Ashburton and Timaru the programme is delivered under the Project Turnaround umbrella. Before becoming a MP I served as a community panellist on Timaru’s Project Turnaround.

The number of Restorative Justice Conferences across the Rangitata electorate has increased hugely since I was involved. I am really proud of the support and encouragement for this ap-

CharRees Vineyard Ashburton’s own vineyard

Jo Goodhew

YOUR MP - WORKING FOR YOU

proach from our Government.

Restorative Justice works for so many who are involved.

I was really pleased to read that the vast majority of victims who participate in restorative justice benefit from the process as documented in the survey released recently by Justice Minister Amy Adams.

Amongst the results the survey found that 86 per cent of victims of family violence were satisfied with restorative justice.

Tackling family violence is a key priority for the Government.

These results demonstrate that restorative justice can reduce the devastating impact that family violence has on victims.

4 for $48

Commission on Women talks Recently I have been to New York to represent the Minister for Women, Hon Paula Bennett, at the 61st Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations.

The focus of my trip was on how the insights from CSW can inform our Government’s work to help more New Zealand women get ahead. This year’s theme focused on women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work, which is well aligned with Government’s focus on addressing the gender pay gap and achieving pay equity.

New Zealand maintains a strong international reputation for gender equality. Our participation at CSW was an opportunity to learn more about what would further lift New Zealand’s performance, and help us in our ongoing role supporting our Pacific counterparts to do the same.

During my visit I presented

New Zealand’s Country Statement in the United Nations General Assembly, participated in a Ministerial roundtable, spoke at a number of side events and had four bilateral meetings with Heads of Delegation from four other nations.

Due to a heavy snowfall on the evening of the first day of CSW61, a “Snow Day’ was declared which meant the UN was shut and most people forced to stay home from work.

Undaunted by the weather, I convened a roundtable discussion amongst nations whose delegations could get to our hotel. Seven nations, 24 delegates, attended. The sharing of ideas was very positive.

The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the author and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of the Ashburton Guardian Co Ltd or any employee thereof

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Travel 14 Ashburton Guardian

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Monday, March 27, 2017

■ UNITED STATES

Zion – truly breathtaking

Z

ion National Park is the sort of place that won’t quite fit inside your camera, no matter how hard you try to capture the exalted magnificence. Some aspects of the park resemble a hand-tinted Yosemite, with drop dead gorgeous vertical cliff faces.

Zion’s sandstone cliffs are some of the tallest in the world and the rock faces are fawned over by big wall climbers. If you get up early enough, you’ll notice they will sleep overnight halfway up a rock face, in a bid to conquer the climb.

One of the prized possessions of the mighty Colorado Plateau, Zion is a rarefied place where you’re best to just look up, tilt your head and let your eyes trace the soaring landscape.

This wonderland of geologic time, bathed in a mosaic of colour, is characterised by red and white sandstone monoliths, rock towers and mesas.

In addition to Zion Canyon, which is still carved and sculpted by the Virgin River, there’s a honeycomb of deep and narrow slot canyons, throughout the park. The Virgin River was barely tinkling, on my visit. But it can swiftly and dramatically turn into a raging gusher, given the area’s propensity for flash floods following summer monsoon downpours.

I entered the park from its eastern approach, on the famed Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, punctuated by a 1.6 kilometre long tunnel, blasted out of solid sandstone. Just before the tunnel, I was suddenly confronted by Checkerboard Mesa, a stirring roadside specimen of naturally sculpted rock art – and so aptly named.

The three year guts and glory tunnel project was finally completed in 1930, and hailed across America as an engineering miracle. Two hundred and fifty metres high, a sequence of open air “galleries” were built into the side of the tunnel, which early sightseers would stop at, to gasp at the elevated alpine vista across the national park. That’s no longer allowed.

Emerging from the tunnel, and before the engrossing sequence of switch-backs down into Zion Canyon, I stopped at the Canyon Overlook trailhead, which as the name suggests, offers up one of the prized panoramas of the national park. It’s a short walk to score the condor’s view. Once you enter Zion Canyon, the hallowed heart of the national park, you’ll feel the sense of greatness.

Clearly the first European set-

Travel contributor, Mike Yardley, tackles one of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks, only to be left jaw-dropped by the soaring majesty of the landscape.

Zion’s sandstone cliffs are some of the tallest in the world and the rock faces are fawned over by big wall climbers. tlers, Mormon scouts in search of terrain to grow cotton thought so too, because the loftiest landmarks have all been bestowed biblical monikers, from Angels Landing and the Great White Throne to the Altar of Sacrifice and the Three Patriarchs. The very name “Zion” is also a biblical name, describing a place of quiet sanctuary.

Before you hit the trails, head to the Zion Human History Museum for the 22-minute orientation film, a beautifully presented overview of the park’s key sights and profoundly ancient roots.

The main heart-piercing artery running through the park, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, is off-limits to private vehicles between April and November, from Canyon Junction. Park officials wisely imposed the ban to combat the absurdity of having such a majestic piece of protected wilderness log-jammed with fume-spewing lines of cars.

So instead, complimentary shuttle buses zip the throngs of visitors to all of the major trailheads and points of interest, with nine designated stops along the 10 kilometre road. It’s a high-frequency, super-efficient service, plus you’ll glean a few factoids

The Narrows riverside walk is a cracker. from the on-board narration delivered by the friendly shuttle drivers. It’s a ninety minute round-trip on the shuttle from the visitor centre through all stops. So, if you’re feeling hopelessly lazy, you could just sit back and soak up the park’s beauty on the shuttle ride.

I was eager to hit the trails. In a bid to dodge the steadily building crowds, I took the shuttle to the final stop on the circuit, Temple of Sinawava, which is the gateway to The Narrows. The riverside walk is a cracker, quietly drawing you into the mystery

of the narrowing canyon walls.

Along the way, playful squirrels and cheeky chipmunks scrounge for human food.

Despite the bold signs urging hikers not to feed the wildlife, plenty of halfwits do. The two kilometre long trail is smooth and meticulously paved, which actually makes it accessible to wheelchairs.

The walk culminates as the Virgin River enters The Narrows, a pencil-thin passage where the vertiginous canyon walls nearly intersect. Backdropped by soaring mountains, it’s a ravishing

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setting. If you’re feeling extraintrepid, you can walk further into The Narrows, but you’ll be walking in the river, with the water level likely to be ankle-deep, as you wade upstream.

Hungry for something more strenuous? Angels Landing trail is the famous, thrilling and fatal path up to the summit of this towering fang of rock. It’s remarkable the national park created this nerve-rattler, which runs along a narrow rock fin with dizzying, unforgiving drop-offs on both sides.

Rarely is such an intimidating trail so heavily trafficked by hikers – but the world flocks to it. I only went up as far as Scout Lookout before chickening out venturing on.

Beyond that, the path narrows as you ascend the final 120 metres to the bald, rocky summit.

A section of chains to grab on to supposedly provides hikers with a degree of comfort, as you negotiate the exposed vertical-drop edges. Unsurprisingly, it is not uncommon for hikers to slip, fall and die. Tread carefully!

But however you choose to savour Zion, it’s undeniably a rousing sanctuary for the spirit. www.zionnationalpark.com

Sport www.guardianonline.co.nz

Monday, March 27, 2017

Ashburton Guardian 15

In brief Sydney in charge One goal ticked off, two more to go for Sydney FC, after securing the A-League Premiers Plate.

The Sky Blues collected their first piece of silverware in seven years the day before their Sunday away clash against Perth. Brisbane’s 1-0 home win over second-placed Melbourne Victory at Suncorp on Saturday gave Sydney an unassailable 11-point lead with three rounds remaining. Sydney have led the competition since the start when they opened their campaign with 4-0 wins over Western Sydney and Central Coast. - AAP

France, Portugal win

Avonside Girls High School were in dominant form at the South Island Dragon Boat Championships at Lake Hood on Saturday.

PHOTO JAMIE PITT-MACKAY 250317-JP-033

Berlin Former champions France prevailed 3-1 in Luxembourg and Euro 2016 winners Portugal beat Hungary 3-0 in World Cup qualifying while the Netherlands crashed 2-0 in Bulgaria and risk missing another big tournament.

An early double from Spas Delev sealed the affair in Sofia as the Dutch, who had failed to qualify for last year’s Euro, plunged to fourth place in Group A at the half-way mark of the campaign yesterday.

“This a nightmare,” winger Arjen Robben said.

- DPA

Accuracy a priority

■ DRAGON BOATS

Avonside goes back-to-back

By Matt MarkhaM

Matt.M@theguardian.co.nz

More than 200 people took to the waters of Lake Hood on Saturday for the South Island Dragon Boat Championships.

The annual event saw large numbers of competitors, supporters and administrators converge on Mid Canterbury for the weekend for the last major dragon boat event of the season in the South Island, with the national championships next month to be held at Lake Karapiro.

Despite a dip in numbers from 12 months ago, thanks largely to

a number of different date clashes, the 17 squads who competed on Saturday produced some outstanding racing for those brave enough to face the elements and be in attendance.

Two rounds of heats for the 200 metre sprints were held in the morning before finals.

Avonside Girls’ High School produced a powerful effort to win the girls’ title, making them back-to-back champions.

Otautahi PC were the winners of the women’s event while the mixed final went the way of dragon boat powerhouses, Tu Meke.

The corporate race was won by the Beca Crewsaders who held off a late challenge from Aurecon, winning by one, one hundredth of a second.

Afternoon racing saw crews racing over the longer distance of 500 metres for another two rounds of heats before the finals began.

Avonside Girls’ High School made it two from two in the girls’ final while Otautahi PC picked up their second victory of the day.

Aurecon managed to turn the tables on the Beca Crewsaders

in the corporate final while Tu Meke smashed their rivals in the open final.

The day was completed with the annual two kilometre turns race which sees staggered starts and eight boats on the water at the same time.

Avonside Girls’ were again victorious in the girls’ division with Waimak Thunder winning the women’s race.

Aurecon were too strong in the corporate event while Tu Meke saved their best performance for last with a huge effort to win to the open race.

■ MOTOR RACING

Coulthard takes Aust GP Supercars honours DJR Team Penske’s Fabian Coulthard has taken overall honours at the non-championship Supercars round at the Australian Grand Prix, despite a blown tire in race four yesterday.

Coulthard was leading seven laps in to the 13-lap final race when he sustained a puncture to his left front tyre, forcing him into the pits in his Ford Falcon.

The New Zealander’s misfortune allowed Prodrive Racing’s Chaz Mostert to break through for his first win at the Albert Park circuit in his Ford.

Red Bull Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen was second in his Holden Commodore and Freightliner Racing’s Tim Slade guided his Commodore to third.

Coulthard subsequently fin-

ished race four in 20th place, but wins in race two and three and a second place behind teammate Scott McLaughlin in race one were enough to give him the overall win.

McLaughlin finished the final race in 17th after he was involved in a multi-car collision at turn one on the opening lap, but had earned enough points to finish

the round in second overall.

In a dramatic turn of events, Red Bull’s Jamie Whincup briefly took the lead when Coulthard pitted.

Whincup, who started from pole position yesterday, was in the box seat to secure the round win until he too suffered a blown tyre and pitted in his Commodore.

- AAP

Some game-changing A-League decisions could take more than two minutes to review when video replays are introduced next month. While Football Federation Australia’s director of referees Ben Wilson stressed accuracy will be prioritised over speed, he predicted most disruptions will not exceed 40 seconds. Australia will become the first top-flight league in the world to run live video assistant referees.

- AAP

Wrong Neil tweeted Spare a thought for Neil Taylor, not the Wales full-back but the councillor from Greater Manchester. In fall-out from the World Cup qualifier between Wales and Ireland he was the innocent victim of a social media assault. Angry fans picked up their phones to vent their frustrations at seeing Seamus Coleman left with a broken leg but targeted the wrong account. As Taylor celebrated his 10th wedding anniversary his name trended Twitter. He tweeted: “Blimey the perils of having the same name as a football player”.

- PA

Hudson’s heroes Momentum is building nicely for the All Whites. Their efficient 2-0 win over Fiji in Lautoka sets up the ideal scenario for Anthony Hudson’s team. With only a point needed to seal top spot of their group in the Oceania stage three qualifiers – which will ensure progression to the two-leg OFC playoff final in September – Hudson has several options at his disposal for Tuesday night’s return match in Wellington. - NZME

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Monday, March 27, 2017

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Highlanders struggle to put away Brumbies

Rakaia’s Harry Ashworth gets up to grab the ball in his side’s opening round victory on Saturday.

PHOTO JAIME PITT-MACKAY 2503170-JP-064

■ RUGBY

Pep talk works for Rakaia

By Matt MarkhaM

Matt.M@theguardian.co.nz

Rakaia 35 – West Melton 13

With five competition points safely tucked away Rakaia are getting a pass mark for their opening round effort.

While comprehensive in the end, the result could have been, and should have been according to co-coach Wayne Foxcroft, a lot better.

Fumbled ball and poor decision-making led to a lot of tries being thrown away as players pushed one pass too many, but Foxcroft didn’t want to dwell too much on the negatives.

“You’ll take five points out of your opening round in any competition,” he said.

“We’ve got plenty to work on though, there were a lot of mistakes out there that we need to get out of our game.”

The five try effort will put the early target on the back of Rakaia in Section Two and with a tough match against Southbridge next weekend the pressure will be on to up the game this week.

“We had to give them a pretty stern talking to at half time, but they upped things a bit in the second half, that was the big positive the way they went back out there and got the job done.”

Harry Ashworth in the No.7 jersey had a strong game scoring a try alongside Seta Koroitamana, Doug Rushton, Nete Caucau and

Andrew Letham who also troubled the scorers.

Letham was in particularly good form, converting all five tries to net himself a 15-point haul for the match.

Celtic 29 – Ohoka 13

Shane Enright was rather blunt in his assessment of Celtic’s first up victory on Saturday.

“It was pretty average to be honest,” he said.

Despite gaining maximum points and opening their season on the right foot, Enright said there was plenty to be improved on if the green and whites were to become a serious contender this season.

Up 12-3 at halftime, Celtic extended the margin in the second half but also allowed Ohoka in for a further 10 points – largely thanks to poor ball retention.

Tries came from captain Danny Hurley, Nathan McCloy, Christian Vainerere and Tololima Savaiinaea and were accompanied by three conversions and a penalty from the boot of McCloy, who grabbed himself 14 points for the match.

“It’s good to get the five points, that was the main thing I think we took out of the match though.

“We weren’t good enough when it came to ball retention and also decision-making so they’ll be a couple of key focuses for us this week I think,” Enright said.

Hampstead 10 – Glenmark/ Cheviot 37

Despite a heavy loss to open their account, Regan Broker is seeing plenty of positives in Hampstead’s opening match.

Beaten by 27 points, Hampstead were in the match for a long way trailing 5-13 at the halftime break after scoring the first try of the match through a brilliant individual effort from Brian Matoramusha, who chipped and chased from his own 22 metre and scored.

“With only one pre-season match under our belt we looked at the match as a pre-season game in some ways,” Broker said.

“So, while losing isn’t great, there were plenty of positives I thought, especially the way we started off things as we have usually been slow starters.”

The match slipped away from Hampstead in the closing 20 minutes with a high penalty count rising against the visitors.

“Discipline was again a bit of an issue for us.

“I think the penalty count ended up 16-5 in favour of them, mainly for offside which I kind of expected because I asked the boys to put the pressure on them.”

Hampstead’s second try came from Aleki Hifo in what Broker described as a “good team try”.

Two Hampstead players were sent to the bin for breaches of the new tackle laws while Glenmark/

Cheviot had a player sent to the sideline as well.

Methven 10 – Oxford 32

The result wasn’t what they wanted, but the chance to blood some new life into Methven senior rugby was a big bonus of the loss to Oxford on Saturday.

Seven players new to the senior rugby scene made a start for Methven, while a further four gained game time from the bench.

“That was our big bonus,” Andy Pearce said.

“Giving these guys a chance to get a feel for senior rugby and get that first game out of the way.”

Methven trailed 3-17 at halftime, their sole points coming from the boot of Davey Maw. “I didn’t think the scoreline was too bad considering we had to do a lot of defending and there was a bit of getting used to it for most of our guys early on.

“You could definitely call it a game of two halves though, I thought we played much better in the second half.”

Maw was the sole contributor again in the second half, scoring a try which he then converted.

“We are under way and have that first one out of the way so now we can really look to move forward.”

Life won’t get any easier for Methven though with a tough section including Mid Canterbury country bedfellows, Rakaia and high-powered Ellesmere sides Lincoln and Southbridge.

There was still little resemblance to the successful side of recent seasons but the Highlanders at least earned a familiar result.

The early strugglers in the New Zealand conference on Saturday night enjoyed their first taste of foreign opposition, but their nervy victory over the Brumbies would have engendered a sense of relief rather than accomplishment.

Having trailed until the 73rd minute in Canberra, the Highlanders were left to thank a toothless opposition more than their own enterprise.

And that’s one factor that has remained in short supply in the Highlanders’ displays so far this season.

They entered Saturday night’s encounter with only six tries in four games – tied for the most meagre output in the competition – and against the Brumbies added two more while rarely appearing truly dangerous.

On current evidence, their three-year playoff streak must be under serious threat, although their early issues must come with the caveat of a heavy injury toll.

They particularly missed the guiding hand of Lima Sopoaga, too often appearing aimless when in possession.

Fletcher Smith endured a tough time after starting in the No. 10 jersey and it was no surprise to see Marty Banks summoned from the bench at halftime, with the substitute’s boot eventually proving the difference.

That’s not to say the Highlanders’ backline enjoyed a wealth of ball from which to attack, though, with the forward pack that has so often been a strength battling to earn ascendancy against a formidable Brumbies pack.

The southern side’s set piece was an adventure at times, encapsulated midway through the first half by what must have been the worst lineout of the season after turning down a shot at goal, and as a result the visitors failed to consolidate possession and build pressure.

With that said, however, the Brumbies were barely any better, guilty of allowing their opposition to stay within touch throughout the match.

The home side enjoyed a decent majority of possession and spent plenty of time in the right part of the field but, aside from a clever lineout move that produced Chris Alcock’s side, they suffered from a similar surfeit of creativity.

And the Brumbies were made to rue all their wasted possession, with the Highlanders turning two consistent spells of possession into two tries, the first a nice reward for an impressive debut by Sio Tomkinson and the second from Aki Seiuli proving the winning of the match.

- NZME

Sport www.guardianonline.co.nz

Monday, March 27, 2017

■ RUGBY

Kiwi teams rise to the top The Stormers had to scramble to maintain their unbeaten start to Super Rugby against the struggling Sunwolves on Saturday night while the Blues and Highlanders completed another convincing weekend for New Zealand teams.

South Africa’s Stormers trailed 24-10 to the Sunwolves in Singapore – where they only drew last season – before taking control through their superior forward pack to grind out a 44-31 win.

The Stormers, with a 4-0 record, are one of three teams still unbeaten.

The Crusaders (5-0) overpowered the Western Force on Friday to take over the lead overall from New Zealand rivals the Chiefs, also unbeaten but who had a bye weekend.

Defending champions the Hurricanes (3-1) were also on a bye.

Along with the Stormers’ fightback on Saturday, the Blues overwhelmed the Bulls 38-14 and the Highlanders scored a late try, and defended desperately right at the end, for an 18-13 win over ACT Brumbies.

The Blues and Highlanders victories meant success for all three New Zealand teams in action in this round.

In South Africa, the Lions romped past the Southern Kings 42-19 and the Sharks edged past the Cheetahs 38-30.

With the Stormers floundering, the Sunwolves were 14 points ahead in the first half with tries

by Derek Carpenter, Shota Emi, and Liaki Moli. Centre Carpenter ended up with two.

Ultimately, the South African team outscored the Japan-based Sunwolves six tries to four after it went back to basics and its pack and halfbacks wrenched control of the game in the second half.

“We had to fight for it,” Stormers captain Siya Kolisi said.

“We really respect these guys.

They’re getting better and better.”

Earlier, winger Matt Duffie scored two of five second-half tries for the Auckland-based Blues to beat South Africa’s Bulls.

Duffie touched down twice within 10 minutes at the start of the second half as the Blues

Bulls’ Hanro Liebenberg is tackled by Sunwolves’ Takaaki Nakazuru as team-mate Jamie-Jerry Taulagi watches during their Super Rugby match at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria.

PHOTO AP

overcame a disorganised firsthalf performance, which left the scores tied 7-7 at halftime, to win by six tries to two.

The match at Eden Park snapped the Blues’ three-match losing streak, with those losses all to New Zealand opposition.

It went much better for the Blues against the Pretoria-based Bulls.

The game turned in the Blues’ favour in the second half when they lost their structure.

Without the need to build from set-pieces but instead to create play from Bulls’ turnovers, the Blues were far more effective and scored five tries after halftime.

The Lions put in a scintillating first-half display and coasted home for an easy win over the Kings, with 19-year-old winger Madosh Tambwe, a highly rated prospect, scoring two tries in his second Super Rugby game.

The Sharks retained their place in the competition’s top eight by beating the Cheetahs in their South African derby, with

flyhalf Curwin Bosch, another teenage talent, contributing 18 points in his latest impressive showing.

Meanwhile the NSW Waratahs are psyched for a season-defining fortnight as they bid to revive Australia’s flagging Super Rugby title hopes.

The Waratahs’ thrilling – and desperately needed – comeback win over the Melbourne Rebels was the highlight of yet another lamentable round from Australia’s five battling franchises.

The Waratahs, Western Force, Queensland Reds and winless and last-placed Rebels occupy the bottom four positions on the Australasian Group ladder with a total of one measly victory against overseas opposition from 13 matches in 2017.

Queensland’s round-one denial of the Sharks seems light years away after a 22-8 loss to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires yesterday extended Australian teams’ run of defeats in non-derbies to a dirty dozen.

Alarmingly, the Reds have lost 11 straight matches away from home and already their finals hopes look forlorn ahead of Saturday night’s hosting of the defending champion Hurricanes at Suncorp Stadium.

“We’ve had a couple of losses on the trot so we need to get back home and sort our season out,” skipper Stephen Moore said after two simultaneous sin-binnings proved costly, just as they did in the Reds’ 30-point capitulation to the Lions in Johannesburg last week.

A 45-17 trouncing for the Force against the Crusaders in Christchurch meant the Waratahs were Australia’s only roundfive winners.

The Waratahs recovered from a 19-point halftime deficit to snap a three-match losing streak.

But a showdown with the undefeated Crusaders before a trip to Wellington to face the Hurricanes will determine if the Tahs’ stirring win proves anything but a false dawn.

- AAP

Ashburton Guardian 17

Focus put on neck strength Rugby coaches are being urged to concentrate on improving players’ neck strength in a bid to avoid debilitating concussions.

A ground-breaking New Zealand study has found players with weaker and uneven neck strength are more vulnerable to severe impacts that may cause concussion.

The experiment by Otago University’s Dr Hamish Osborne and Research Fellow Dr Danielle Salmon used bluetooth sensors behind the ears of 23 players in the Otago Mitre 10 Cup rugby team to measure acceleration, or g forces, during impacts in five games.

Salmon said the weaker the neck the more severe the damaging “whip-lash” type movement.

A higher acceleration force was also recorded.

“We found players with stronger necks had lower acceleration or whip-lash like movement.

“The stronger you can make the neck the less the head accelerates – it controls the brain’s movement against the skull.”

Salmon said coaches at all levels needed to put as much value on neck strengthening exercises as they did fitness and skills.

The study revealed props sustained the most frequent and strongest head accelerations force, while those on the wing had the fewest hits. The data showed the players on average sustained 48 impacts per game.

“When we break it down to specific events, we observed that the average head-acceleration force for a carry was 45g. For a tackle it was 42g and for a ruck, 31g.”

Humans are able to bear localised g-forces in the hundreds of gs for a split second, such as a slap on the face. But continued gforces above about 10g can lead to permanent injury.

It was revealed last year at least five of the Taranaki Ranfurly Shield squad of 1964 had died or were suffering dementia-related illnesses, which the families believed could have been the result of multiple concussions suffered in their playing days. Four of the 1967 All Blacks who toured the UK had suffered the same fate, including Waka Nathan.

- NZME

Lions tour selection headaches looming for All Blacks

By GreGor Paul Knowing what to do with those players soon-to-depart these shores is going to be one of the tougher selection issues for the All Blacks as the make their plans for 2017.

There are going to be a couple of 50:50 calls on the periphery of the squad that aren’t going to be simple to make.

What to do with Aaron Cruden, Charlie Faumuina and Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who are leaving for France once Super Rugby finishes?

The latter two have been All Blacks squad regulars for the last five years and in the case of Cruden, seven.

Certainly Cruden and Faumuina have been hugely important members of the match day 23 for most of that period.

They are both experienced, gifted and for most of their time in the test arena, have made strong cases to be regular starters.

There’s no reason to imagine that both Cruden and Faumuina, and also Kerr-Barlow who has been in strong early form for the

Chiefs, will do anything to demerit their case for inclusion in the squad to play the Lions.

The All Blacks want to win the series. It is that simple.

And to win it, they are going to have to play exceptionally well.

The Lions of 2017 are not going to be the same shambolic mess the Lions of 2005 were.

They are not going to be full of past it Englishmen and led by a coach on the most self-indulgent ego trip.

Every reasonable assessment says the Lions have to be taken

seriously; that they will have the potential to win the series.

There’s nothing different about where things are poised in that regard.

The All Blacks want to play well and win every test. And to achieve that goal, coach Steve Hansen will be driven by doing what he considers to be best for the team.

The question is whether he and the other coaches deem it best for the team to pick players who won’t be available beyond the Lions series.

Would the All Blacks be bet-

ter off, longer term, blooding the next contenders who sit behind, or perhaps level, with the likes of Cruden, Faumuina and Kerr-Barlow?

When the All Blacks picked their World Cup squad two years ago, Charles Piutau felt he was ultimately overlooked because he was leaving New Zealand after the tournament.

The fact Piutau was leaving may have been the deciding factor and the future career plans of individuals may again swing close decisions.

- NZME

Sport 18

Ashburton Guardian

Monday, March 27, 2017

www.guardianonline.co.nz

■ NETBALL

■ MOTOR RACING

Tactix thrashed by Magic

Vettel wins for Ferrari

Former Silver Ferns skipper Casey Kopua has marked her return to top-level netball with a dominant defensive performance in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic’s 23-goal drubbing of the Mainland Tactix yesterday.

Kopua, who missed the final season of the trans-Tasman league last year after taking time away from the sport for the birth of her first child, looked fit and hungry in her first game back as she helped her side get their ANZ Premiership campaign off to an impressive start.

The Magic looked especially slick in the third quarter as they produced a stunning 24-11 surge after halftime to set up a huge win over the struggling Tactix.

In what was an all-round dominant performance, Kopua would have been particularly gratified to keep the Tactix to under 50 goals – indicating the defence had a big impact on the match.

The 71-48 win ensured their stint as Super Sunday hosts was a success, with the crowd at Claudelands Arena delighted with the performance of the home side.

The final scoreline would have been bitterly disappointing for the Tactix, who competed reasonably well over the first half, and even dictated the pace of the game early on.

The smaller, more mobile, shooting pairing of English import Kadeen Corbin and Anna Thompson caused the Magic defence a few issues in the opening quarter, with the pair using movement and ballspeed to beat the opposition.

But when it came time for the Tactix to put the ball through the net, that’s when the long reach of Kopua and 1.92m defender Kelly Jury had its impact.

Casey Kopua was a constant threat for the Tactix yesterday.

Corbin and Thompson struggled to see over the arms of Jury in particular, and looked reluctant to go to the post.

By the third quarter the Magic defence had clearly got into the heads of the Tactix shooters, with both Corbin and replacement shooter Brooke Leaver’s accuracy rate dropping into the 60s.

With the Tactix missing two key defenders in Jess Moulds and Te-

malisi Fakahokotau, the visitors were unable to cause similar disruptions in the Magic attack end.

South African import Lenize Potgieter had a field-day in her first appearance for the Magic, netting 54 of the team’s 71 goals at an accuracy rate of 93 per cent.

New Zealand’s former domestic netball league was all about one team: the Southern Sting.

In the 10 seasons of the old

competition, which ran 19972007, the Sting featured in every grand final, going on to win the title on seven occasions.

More than a decade on, it appears New Zealand netball’s power base will once again reside in the deep South in the new era of the domestic game.

The Southern Steel, an amalgamation of the Sting and the Otago Rebels franchised forged for the now defunct trans-Tasman league, opened their ANZ Premiership campaign with a dominant 75-57 win over the Northern Stars.

The Steel, who maintained a virtually unchanged line-up to the one that blitzed through the regular season of last year’s league unbeaten, proved too slick and composed for the league newcomers.

But the South Auckland-based Stars, who were playing in their debut match, showed patches of promise with the defensive combination of Sulu Fitzpatrick and Leana de Bruin coming up with some good ball, while Emma Iverson was impressive in the midcourt in her first game at this level.

The Steel took advantage of some Stars’ shooting wobbles, with Fowler-Reid piling on four goals in the final minute of the quarter to take a 15-12 lead at the first break.

That momentum stayed with the Steel early in the second spell, as they opened the quarter with a 5-1 blitz to put the Stars firmly in chase mode.

By halftime the scoreline had blown out to 35-26, with the Steel well in charge.

After the much improved effort in the third quarter the Stars dropped away badly late in the game as the Steel ran rampant.

- NZME

■ RUGBY LEAGUE

Green excited to join Kiwis’ camp The Queensland Rugby League have given their backing for Cowboys coach Paul Green to help New Zealand in their World Cup revenge mission.

The development came as Australian coach Mal Meninga also threw his support behind Green, saying the international game needs mentors of his quality.

Maroons coach-in-waiting Green has sounded out QRL powerbrokers in the strongest sign yet he is keen to provide a winning edge to Australia’s transTasman enemy.

Green fielded a shock approach from New Zealand last month to be coach David Kidwell’s righthand man at the World Cup. Kiwi legend Tawera Nikau has emerged as the conduit between Green and the NZRL, having flagged the idea with the Cowboys coach during the NRL Nines in February.

Green is excited at the challenge of helping the Kiwis but feared it might jeopardise his hopes of one day coaching Queensland.

He will be the Maroons’ next coach, knocking back the chance to succeed Meninga 18 months ago due to his Cowboys commitments in a move that opened the door for Kevin Walters.

Some critics may view Green as a traitor by helping the Kiwis – Wayne Bennett copped similar brickbats for assisting New Zealand in 2008 – but the QRL has cleared it.

“I don’t think it would affect me with Queensland,” Green said.

“I’ve actually spoken to a couple of guys from the Queensland board and they don’t see it as an issue at all, which is pleasing.

“The job certainly interests me, there’s a lot to like about it.

“I’ve spoken to ‘Richo’ (new

Paul Green Kiwi World Cup campaign manager Shane Richardson) and he has said there is no hurry at this stage, so he’s given me a couple of weeks to make a decision.

“I’ve been pretty busy with my role here at the Cowboys but I will put my head it around it this week.”

Former Maroons coach Meninga said he would have no issue if Green accepted the task of toppling his Australian side.

“It would be great for them

(New Zealand),” Meninga said.

“We need the best coaches to help the international game and Paul is certainly one of those.”

Green is surprised by New Zealand’s inconsistency and believes he can have a positive effect on Kiwi players.

“There’s parts of the role that really interest me,” he said. “They have some great players in that squad and it’s always intrigued me as to why they haven’t been consistent given how many good players they have in their team.

“It would be good to see the Kiwi guys up close and what their character is like. Plus to be involved in a World Cup would be exciting.

“There’s less pressure in a sense as an assistant coach. Not that I don’t enjoy head coaching, but there is a lot of pressure in the NRL and it is a different role I’d play.”

- NZME

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel has won the Australian Grand Prix as local hope Daniel Ricciardo failed to finish the race.

Four-times world champion Vettel won by almost 10 seconds from Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, to secure his 43rd Formula One race victory.

Ricciardo bowed out midway through the season-opening race at Melbourne’s Albert Park when his car suffered engine failure.

The Australian endured a wretched home grand prix: he crashed in qualifying; copped a grid penalty; started the race from pit lane; then his car stopped on lap 29 of the 57-lap race.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said it appeared Ricciardo’s car suffered engine failure.

“It has gone from bad to worse ... it’s a shame for him,” Horner said.

Vettel had no such problems in a commanding victory, which evidenced Ferrari’s readiness to challenge the recent dominance of Mercedes, who have won the past three constructors’ championships and also provided the past three individual world champs.

Mercedes’ Hamilton complained via team radio of power issues during the race.

But his problems paled to those of Ricciardo, who began the race some two laps after the rest of the field – and from pit lane, rather than the grid.

Ricciardo’s car suffered an electrical fault on a procession lap, which caused his vehicle to be stuck in sixth gear.

The problem followed Ricciardo crashing during qualifying on Saturday, and then being penalised five grid spots before yesterday’s race.

After crashing when he spun and hit a barrier during a routine corner, repairs to Ricciardo’s Red Bull car included a new gearbox, which incurs a five-spot sanction.

Ricciardo had qualified 10th fastest but slipped to 15th spot, though the penalty became redundant when his car suffered the fresh electrical issue.

Then his car’s engine gave up completely half way through his race, capping a nightmare weekend for the Australian driver.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was fourth with Ricciardo’s Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen fifth.

Felipe Massa in a Williams, Sergio Perez in a Force India, Toro Rosso duo Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat, and Esteban Ocon in a Force India rounded out the top 10.

- AAP

Sebastian Vettel

Racing www.guardianonline.co.nz

Monday, March 27, 2017

■ TAURANGA

Ashburton Guardian 19

In brief

All roads lead to Queensland All Roads banked a healthy cheque for his connections at Tauranga with part of those winnings to almost certainly be used to cover an overseas trip later this year.

The genuine five-year-old powered to a deserved victory and the thick end of the $100,000 stake in Saturday’s Windsor Park Stud Japan-New Zealand International Trophy and a performance to all but confirm plans for Queensland.

“Brisbane’s not a bad place to be in the winter time and it’s nice when they’ve already paid their way,” said Donna Logan, who trains All Roads with Chris Gibbs.

“The money there is very good and he’s quite versatile, I think he will get over more ground.”

All Roads had finished runnerup in three of his previous four starts, including an unlucky run when cramped for room in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile.

“He should have won that – he’s a very good horse,” Logan said.

“My biggest concern today was the track and he only just coped with it.”

All Roads was given time to find his feet and he improved near the turn before rider Kelly McCulloch cut loose on the son of Road To Rock in the straight.

“He travelled beautifully and we got a nice run through the field, if anything he got to the front too soon,” she said.

The topweight Scapolo powered home down the outside to finish runner-up with his fellow central districts visitor Beefeater making a good fist of his open class debut with his effort for third.

McCulloch has now won five races on All Roads and she had predicted a top future for the gelding after she was successful in a Rating 65 race on him last July.

“I thought he was something special,” she said. “He’s got some gears and he gave me a really good feel.”

- NZME

All Roads gets home for Kelly McCulloch.

Former Hong Kong galloper Flying Ibis proved leading South Island rider Chris Johnson was spot on in a recent assessment of his future prospects with an effortless victory at Riccarton on Saturday. Johnson had ridden the seven-year-old gelding in his first run of a new campaign at Wingatui earlier in the month and told co-trainer Michael Pitman he would win his next start.

True to his word Johnson and Flying Ibis delivered in style as they cruised to a one and three quarter length victory that had Pitman more than satisfied with the effort. - NZME PHOTO TRISH DUNELL

Coulee continues stable domination

M3

PHOTO RACE IMAGES

The powerful Lisa Latta and Lincoln Farms partnership looks to have unearthed another promising juvenile talent when All Too Hard colt Lincoln Hills made a winning debut at Tauherenikau yesterday.

The stylish chestnut showed plenty of grit and determination as he beat stablemate Dreams Of Platinum with a devastating home straight burst in the Per Incanto Maiden (1000m).

- NZME

Flying Ibis delivers

■ RICCARTON

Jacob Lowry and Coulee hit the line at Riccarton.

Success first-up

Leading southern mare Coulee continued her hot run of form and that of Brian and Shane Anderton when she successfully defended her Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes title at Riccarton.

The five-year-old was given a copybook ride by apprentice Jacob Lowry to claim top honours on Saturday in the Valachi Downs-sponsored feature, which the father and son training combination also won in 2015 with Include.

Coulee travelled comfortably in the trail and the chestnut rounded off her effort strongly in the straight for the ninth victory of her 28-start career.

The winner of the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Stakes three runs back, she was then freshened to run fourth in an open sprint.

“She’s been racing very well

and at Wingatui the other day she just found the 1200 metres too short, but she hit the line strongly,” Shane Anderton said.

“She had been working well and she’s a pretty versatile mare, she goes on just about any sort of ground and she’s very honest.”

Completing an outstanding result for the stable was Fascinate, who passed her toughest test with a bold run for second.

“She won four on the trot before Wingatui where she may have been over the top so we put her in the paddock to freshen her up and she’s come back well,” Anderton said.

Dontpokethetiger, the only three-year-old in the race, gave a great sight in front and she boxed on gamely to take third money ahead of Fairlight and Miss Three Stars.

- NZME

Zac goes last-to-first A stunning performance by progressive three-year-old Son Of Zac provided one the major highlights at Riccarton. The Zacinto gelding had broken his maiden status over 1600 metres at the venue nine days earlier and was warmly favoured to be prominent again. However not many supporters held out hope when he was 30 lengths astern of Missteeflying with 750 to go.

Courtney Barnes didn’t panic as she eased her charge to the outside rail on the home turn. Son Of Zac sprouted wings and dashed home to score by a rapidly increasing one and half lengths.

- NZME

Cote D’or impresses Royally bred four-year-old Cote D’or showed she will be a contender for higher honours next season when she dominated her opposition in the Bayleys Real Estate 2100 at Tauranga. The Makfi mare started a warm favourite off the back of an unlucky run on her home track just 10 days earlier. Danielle Johnson had her nicely positioned on the rail during the early stages and improved before driving into a gap one off the rail in the straight. Cote D’Or simply bounded clear before easing down at the line.

- NZME

Wanganui dogs Today at Hatrick Raceway

1 86577 Kirkham Coby 30.45 ....................M Roberts Wanganui Greyhound Racing Club Venue: Hatrick Race- 1 34535 Milly Rivers 31.26 ........................B Hodgson 6 12311 Thrilling Rocky nwtd ........................ K Walsh 2 58474 Allegro Beaty 30.26............................L Cole way Meeting Date: 27 Mar 2017 NZ Meeting number: 3 2 15845 Magic Latte 30.31 ..............................L Cole 7 36732 Secret Agenda 30.81 ..................B Hodgson 3 43757 Cawbourne Foxy 30.26 ................M Roberts Doubles: 1 and 2; 3 and 4; 5 and 6; 7 and 8; 9 and 10; 3 44436 Black Roadstar 30.70....................B Mitchell 8 23618 Jandel Man nwtd ...................... K Gommans 4 21137 Bigtime OnFire 29.94 .........................L Cole 11 and 12 Trebles: 1, 2 and 3; 4, 5 and 6; 7, 8 and 9; 10, 4 83457 She’s Mustard 30.72 ........................R Waite 9 758x3 Take Action 30.84.........................M Goodier 5 52556 Steel The Gold 30.53 L & ................... Morris 10 58647 Opawa Bucks nwtd ..........................R Waite 5 67558 Miss Eldora 30.08 .......................A Turnwald 11 and 12 6 56425 Cawbourne Muzza 30.78 .............M Roberts 6 3.09pm AON CPF C1/2 C1/2, 520m 6 64873 Making Time 30.21..............................S Kite 1 1.40pm ABSOLUTELY ELECTRICAL C0, 305m 7 43654 Worboys nwtd G R & .......................

S Voyce 7 17716 On The Clock 30.06 ...........................L Cole 1 34257 Lucha nwtd........................................D Edlin 1 51727 Cawbourne Spree 30.39 J & ...............D Bell 8 12578 Geordie Who 30.10 ............................L Cole 8 16426 See Eye Aye 30.30 ............................L Cole 2 347 Macchia nwtd ....................................D Edlin 2 53443 Bigtime Dazzler 30.44 ........................L Cole 9 758x3 Take Action 30.84.........................M Goodier 9 88676 Bigtime Coffee 30.45..........................L Cole 3 52541 Cawbourne Spook 17.89 .............M Roberts 3 x2785 Our Gypsy 29.80 ................................L Cole 4 27 Ndora nwtd........................................D Edlin 10 56654 Opawa Gavin 30.40 G & ................. J Clarke 4 32311 Gunnar Blueblood 30.18 ........J T McInerney 9 4.04pm WANGANUI TOYOTA C5 C5, 305m 1 1222F Allegro Lass 17.50 .............................L Cole 5 8 Bigtime Olivia nwtd ............................L Cole 4 2.32pm LASER PLUMBING C2 C2, 305m 5 22146 Chip Off Block 30.86 ...................J McArthur 2 271F2 Stole Me Wallet 17.50 .............. K Gommans 6 1 Bigtime Doug 17.87 ...........................L Cole 6 16632 Opawa Shay 30.27............................M Flipp 1 11444 Bigtime Summer 17.53 ......................L Cole 3 51121 Bear Inda Square 17.35 .....................L Cole 7 Thrilling Fergus nwtd....................... K Walsh 7 62382 Cawbourne Web 30.23 ................M Roberts 2 67838 Second Time 17.65 G & .................. J Clarke 4 82125 Bigtime Thinker 17.36 ........................L Cole 8 1 Bigtime Opal 17.60 ............................L Cole 8 61663 Ace Bale 30.56.............................M Roberts 3 16512 Cawbourne Kaz 17.65 .................M Roberts 5 52284 Ritza Roman 17.45 ......................M Roberts 9 46 Roketto nwtd .....................................D Edlin 9 88676 Bigtime Coffee 30.45..........................L Cole 4 11F84 Winevara 17.69 G & ........................ J Clarke 6 12712 Sedgebrook Babe 17.28 .....................F Kite 10 44653 Tomorrow Star nwtd ................. S Gommans 10 54568 Ima Lucky Zarr nwtd ...................A Turnwald 5 58188 Casual Sipper 17.80 G & ................ J Clarke 6 34151 Pacific Vibe 17.77...................J T McInerney 2 1.57pm FIRST SECURITY C1 C1, 305m 7 3.24pm LIQUORLAND WANGANUI C1/2 C1/2, 520m 7 41511 Allegro Gun 17.07 ..............................L Cole 8 66211 Allegro Boom 17.61 ...........................L Cole 7 62216 Manu Rama 17.65 ..........................L Doody 1 44648 Buzzy Gem 18.32 ..............................J Hunt 1 56428 Cawbourne Cents 30.20 ..............M Roberts 9 67334 Increasing 17.46 ................................ N Udy 8 52533 Culvie Den 17.80 J & ..........................D Bell 2 74678 Todd Blue Blood nwtd ............J T McInerney 2 54123 Knead You 30.75 .........................A Turnwald 9 85271 Kay Marting 17.78 ..................J T McInerney 3 63126 Hanover State 17.60 .......................... N Udy 3 67F21 Meteor Vege 30.46 ...................E Duganzich 10 17723 King’s Call 17.48 ..............................R Waite 4 44125 Kiwi Baxter 17.75 ...................J T McInerney 10 34173 Brilliant Ashlee 17.47 L & ................... Morris 4 8x175 Bronster 30.46 ...................................L Cole 10 4.22pm THE ROCK 95.2FM C4 C4, 520m 5 48888 Rally Sarious 17.96 ................J T McInerney 5 2.50pm PALAMOUNTAINS SCIENTIFIC NUTRITION 5 61438 Opawa Leanna 30.60 ........................M Flipp 1 52115 Thrilling Wilson nwtd ....................... K Walsh 6 42344 Watch Your Back 18.07 ......................W Kite C1 C1, 520m 6 88145 Fast Rigby 30.12 ............................ T Pilcher 2 36125 Bigtime Bakagain 30.09 .....................L Cole 7 67467 Gully Yappa 18.09 G & .................... J Clarke 7 13246 Banshee Reel 30.84 ........................R Waite 3 41458 Cawbourne Nath nwtd .................M Roberts 1 54524 Izzy Bowen 31.03 ........................B Hodgson 8 2133 Bigtime Break nwtd ............................L Cole 8 86866 Bigtime Sweetie 30.31 .......................L Cole 4 81274 Bernie’s Boy 30.63 ........................B Mitchell 2 14138 Bigtime Basher 30.22.........................L Cole 9 24217 Rosie 17.86 .................................J McArthur 9 88676 Bigtime Coffee 30.45..........................L Cole 5 11341 Bigtime Bell 30.28 ..............................L Cole 3 43153 Cawbourne Brandy 30.46 J & .............D Bell 10 1P722 Celtic Rover 17.95......................... M Gowan 10 56548 Lady Zeena 30.22 ........................

T Downey 6 21377 Cawbourne Ruby 30.17 ...............M Roberts 4 66274 Kylin 30.34 .........................................L Cole 3 2.15pm ADEPT ACCOUNTANTS C1 C1, 520m 5 73646 Scodelario 30.93 .............................L Doody 8 3.43 DOPEY DOG LASER ENGRAVING C2/3, 520m 7 67128 Bigtime Lady 30.09 ............................L Cole

8 31166 Bushman’s Smile 30.22 .....................L Cole 9 64567 Cawbourne Brick 29.68................M Roberts 10 55258 Cawbourne Clover 29.92 .............M Roberts 11 4.47pm WANGANUI CHRONICLE C3 C3, 305m 1 57632 Missing Allegro 17.62.........................L Cole 2 16343 Thunder Storm 17.72 .............J T McInerney 3 23537 Kirkham Kylie 17.69 .....................M Roberts 4 23431 Homebush Rocky 17.61 .........J T McInerney 5 21253 Cranky Pants 17.50............................L Cole 6 25345 Bigtime Reign 17.51........................... N Udy 7 41215 Holly Blue Blood 17.64...........J T McInerney 8 47172 Asteria 17.56 G R & ........................ S Voyce Emergencies: 9 8178P Jinja Coll 17.59 G R &..................... S Voyce 10 38273 Uno Nathan 17.77 .............................M Flipp 12 5.07 BOOK YOUR FUNCTION@HATRICK C4, 305m 1 21265 Stole Me Car 17.71 .................. K Gommans 2 25423 Thunderation 17.48 ............................L Cole 3 77318 Bigtime Jess 17.50.............................L Cole 4 53571 Big Boy Deno 17.47 J & ......................D Bell 5 75821 So Over It 17.49 L &........................... Morris 6 86353 Cawbourne Elpaso 17.60.............M Roberts 7 68164 All In Berlin 17.44 ............................B Marsh 8 13732 Bigtime Ellie 17.67 .............................L Cole 9 63665 Lover 17.30 .................................A Turnwald 10 37446 Effective Power 17.32 ........................L Cole LEGEND: fsdt - First Start Here nwd - No Win this Distance fstd - First Start This Distance 31 13 - Best Winning Time This Track

Sport 20 Ashburton Guardian

Classifieds www.guardianonline.co.nz

Monday, March 27, 2017 TRAVEL

Beckley Coachlines Programme ◊ CHRISTCHURCH REBUILD TOUR Sunday, April 9 departing 9am.

Rangiora’s new shopping centre, Dudley Park.

Lunch at the RSA and the new suburbs.

Also a visit to Pegasus.

For bookings phone Gay @ 308 7646

Basketball great Michael Jordan gets very serious about his golf.

■ BASKETBALL

Putt for dough ...

When you’re the richest person in sporting history, you’re allowed to splurge a bit on some fun, but Michael Jordan’s betting habits are downright ridiculous.

The NBA superstar, famous for being the only sportsman in history to crack the $1 billion mark, had his extravagant hobby outed by commentator and former player Charles Barkley.

Barkley, who played against Jordan throughout his career, recalled a number of occasions where he bet against the alltime great while playing golf.

“Why would you play golf if it wasn’t for money?” he said.

Barkley admitted he would put a few hundred dollars on each hole, a wager big enough to make most seasoned punters queasy, but the 54-year-old said Jordan’s level of commitment was on another level.

“Back when I would play it was pretty much even (between me and MJ),” he said.

“But I tell you what, and I apologise to Michael for saying this ... we’d be playing golf with certain people on a couple of hundred dollars a hole.

“But he’d like to play for, like, $100,000.”

Barkley recalled a time when he was told to move out of the way for Jordan to take a putt for the small sum of $300,000.

“It was crazy, man.

“But I never understood why they were playing for that much.”

While remaining incredulous at his former rival’s spectacular betting habits, Barkley admitted to fluttering a little too

hard in Las Vegas with his NBA riches.

“I developed that problem a few years ago.

“When I went to Vegas, I won a million dollars. I probably won a million dollars five times, but probably lost a million 25 (other times).

“I developed this thing where I had to win a million, so I quit gambling for two years.

“But when I was talking to my close friends I’d say: ‘Man, I really miss gambling’. And they’d tell me that I should but I just shouldn’t be an idiot.

“The key to being successful is to keep good people around you.

“My friend would say: ‘Dude, you’re just an idiot when you gamble’.

“So now when I go to gamble, I just do it to have fun.”

Barkley has good reason to shy away from huge bets on golf, considering his swing has been labelled the “worst of all time”, earning millions of views on social media.

Barkley admitted he “sucks at golf” on The Colbert Report last year.

He said he’s hit a few people with his wild heave.

“I don’t like playing charity tournaments ... it’s very nerve-wracking, because once you hit the first person, you get really nervous. I could really hurt somebody.

“I choke under pressure on the golf course, that’s the only way to explain it.”

- AP

Booker making his mark The Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker is only 20 and already has a place alongside Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant and just a few others in NBA history.

Booker scored 70 points, becoming the sixth different player to reach that total, but the Boston Celtics outlasted the Phoenix Suns 130-120 on Saturday.

David Thompson, David Robinson and Elgin Baylor are the NBA’s only other

70-point scorers. Baylor also held the previous record against the Celtics with 64 points in Minneapolis for the Lakers on November 8, 1959.

“This doesn’t happen very often especially against a really good defensive team like the Boston Celtics,” Booker said. “It’s a zone. It’s kind of hard to explain. I’ve been in those zones before, but never to this extent.”

- AP

Building – it’s what we know and it’s what we do best. That’s why clients have chosen us, again and again.

211 Alford Forest Rd, Ashburton (03) 307 6130 www.calderstewart.co.nz

TRADES, SERVICES

COMPUTER PROBLEMS ??

For prompt reliable Computer servicing or Laser Engraving.

Contact Kelvin Boult, KJB Systems Ltd, 4 Ascot Place, Ashburton. Ph 308 8989. 30 years Local service. Same day service if possible.

SUPERGOLD Discount card welcomed.

PUBLIC NOTICES

FOR SALE

PLANTS, PRODUCE

TREAT yourself or a friend to a summer scarf. An array of colours and designs to compliment your outfit. The China Shop in The Ashburton Arcade.

OLD newspapers available.

Perfect for packing, fires, bedding for animals, birds, craft work and so on. Please call in to the Guardian, Level 3, 161 Burnett Street or phone 307 7900 for bundles of 10 or more.

FRESHLY dug Nadine OLD newspapers available. potatoes. $1.50 per kg. 81 Perfect for packing, fires, Elizabeth Street. Phone 308 bedding for animals, birds, 3195 or 027 531 9103. craft work and so on. Please call in to the Guardian, Level 3, 161 Burnett Street or MOTORING phone 307 7900 for bundles WHEEL alignments at great prices. Maximise the life of 10 or more. of your tyres with an SUN CONTROL WINDOW alignment from Neumanns TINTING. Quality window Tyre Services Ltd, 197 Wills films for privacy, UV (fading), Street. Phone 308-6737. heat, safety and security. For cars, homes and offices. HIRE Phone Craig Rogers 307 hire.

Lawn6347 or 0800 TINTER. GENERAL Member of Master Tinters mowers, chainsaws, concrete NZ. Check us out on breakers, trailers, and more.

All your DIY / party hire, call FACEBOOK. and see Ashburton U-Hire.

588 East Street. Open MonToday’s Fri 7.00 - 6.00pm; Sat 7.30am - 5.00pm; Sunday 8.30am construction – Ph: 308 8061 is tomorrow’s 3.00pm. www.ashburtonuhire.co.nz

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Contact Des anytime for an obligation free quote on 03 308 9936 or 027 432 3258

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Mature. Phone 021 0261 2761.

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Excellent services. Phone 021 0875 7231.

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Daily Events Monday 6am ST DAVID’S UNION CHURCH. Sweaty Bettys circuit training in the hall, 48 Allens Road, Allenton.

9.45am PLAINS LADIES CLUB. Monthly meeting, Doris Linton Lounge, R.A.A. Cox Street.

10am METHVEN HERITAGE CENTRE. New Zealand and Agriculture Encounter, interactive fun for all ages. Main Street, Methven.

12pm - 1pm BAPTIST CHURCH FREE LUNCH.

Tuesday 9.30am ST DAVID’S UNION CHURCH. Walking group meets outside church. 48 Allen’s Road.

9.30am ASHBURTON U3A. Juzah Zammit-Ross presents Hakatere Conservation Park. St David’s Union Church hall, 48 Allens Road, Allenton.

9.30am - 4pm ASHBURTON MENZ SHED. Open day for all members. 182 Methven Highway.

9.30am - 12.30pm ASHBURTON METHODIST PARISH GOODWILL SHOP. Selling clean pre loved clothing.

Tinwald Methodist Church, Cnr Archibald and Jane Streets, Tinwald.

9.30am - 1.30pm ASHBURTON BAPTIST OP SHOP. Good clean ‘Second time around” clothing for sale.

Ashburton Baptist Church, Cnr of Cass and Havelock Streets.

9.40am MID CANTERBURY MENS

Free lunch for everyone. Baptist Church, please enter off Cass Street.

1pm - 3pm ASHBURTON AVIATION MUSEUM. A great selection of many aircraft from the past to the future. Seafield Road.

1pm - 4pm ASHBURTON DISTRICT FAMILY HISTORY GROUP. Open for research. Heritage Centre, 327 West Street.

1.15pm ALLENTON CROQUET CLUB. Association and Golf Croquet.

Allenton Sports Club, Cavendish Street.

6pm ST DAVID’S UNION CHURCH. Sweaty Bettys circuit training in the hall, 48 Allens Road, Allenton.

7.30pm CATHOLIC WOMENS LEAGUE EUCHRE. Every Monday night, Catholic Parish Hall Cnr Burnett and Winter Streets.

7.30pm ASHBURTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Speaker, Rosemary Case Chelsea Flower Show. Sports Pavilion, Walnut Ave.

CLUB. Monthly meeting and A.G.M. Senior Centre, Cameron Street.

9.45am WAIREKA CROQUET CLUB. Golf Croquet handicap singles.

Waireka. Philip Street.

10am NEWCOMERS SOCIAL GROUP. Weekly coffee morning for new people to Ashburton. Nosh Cafe at Ashfords, West Street.

10am METHVEN HERITAGE CENTRE. New Zealand and Agriculture Encounter. Main Street, Methven.

10am M.S.A. TAI CHI. Exercises and Tai Chi for Arthritis. M.S.A. Social Hall, Havelock Street.

12pm - 3pm JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. Signing Centre, New Community House, 44 Cass Street.

1pm - 3pm ASHBURTON AVIATION MUSEUM. A great selection of many

aircraft from the past to the future, Seafield Road.

1.30pm ASHBURTON M.S.A. PETANQUE CLUB. Club day, non-members welcome. 115 Racecourse .

6pm RUN AND WALK ASHBURTON. 3km or 5km run/jog or walk, weekly until March 28. Domain Pavilion on Walnut Avenue, opposite Creek Road.

7pm - 9pm MID CANTERBURY BADMINTON CLUB. Weekly club night, all player levels welcome. E A Network Stadium, River Terrace.

7.30pm ASHBURTON TABLE TENNIS. Weekly games, come and have a go! Ashburton Club and MSA, Havelock Street.

7.30pm ASHBURTON BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP. Monthly meeting, all welcome, enquiries to Faye 308-1852.

MacKenzie Centre, Kermode Street.

Puzzles

www.guardianonline.co.nz Puzzles and horoscopes

Cryptic crossword

Monday, March 27, 2017

Simon Shuker’s Code Cracker

WordWheel

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): You can’t control how many times people acknowledge and accept you, but you certainly can control how many times you smile and acknowledge other people.

That will tip the balance.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): Sometimes it seems you need to speak your thoughts to know what you are thinking. This is one of those days.

It will help you to be around that friend who actually listens, too.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): To air things out is a very literal thing for you today. What’s unwanted can be carried away by the wind. Today you’ll change the energy of a relationship by conversing in the open air of the outdoors.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): The problem is not so much big or unsurmountable as it is persistent. Like a gnat, it can be handled with an accurate swat – in this case, with the application of a specific tactic.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): The absurd trivialities of life will annoy you if you let them. One way to avoid the harassment is to find something much bigger and so immersive that your perspective disallows petty provocations.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): It’s rare that a person intrigues and relaxes you at the same time, and you might be fascinated to know that you have the same effect, which makes for a rather irresistible attraction.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): What was once a wondrous experience is now a segment of information in your mind. You condensed it to “good” or “bad” so it would fit neatly. Now it’s time to unpack that bag and see what’s in there.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): Exploration happens best by accident. Way leads to way as you wander, trusting that something of enduring value is out there for you to find. There’s no map, only faith that you’re getting closer.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): It will be a small gesture that gets you through the obstacle and into the place you want to be. As philanthropist W. Clement Stone suggested, “big doors swing on little hinges.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): You won’t have to look long for beauty. The everyday landscape will reward travellers looking up. Unfortunately, many will be too mesmerised by their glowing screens to raise their heads.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): You’ll only be able to see what’s available to you through unwanting eyes. As soon as you want something from the situation, your vision becomes limited.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): When you come to impasse (and you will at least three times today), turn and walk in the direction of fresh air. The bright idea you need will be riding a zephyr.

Let it hit you in the face.

WordBuilder

Insert the missing letter to complete an eight-letter word reading clockwise or anti-clockwise.

How many words of three or more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No foreign words or words beginning with a capital are allowed. There is at least one fiveletter word.

Quick crossword 1

2

3

4

6

5

7 8

9

Previous cryptic solution

Across 1. Morse 4. Gastric 8. Label 9. Admirer 10. Ink 11. Generally 12. Oast 13. Alto 18. Outfitter 20. Tax 21. Righten 22. There 23. Dithers 24. Discs Down 1. Multi-coloured 2. Rebukes 4 3. Eulogy74. Grains 5. Sombre 6. Rural 7. Carry to excess 14. Letters 15. Little 8 16. Stunts 17. Grated 19. Tight

TODAY’S GOALS: Good – 7 Excellent – 10 Amazing – 14

Previous solution: HECTARES

10 11 12

Previous quick solution

14

www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz 16

17

18

19 20

21

ACROSS 6. Caretaker (7) 7. Cautious (5) 9. Carton (3) 10. Haggle (9) 12. Having good intentions (4-7) 15. Intriguing (11) 17. Falsify (9) 19. Slack (3) 21. Beg (5) 22. Obstruction (7)

27/3

Sudoku

DOWN 1. Claw (5) 2. Excavate (3) 3. Departed (4) 4. Evil (9) 5. Gambling (7) 8. Hidden (6) 11. Volatile (9) 13. Madness (6) 14. Biblical tale (7) 16. Place of safety (5) 18. Salver (4) 20. Curve (3)

Previous solution: abs, ark, arks, ask, bar, bark, barks, bars, bas, bask, bra, bras, kas, sab, sark, ska.

4

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

1 7 6 8 3 2 7 6 3 5 2

22

6 2 5 4 7

4

2

6 1 2

7 2 3 5 9 8 1 7 4 3 9 2 6 1 5

7 5

8

8 3 6

9 5 4

4 5

7

9 2 3

6

7 1 8 3 5

1 6 3 5 8 2 7 9 4

7 4 8 3 6 9 5 2 1

6 3 4 7 2 8 9 1 5

9 2 1 6 5 3 4 7 8

8 7 5 9 4 1 2 6 3

3 1 2 8 7 4 6 5 9

5 9 7 1 3 6 8 4 2

4 8 6 2 9 5 1 3 7

1 1 9 7

EASY

2 5 9 4 1 7 3 8 6

HARD

9 7 6 2 8 1 3 5 4

2 5 8 3 4 7 1 6 9

1 4 3 9 5 6 2 7 8

7 9 2 5 3 8 4 1 6

5 8 1 4 6 9 7 2 3

3 2

6 5 1 4

6 1

4 7

2 1 5 Across 1. Salvage 5. Recap 8. Intransigence 9. Lee 10. Chronicle 12. Impair 13. Unfold 15.

8 Firstborn 16.9Sap 18. Overconfident 20. Tatty 21. Odyssey 7 3. Anarchist 9 2 4. Ensure 3 Down 1. Spill 2. Letter-perfect 5 9 1 6 3 12. In 5. Rug 6. Consciousness 7. Pretend 11. Nonentity front 14. Go into 17. Petty 19. Coy 7

13

15

21

Your Stars

ACROSS 1. Mercury mixture one ate to get it together (7) 5. Junior players fired in Westerns perhaps (5) 8. Last of quartet to have motive for such crime (7) 9. Has nothing on for half the week, and is upset about it (5) 10. Exert one with Act it may be hard to get out of (9) 12. One may understand it to be the bishop’s office (3) 13. Medicine in liquid form one abandons (5) 17. Part of a popular game of football, and it’s a wrap (3) 19. Enjoying freedom from bar, it led East to destruction (9) 21. Pass out now so that it can be arranged (5) 22. Beg slob to adapt if he eats so greedily (7) 24. Root him out of Stockholm, and... (5) 25. ... he’ll lose a day as ‘X’ dulcify it (7) DOWN 1. Choir’s rendering of a New Testament half-cough (6) 2. Turned aside from trad arrangement the day before (7) 3. Inconsequential talk having extra hilarious conclusions (3) 4. One is mad to show fellow first-class return (5) 5. Edward, say, would own up to it alternatively (9) 6. Has affection for former President in Lesotho (5) 7. The South did nothing as one edged along ingratiatingly (6) 11. Laziness with which clone might dine out (9) 14. Sailor much in evidence after team-change (7) 15. Has confidence in support that includes table-top (6) 16. Betting price on Derby Day starts with no return (4-2) 18. Some trees ploughing finally overturned (5) 20. Sham extra player about to go up (5) 23. An extra purchase, by the sound of it (3)

Ashburton Guardian

6 3 4 1 7 2 8 9 5

8 6 9 7 2 3 5 4 1

3 2 5 6 1 4 9 8 7

4 1 7 8 9 5 6 3 2

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS 9 8 1 1 3 4 9 6 4 7 7 5 2 1 8

415 9 692 1 8 7 3 8 2 3 8 5 8 6 1 9 2 9 1 4 3 4 7 7 6 5

2 7 5 2 9 3 4 6 8 1

6 2 8 87 4 9 4 6 5 1 5 7 78 9 1 5 8 53 32 7 2 9 1 6 2 3 74

3 7 414 2 6 8 5 9

2 9 6 4 3 5 7 8 1

4 8 1 9 2 7 3 6 5

3 1 5 7 9 8 6 2 4

8 4 9 2 1 6 5 3 7

7 5 3 8 6 2 4 1 9

5 3 7 6 8 1 9 4 2

6 7 2 3 5 4 1 9 8

1 6 8 5 4 9 2 7 3

9 2 4 1 7 3 8 5 6

3 3 2 8 5 1 6

Guardian

Family Notices 22 Ashburton Guardian

15

17

15

Ash

Geraldine

Ra n

Ashburton, Geraldine, Temuka & Surrounding Districts since 1905

E.B. CARTER LTD

Canterbury owned, locally operated

Patersons Funeral Services and Ashburton Crematorium Ltd Office and Chapel Corner East & Cox Streets, Ashburton

Ph 307 7433

For all your memorial requirements New headstones and designs Renovations, Additional inscriptions, Cleaning and Concrete work Carried out by qualified tradesmen.

620 East Street Ashburton Ph/Fax 308 5369 or 0274 357 974 ebcarter@xtra.co.nz NZMMMA Member

Guardian Motoring Call the Guardian for all your classified requirements.

307 7900

AM

Data provided by NIWA

less than 30 fine

mainly isolated cloudy drizzle drizzle few showers fine showers clearing showers 30 to 59 isolated snow thunder flurries

sleet thunder

Canterbury Plains

rain

snow

hail

60 plus

NZ Today

Canterbury High Country

TODAY

TODAY

Occasional rain, with some heavy falls possible at first. Southerlies dying out in the evening.

Rain, possible heavy falls at first. Easing to scattered rain or drizzle in the afternoon and clearing at night. Wind at 1000m: E 30 km/h dying out in the morning. Wind at 2000m: E 30 km/h dying out in the morning

TOMORROW

FZL: Above 3000m

WEDNESDAY Fine apart from morning and evening cloud.

Northeasterlies dying out.

THURSDAY

Auckland

showers

Hamilton

thunder

Napier

rain

Areas of morning cloud then fine.

Wind at 1000m: Light winds.

Wind at 2000m: N 25 km/h.

Nelson

rain

Blenheim

drizzle

WEDNESDAY

Greymouth

clearing

Fine spells, cloud morning and night at lower levels. Northerlies.

Christchurch

rain

Timaru

rain

Queenstown

clearing

Cloudy periods. Light winds.

FRIDAY

FRIDAY

Dunedin

clearing

Partly cloudy with light winds.

Cloud increasing. Northerlies freshening.

Invercargill

clearing

World Weather

Adelaide Amsterdam Bangkok Berlin Brisbane Cairns Cairo Calcutta Canberra Colombo Darwin Delhi Dubai Dublin Edinburgh

showers fine rain fine showers windy cloudy fine fine fine thunder fine rain fine cloudy

Forecasts for today

24 16 29 16 31 35 26 36 30 31 32 36 24 11 10

Frankfurt Geneva Hobart Hong Kong Honolulu Islamabad Jakarta Johannesburg Kuala Lumpur London Los Angeles Madrid Melbourne Moscow Nadi

21 5 24 4 23 26 14 25 14 24 25 21 18 8 5

fine fine showers fine showers fine showers fine thunder fine fine rain showers rain thunder

19 18 27 20 28 25 32 27 33 17 20 12 32 4 32

New York Paris Perth Rarotonga Rome San Francisco Seoul Singapore Stockholm Sydney Taipei Tel Aviv Tokyo Washington Zurich

4 3 15 14 22 13 26 11 25 6 12 5 20 0 23

rain fine fine showers fog showers cloudy thunder fine fine fine fine drizzle rain fine

6

Monday 9 noon 3

6

9 pm am 3

6

Tuesday 9 noon 3

6

0

3:50

Good

Good fishing Rise 6:09 am Set 7:12 pm

9 pm am 3

6

9 noon 3

New moon

28 Mar 3:59 pm ©Copyright OceanFun Publishing Ltd.

Rise 7:45 am Set 7:31 pm

Bad

Bad fishing

6

9 pm

Rise 7:46 am Set 7:29 pm

Bad fishing

Bad

Rise 7:20 am Set 7:45 pm

First quarter

4 Apr www.ofu.co.nz

6:41 am

Rise 8:32 am Set 8:19 pm

Full moon

11 Apr 6:10 pm

Maori Fishing Guide by Bill Hohepa

For the very latest weather information, including Weather Warnings, visit metservice.com

4 7 9 26 8 10 4 24 3 20 14 10 6 8 3

River Levels

1.60 nc

Rakaia Fighting Hill (NIWA) at 2:00 pm, yesterday 110.1 Nth Ashburton at 12:10 pm, yesterday

3.89

Sth Ashburton at 12:10 pm, yesterday

4.47

Rangitata Klondyke at 2:05 pm, yesterday

44.0 243.4 nc

Waitaki Kurow at 12:14 pm, yesterday Source: Environment Canterbury

Ashburton Airport Temperature °C At 4pm 16.0 16.5 Max to 4pm 10.4 Minimum 10.0 Grass minimum Rainfall mm 0.6 16hr to 4pm March to date 76.8 Avg Mar to date 51 2017 to date 150.4 159 Avg year to date Wind km/h SW 7 At 4pm Strongest gust NE 28 Time of gust 9:54am

© Copyright Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited 2017

to 4pm yesterday

Methven

Christchurch Airport

Timaru Airport

14.6 14.8 8.9 –

16.1 17.5 11.2 11.1

15.5 15.9 10.3 –

0.9 177.4 – 458.8 –

0.6 68.0 47 140.8 131

4.0 59.6 37 156.6 127

E2 – –

E 26 NE 46 9:55am

N6 NW 24 3:24pm

Compiled by

MAKE SMALLBONE HOLDEN YOUR NEXT STOP & GET THE SERVICE YOU DESERVE SERVICE ALL MAKES WOF CHECKS FULL MECHANICAL REPAIRS

17 14 15 15 14 14 12 12 10 9 8 11 8

cumecs

Selwyn Whitecliffs (NIWA) at 2:00 pm, yesterday

Canterbury Readings

Wednesday

9:57 4:07 10:19 4:34 10:41 4:53 11:07 5:19 11:29 5:41 11:58 The times shown are for the Ashburton River mouth. For the Rangitata river mouth subtract 16 minutes and for the Rakaia river mouth subtract 4 minutes.

Rise 7:43 am Set 7:32 pm

12 18 23 32 17 18 10 33 10 27 22 23 10 26 18

24 24 24 25 21 22 21 22 17 15 18 15 16

Palmerston North rain rain

FZL: 3600 ms

THURSDAY

Cloudy periods. Light winds.

overnight max low

Wellington

TOMORROW

Morning cloud, then fine. Northeasterlies developing.

Monday, 27 March 2017

A front moves down across the North Island today while a southerly change and clearing weather moves up the South Island. A ridge of high pressure should build over the South Island tomorrow while a complex trough is likely to approach the North Island from the northeast.

1

Whalan and Partners Ltd, Bayleys Licenced Under the REA Act 2008.

NZ Situation

Wind km/h

2

Mick Hydes M 027 437 9696 B 03 307 7377 E mick.hydes@bayleys.co.nz

11

PM

Waimate

m am 3 3

If you are looking at selling, call me.

OVERNIGHT MIN

10:55 – 4:15

Tides, Sun, Moon and Fishing

Honest. Trustworthy. Local.

22

12

SUN PROTECTION ALERT

fog

MASTER MONUMENTAL MASON

OVERNIGHT MIN

PROTECTION REQUIRED Even on cloudy days

Managing Director

FUNERAL FURNISHERS

21

11

gitata

15

Please note all late death notices or notices sent Official Opening 18 Feb - 9am til 4pm outside ordinary office hours IN MEMORIAM must be emailed to:

Any queries please contact 0800 ASHBURTON (0800-274-287)

OVERNIGHT MIN

TIMARU

246 Havelock Street

BLEE, Dorothy Joy – Passed away March 27, 2015.

Ever in our hearts.

John and family.

22

10

Midnight Tonight

n

246 Havelock Street

to ensure publication.

To place a notice during office hours please contact us on 03 307 7900 for more information

MAX

MAX

bur to

OVERNIGHT MIN

THURSDAY: Fine spells. Northeast breezes.

ia

or call in and visit Paterson’s Funeral Services FDANZ Ashburton our new premises at Ph 307 7433 Eion McKinnon Rob Cope-Williams Celebrant

MAX

17

ka

15

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy periods.

Northeasterlies.

AKAROA

Ra

ASHBURTON

MAX

TOMORROW: Cloud morning and night. Northeasterlies. www.guardianonline.co.nz

LYTTELTON

LINCOLN

DEATHS

deathnotices@theguardian.co.nz

Paterson’s Funeral Services FDANZ Ashburton Ph 307 7433

17

Rakaia

WHITE, Raymond Clifton – Passed away peacefully on March 26, 2017 at Christchurch Hospital. Aged 67 years. Son of the late Jean MID CANTERBURY and Cliff. Brother of John and FUNERAL SERVICES Lil, Ken and Gaynor, and the late Jennifer. Messages Galbraith’s provide choice! to White Family PO Box We have a team of highly respected, professional funeral directors and Galbraith’s celebrants. We offer you complete funeral care including pre-arrangement, 472, Ashburton 7740. We and your choice of venue, funeral celebrants and catering. provide choice! acknowledge the wonderful We believe that every life is unique and every person’s funeral needs to reflect their individuality - ask us how we can be of assistance to you and care given to Raymond by Call us on your family.

Idea Services in Ashburton.

Call us on 308 3980 Funeral details to follow.

308 or call in and visit 3980 our new premises at

TODAY: Cloudy, occasional rain clearing at night. Southerly.

CHRISTCHURCH

17

METHVEN

GRAY, Renee Elizabeth – Passed away peacefully on Friday, March 24, 2017, Aged 89. Loved wife of Sefton, Loving mother and motherin-law of Martin and Christine, Geoff and Leonie, Sue and the late Selwyn Schloss, Ruth and the late Owen Campbell, Carol, Beth, Sam and Shannon.Loving grandma to all her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Messages for Renee’s family may be posted to the Gray Family, C\- PO Box 31300, Christchurch 8444. The Funeral Service for Renee will be held in Ashburton, details will follow.

PAISLEY, Edward Keith, (Ted) – Passed away peacefully on March 24, 2017, at Ashburton.

Dearly loved husband of Margaret for 62 years. Loved father and father in law of Willy and Judy, (Naracoote, Australia) Ted and Wendy, (Tauranga) George and Gerardine, Margaret-Anne, (Calgary, Canada) the late Elizabeth, Catherine and Darryl Chambers, the late Jonathon, and the late David.

Grandfather of Michael, and Joseph; Tim; Hannah, and Henry; Andrew and Kristy, Charlotte, and Martin and great Grandad of the late Ryan, and Jasper. Messages to P O Box 472, Ashburton 7740. A service for Ted will be held at the Ashburton Club and MSA Havelock Street, Ashburton on Wednesday March 29, commencing at 1.30pm. Followed by private interment.

15

Monday, March 27, 2017

Ashburton Forecast

Wa i m a ka r i r i

DARFIELD

Map for today

DEATHS

www.canterburychristianfunerals.co.nz

RANGIORA

LAKE COLERIDGE

Weather

DEATHS

Canterbury Christian Funeral Services FDANZ Ph 358 8807

17

15

AIRCON - ELECTRICAL GENUINE HOLDEN PARTS YOU CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE Bookings essential Main South Road, Tinwald, Ashburton 03 307 9028 www.smallbones.co.nz

Television Monday, March 27, 2017

www.guardianonline.co.nz

TVNZ 1

TVNZ 2

©TVNZ 2017

©TVNZ 2017

6am Breakfast The Breakfast team presents news, interviews, weather, and information.

9am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3 With special guest Dax Shepard. 0 10am Whanau Living 10:30 The Chase 0 11:30 Come Dine With Me Daytime Noon 1 News At Midday 0 12:30 Emmerdale PGR 0 1pm Britain’s Got Talent 3 0 2:25 Border Security 0 2:55 Tipping Point 3:55 Te Karere 2 4:25 Millionaire Hot Seat 0 5pm The Chase 0 6pm 1 News At 6pm 0

6am Creflo Dollar 6:30 Sesame Street 3 0 6:55 Peppa Pig 0 7am Littlest Pet Shop 3 0 7:25 Matt Hatter Chronicles 3 0 7:50 The 7D 0 8:15 Henry Hugglemonster 3 0 8:40 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 3 0 9am Infomercials 10:30 Neighbours 3 0 11am Home And Away 3 0 11:30 Shortland Street 3 0 Noon The Ellen DeGeneres Show 0 1pm Jeremy Kyle’s Emergency Room PGR 2pm Judge Rinder PGR 3 3pm My Wife And Kids 3 0 3:30 The Adam And Eve Show 0 4pm KC Undercover 0 4:30 Friends 3 0 5pm The Simpsons 3 0 5:30 Home And Away 0 6pm The Big Bang Theory 3 0 6:30 Neighbours 0

7pm Seven Sharp 0 7:30 Fair Go 0 8pm Highway Cops A police pursuit ends on foot in Canterbury; tempers rise near Oamaru; a wobbly wheel worries the police near Cromwell. 0 8:30 APB 0 9:30 Blindspot AO 0 10:25 1 News Tonight 0 10:55 Murder In The First AO 0

7pm Shortland Street 0 7:30 My Kitchen Rules 0 8:45 N The Undateables Postman Sam has Asperger’s syndrome; Kate has narcolepsy; Ian is going blind.

Can they find love? 0 9:45 The Walking Dead 3 0 10:40 Two And A Half Men PGR 3 0

11:50 The Following AO 3 With a few days before Joe’s execution, Ryan and Mike shift their focus to a new threat; Max re-joins the task force, and comes dangerously close to a serious menace. 0 12:45 Te Karere 3 2 1:10 Infomercials 5:05 Impact For Life 5:35 Te Karere 3 2

11:10 Cougar Town PGR 3 0 11:40 Filthy Rich AO 3 0 12:30 Desperate Housewives 3 0 1:20 Shortland Street 3 0 1:50 Infomercials 2:45 Scandal AO 3 3:30 The Real 3 4:20 America’s Funniest Home Videos 3 0 4:40 The Adam And Eve Show 3 0 5:05 Neighbours 3 0 5:30 Infomercials

Highway Cops 8pm on TVNZ 1

BRAVO 10am Teen Mom 3 10:55 Catfish 3 11:45 Snapped PGR 3 12:40 Vanderpump Rules PGR 3 1:35 Intervention AO 3 2:35 Botched 3 3:35 Hoarders 3 4:30 Dance Moms 5:30 Teen Mom 6:30 Catfish 7:30 Masters Of Flip Kortney and Dave may have underestimated the return on a quick flip.

8:30 Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry PGR Tyler reveals a family mystery with reality star Audrina Patridge; Moby is surprised when Tyler gives him very specific details from his deceased mother.

9:30 Wahlburgers Alma, Paul, and Bob attend the annual Wahlberg family reunion, where Brandon has his first chance to join the family poker game.

10pm Wahlburgers 10:30 Intervention 11:30 Snapped PGR 3 12:20 Infomercials 3

THREE

PRIME 6am The Fairly Odd Parents 6:25 Sanjay And Craig 3 6:50 Shimmer And Shine 3 7:15 Monsters v Aliens 7:40 Kid v Kat 3 8:05 Avatar – The Last Airbender 8:30 Endangered Species 3 8:55 Million Dollar Minute 3 9:25 Wheel Of Fortune 3 9:50 Jeopardy 3 10:20 The Doctors PGR 11:10 Hot Bench 11:40 Bones PGR 3 12:35 Fargo AO 3 1:50 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon PGR 3 2:55 Escape To The Country 3 3:55 Antiques Roadshow 3 5pm Million Dollar Minute 5:30 Prime News 6pm Wheel Of Fortune 6:30 Jeopardy 7pm The Crowd Goes Wild 7:30 Fishing Impossible In the middle of winter, the lads are in Norway to catch a king crab, which they can only find by diving under the thick winter ice.

8:35 M Firewall AO 2006 Crime.

10:50 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon PGR

6:30 Pukoro 2 7am Miharo 2 7:30 Pukoro 2 8am Pukana 2 8:30 Te Kaea 3 2 9am Kawe Korero – Reporters 9:30 R And R 10am Korero Mai 3 2 11am Toku Reo 3 2 Noon Korero Mai 3 2 1pm Toku Reo 3 2 2pm Opaki 3 2:30 Ako 3 2 3pm Pukoro 2 3:30 Miharo 2 4pm Rugby League (RPL) Replay and highlights.

5:30 Te Matatini (HLS) Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival.

6pm Nga Pari Karangaranga O Te Motu 3 6:30 Te Kaea 2 7pm Kawe Korero – Reporters 7:30 Cam’s Kai 8pm Pete And Pio’s Kai Safari 8:30 Aotearoa AO 3 9pm You Can’t Ask That AO 9:20 POI – Hopes And Dreams PGR 9:30 Hunting Aotearoa AO 10pm Whawhai Fight Night 3 10:30 Te Kaea 3 2

6am Benny Hinn 6:30 50 Ways To Kill Your Mammy 7:30 Walks With My Dog 8:30 Alexander’s Lost World 9:30 Jamie At Home 10am Jimmy’s Farm Diaries 10:30 Restoration Man 11:30 Auction Hunters Noon Twiggy’s Frock Exchange 1pm Alexander’s Lost World 2pm 50 Ways To Kill Your Mammy 3pm Donna Hay – Fast, Fresh, Simple 3:30 Puffin Patrol 4:30 Hugh’s Three Good Things 5pm Cheese Slices 5:30 Tiny House Hunting Realtors help two people looking for a tiny home to find the perfect mini-space.

6pm My Floating Home 6:30 American Pickers 7:30 Operation Arctic 8:30 Italy’s Invisible Cities 9:30 Treasures Decoded The myth of El Dorado is decoded by looking at historical accounts of the numerous attempts to find the gold and jewels.

10:30 American Pickers

11:05 The Blacklist AO The team targets an assassin who kills her prey with a fatal disease; Red asks Tom to go undercover inside his criminal organisation. 0 Midnight The Project 12:30 Infomercials 5:30 City Impact Church

11:50 The Crowd Goes Wild 3 The team presents the best of the day’s sports news.

12:20 Cricket – International (RPL) Blackcaps v South Africa.

The third day of the third test match at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

12:50 Closedown

11pm Kawe Korero – Reporters News reporters dissect and discuss the day’s news and events.

11:30 Closedown

11:30 Hugh’s Three Good Things Hugh reveals his theory that threeingredient dishes are ideal for simple but delicious cooking.

Midnight Cheese Slices 12:30 Benny Hinn 1am American Restoration 2am Travels With The Bondi Vet 3am Beverly Hills Pawn 4am Italy’s Invisible Cities 5am Fashion Fund

MOVIES PREMIERE

MOVIES GREATS

6am CSI MV 6:50 Criminal Intent MV 7:40 Storage Wars – New York PG 8:05 Storage Wars – New York PG 8:30 Shipping Wars PG 8:55 The Simpsons PG 9:20 Criminal Minds 16VS 10:10 CSI – Miami MV 11am NCIS – LA MV 11:55 NCIS – LA MV 12:50 Pawn Stars PG 1:15 Criminal Intent MV 2:10 CSI MV 3:05 Border Security M 3:35 Shipping Wars PG 4:05 Crossing Lines MV 5pm The Simpsons PG 5:30 Criminal Intent MV 6:30 Border Security M 7pm Pawn Stars PG 7:30 CSI – Miami MV 8:30 Piha Rescue PG 9pm Deep Undercover MV 9:30 Real Prison Breaks MV 10:30 Criminal Minds 16VS 11:25 CSI – Miami MV 12:15 Shipping Wars PG 12:40 Pawn Stars PG 1:05 Crossing Lines MV 1:55 Criminal Minds 16VS 2:45 CSI MV 3:30 The Simpsons PG 3:55 Piha Rescue PG 4:20 Deep Undercover MV 4:45 Real Prison Breaks MV 5:35 Border Security M

12:35 A Sister’s Nightmare MV 2013 Thriller. Kelly Rutherford, Natasha Henstridge. 2:05 The Trust 16VLSC 2016 Crime.

Nicolas Cage, Elijah Wood, Sky Ferreira. 3:35 The Conjuring 2 16VC 2016 Horror.

5:45 Nothing But Trailers M

7am Billy Madison ML 1995 Comedy. Adam Sandler, Bridgette Wilson. 8:30 Up In The Air MLS 2009 Drama.

George Clooney, Vera Farmiga.

10:20 Kingdom Of Heaven 16V 2005 Action.

Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson. 12:40 Blue Jasmine ML 2013 Drama.

Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin.

2:15 Billy Madison ML 1995 Comedy. Adam Sandler, Bridgette Wilson. 3:45 The Other Man MLS 2008 Thriller. Liam Neeson, Antonio Banderas, Laura Linney. 5:15 The Hills Have Eyes 18VS 2006 Horror. Aaron Stanford, Emilie de Ravin. 7pm Happy Gilmore ML 1996 Comedy.

A retired hockey player enters the Pro Golf Tour to earn money to save his grandmother from losing her house. Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen. 8:30 Priest MV 2011 Action. A battlehardened rogue warrior priest embarks on a quest to save his niece from vampires in a postapocalyptic world.

10pm Almost Famous MC 2000 Drama.

9:45pm on Three

THE BOX

TUESDAY

CHOICE

6am The AM Show 9am The Café 10am Infomercials 11:25 Family Feud 3 0 Noon Dr Phil AO 3 1pm The Bachelor New Zealand PGR 3 0 2:20 Baggage AO 3 2:55 Entertainment Tonight 3:20 Sticky TV 4pm NewsHub Live At 4pm 4:25 The Blocktagon Five couples must turn Melbourne’s octagonal ‘ugly duckling’ Hotel Saville in South Yarra, into high-end luxury homes.

5:25 Family Feud 0 6pm NewsHub Live At 6pm NewsHub live At 6pm presents comprehensive coverage of global and local news.

7pm The Project 7:30 The Bachelor New Zealand PGR 0 8:45 The Wrong Girl AO 0 9:45 Chicago Med AO Maggie must face her past when her arresting officer arrives at the hospital with a serious injury. 0 10:35 NewsHub Late

7am Swipe MV 2016 Thriller.

Anna Hutchison, Karissa Staples.

8:25 Keanu 16VLC 2016 Comedy. Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Tiffany Haddish.

10:05 Paranormal Activity – The Ghost Dimension MVC 2015 Horror. Chris Murray, Brit Shaw. 11:40 Vacation MVLSC 2015 Comedy.

Ed Helms, Christina Applegate.

1:20 Captain America – Civil War MV 2016 Sci-fi Adventure.

Chris Evans, Robert Downey jr, Scarlett Johansson.

3:45 Keanu 16VLC 2016 Comedy. Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Tiffany Haddish.

5:25 Wishin’ And Hopin’ ML 2014 Comedy. Chevy Chase, Molly Ringwald. 6:55 The Trust 16VLSC 2016 Crime.

Nicolas Cage, Elijah Wood, Sky Ferreira. 8:30 The Conjuring 2 16VC 2016 Horror.

Two paranormal investigators travel to London, where a malicious spirit has taken hold of a girl. Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Madison Wolfe.

10:45 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot 16VLSC 2016 Biography Drama. Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman.

Chicago Med

MAORI

Ashburton Guardian 23

TUESDAY

TUESDAY

Midnight Flightplan MV 2005 Thriller. 1:35 The Other Man MLS 2008 Thriller. 3:05 The Hills Have Eyes 18VS 2006 Horror. 4:50 Nothing But Trailers M 5:20 Almost Famous MC 2000 Drama.

SKY SPORT 1 6am Football – A-League (RPL) Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets.

8am Football – A-League (RPL) Brisbane Roar FC v Melbourne Victory.

10am Cricket – International (HLS) Blackcaps v South Africa – Third Test, Day Two. 10:30 L Cricket – International Blackcaps v South Africa – Third Test, Day Three Morning Session.

1:05 The Cricket Show 1:35 L Cricket – International Blackcaps v South Africa – Third Test, Day Three Afternoon Session.

6:30 L Football – A-League Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets.

From Westpac Stadium, Wellington.

7pm Pure Fly NZ 7:30 L Netball – ANZ Premiership Magic v Stars.

From Hamilton.

9:30 Football – A-League (RPL) Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets.

From Westpac Stadium, Wellington.

11:30 Rugby League – NRL (HLS) Gold Coast Titans v North Queensland Cowboys.

From Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast.

TUESDAY

Midnight Aussie Rules – AFL (DLY) Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants.

3am Rugby Nation 4am Rugby – Super Rugby (RPL) Jaguares v Reds.

0 Closed captions; 3 Repeat; 2 Maori Language; HLS Highlights; RPL Replay; DLY Delayed. CLASSIFICATIONS: 16/18 Approved for persons 16/18 years or over; AO Adults only; C Content may offend; L Language may offend; M Suitable for mature audiences; PG/PGR Parental guidance recommended for young viewers; S Sexual content may offend; V Contains violence. Local Radio: NewsTalk ZB 873AM/98.1FM FM Classic Hits ZEFM 92.5; Port FM Local 94.9, 98.9 and 106.1

SKY SPORT 2 6am Rugby League – Super League (RPL) St Helens v Warrington Wolves.

8am L Motorsport – Nascar Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400.

Noon Motorsport – Formula One World Championship Australian Grand Prix – Main Race. 2:30 Rugby League – NRL Gold Coast Titans v North Queensland Cowboys.

3pm Rugby League – NRL St George Illawarra Dragons v Warriors. 5pm The After Match 5:30 Golf – World Championships Dell Matchplay – Semi-finals and Finals. 6:30 Golf Central 7:30 Rugby League – NRL Gold Coast Titans v North Queensland Cowboys.

8pm Cricket – International Blackcaps v South Africa – Third Test, Day Three. 8:30 NRL 360 9:30 Monday Night With Matty Johns 10:30 Golf – Women’s LGPA Tour Kia Classic – Round Four.

11pm Fox Sports News 11:30 Football – A-League Shootout

TUESDAY

12:30 Cricket – International Blackcaps v South Africa – Third Test, Day Three.

2:30 Football – International All Whites v Fiji. 3am Football – NZ Premiership Semifinal One – First v Fourth.

5am Motorsport – MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar.

5:30 Motorsport – Formula One World Championship Australian Grand Prix.

27Mar17

DISCOVERY 6am Auction Hunters PG Hidden Hot Wheels.

6:30 The Unexplained Files PG 7:30 How Do They Do It? PG 8am Auction Hunters PG Blazing Saddles.

8:30 MythBusters PG Indy Car Special. 9:25 Killing Fields M 10:20 Killing Fields M 11:15 Web Of Lies M 12:10 The Perfect Murder M Skating Death. 1:05 Swamp Murders M 2pm How It’s Made PG 2:25 How It’s Made PG 2:55 How Do They Do It? PG 3:20 Auction Hunters PG Party Gras. 3:50 Deadliest Catch PG Hell’s Bells.

4:45 What On Earth? M Curse of the Sea Monster.

5:40 MythBusters PG 6:35 Railroad Australia PG 7:30 Auction Hunters M When the shop’s landlord appears, Ton must negotiate with him; Allen tests an experimental powered parachute.

8pm Auction Hunters PG 8:30 MythBusters PG Unfinished Business.

9:30 What On Earth? PG Raiders of the Holy Lance.

10:30 What On Earth? M 11:30 The Unexplained Files M

TUESDAY

12:30 Swamp Murders M 1:25 The Perfect Murder M 2:20 Auction Hunters PG 2:45 Auction Hunters PG 3:15 Deadliest Catch PG 4:10 Treehouse Masters PG 5:05 Bering Sea Gold PG

metservice.com | Compiled by

24 Ashburton Guardian

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Monday, March 27, 2017

Sport

Black Sticks battle back The Black Sticks have powered back from a two-goal deficit to beat the United States 3-2 at the Waimakariri Hockey Stadium in Rangiora yesterday.

After Saturday’s 6-2 first-up loss to the US, things looked ominous for the Kiwis when they found themselves down 2-0 after the opening quarter.

The New Zealanders fought back, nailing three unanswered goals to seal a confidence-boosting win. The Black Sticks now head to Hastings to defend their title at the four-nation Hawke’s Bay Cup from March 31.

The Rakaia forward pack engages with their rivals, West Melton, in the opening round of the Combined Country rugby competition on the weekend.

PHOTO JAIME PITT-MACKAY 250317-JP-044

Celtic, Rakaia kick off season the right way

BY MATT MARKHAM

MATT.M@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ

Mid Canterbury sides made a mixed start to the Combined Country Rugby competition on the weekend, winning two matches and losing two.

Rakaia and Celtic both recorded good wins to open their campaigns, while both Methven and Hampstead suffered defeats with Mid Canterbury’s other

side, Southern, enjoying a prolonged pre-season with the bye in the opening round.

Playing in Section One of the competition, Celtic made light work of their challenge against Ohoka in North Canterbury, running in four tries in their 2913 win.

Rakaia produced a scrappy effort, but managed to walk away with five competition points in

their five-try effort against West Melton at the Rakaia Domain winning 35-13.

In Methven, it wasn’t good news with a 10-32 loss to the visiting Oxford side while Hampstead’s trip to face Glenmark at Cheviot didn’t pan out how they would have liked as they lost 1037.

In other matches from Section One, Darfield beat Saracens

32-12 on Friday night, defending champions Waihora snuck home 19-18 over Prebbleton and Burnham, Dunsandel and Irwell combined beat Hornby 19-10.

In Section 2, Kaiapoi romped home over Rolleston winning 35-6 while Southbridge were comfortable 27-13 winners over old foe, Lincoln.

Mid Canterbury match reports on Page 16.

Banned Bombers back After more than four years of hell, the 10 AFL players resuming from their Essendon doping bans enjoyed a near-perfect comeback. St Kilda defender Jake Carlisle was the only one not to play on a winning team in round one. And he played against former Essendon teammate Jake Melksham, now at Melbourne. Bombers key forward Michael Hurley has revealed there were text messages with former team-mates as they made their long-awaited returns. The Bombers featured six players of the 34 who were banned early last year for doping offences.

Latham, de Kock star A short leg catch by New Zealand’s Tom Latham and a rearguard innings of 90 from South Africa’s Quinton de Kock highlighted an intriguing but rainpunctuated second day of the third and final test in Hamilton.

New Zealand reached 67 without loss after dismissing South Africa for 314.

Latham (42) and Jeet Raval (25) surpassed the series’ previous best opening partnership of 18 by Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar in Wellington.

Whether Latham’s return to form directly correlated with

his fielding prowess would be a difficult cricketing enigma to prove. Whatever the reason, his technique metamorphosed from clothesline to rock.

Matt Henry equalled his best test figures of four wickets for 93 runs set on debut at Lord’s in 2015; Neil Wagner’s three for 104 continued his record of taking a wicket in each of his 32 tests.

Wagner secured the last three dismissals. Until then the leftarmer looked intense and/or disgruntled, as if he’d come back to his car and found a parking ticket on the windscreen. In the

Vettel takes Aus GP for Ferrari P18

79th over he rifled a delivery at Keshav Maharaj which climbed on him, rapped the gloves, and found its way to BJ Watling.

His confidence soared.

South Africa were 258 for eight when rain stopped play in the afternoon session.

De Kock was unfazed throughout, playing with freedom and a suppleness of wrist.

Such effortless stroke play included 11 fours and two sixes while he nursed the tail to 124 runs for the last four wickets.

Latham’s fielding triumph came when left-arm spinner

Mitchell Santner was introduced in the 62nd over. To his third ball, du Plessis tried to get cute as it pitched around off stump, lapping it around the corner.

Under the lid, Latham moved to his right with the delivery and plucked a catch from nowhere out of sheer anticipation.

He soon pouched another, sprawling low to his right to remove Vernon Philander.

He now gets a chance to rectify his lack of batting form after scoring 24 runs this series.

The weather forecast is grim, but the game is advanced. - NZME

Leishman looks forward Marc Leishman believes the silver lining to an elimination from the World Golf Championships-Match Play is an extra day’s rest before his storybook return to the Masters. With Leishman’s arrival at Augusta only eight days away, the 33-year-old Australian was sent packing from the WGC event at Austin Country Club courtesy of a 4 and 3 defeat to five-time major winner Phil Mickelson in their final-16 match. “Obviously it’s very disappointing not to win, but when your opponent gets off to a start like that it’s so hard to beat, “ Leishman said.

- NZME

Big bets on the big putts P20 www.guardianonline.co.nz