The Sun
Friday February 16, 2018
sport
sports talk Let’s talk about life after Hesson age of 22 will not reach the dizzying heights of Brendon McCullum’s men three years ago. The team is still highly competitive, but my feeling is that we are missing a couple of world class players to be truly capable of beating the powerhouse teams, especially away from home. The lack of world class players is nothing new for us Kiwis, but I can’t see a motivating reason why Hesson would stay beyond his current contract. Legacy cemented but with no real way of pushing the national side to its highest peak. Both Hesson and McCullum were two men eager to take the side to new frontiers, without those new frontiers being attainable. Why would he stay? Hesson could now look at ways to set up himself and his family financially, coaching
overseas, potentially in India’s lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition. Where does cricket go from here in New Zealand? Its core is strong. Kane Williamson will be our best ever batsman, Trent Boult is one of our finest bowlers ever but there is a missing element, an X factor missing that is stopping the team from being world beaters. Hesson appears to have done all he can, pulled the wagon as far as he could and he has earned the right to have job security in a profession where job security is never truly assured. Succession planning must begin now so that Hesson’s work can be built on in the years to come.
Generous prizes donated to More FM Beach Day
Ready for the beach. More FM promotions assistant Haidee Collins with journalist and promotions manager Tash Knox prepared for Sunday’s Beach Day at White’s Bay. Photo provided.
Sport inbrief
With Jacob Page
With the summer of cricket meandering along the future of Black Caps coach Mike Hesson must be pondered. It’s not a question of whether his job stability is in question, more his own personal reasons for staying. The 43-year-old has helped pilot cricket in this country through one of its most successful eras ever. He’ll likely stick around for a 2019 World Cup campaign to see if the team can go one step further than that glorious run to the final on home soil in 2015. It’s hard to see the current side achieving victory in the tournament next year. The team has a few weak links, less experience and will be playing in foreign conditions. It means Hesson, a man who started his coaching journey in Otago at the youthful
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Tasha Knox, More FM promotions manager, says the prizes at this year’s Beach Day at Whites Bay are excellent, thanks to great support from local businesses. The event is to be held on Sunday. Peter Ray Homes Sandcastle Competition offers a randomly allocated prize of a weekend in Hanmer Springs and the MTF Beach Dig has the finder of the first prize tag taking out $500. Registration for the sandcastle competition opens at 10.30am and closes at 12.45pm. The guidelines are clear. You can use only sand and water and environmentally safe objects like feathers and shells for decoration. Leave the power tools and artificial decorations at home. Contestants can compete in their age groups and there are also prizes in such categories as originality, technical difficulty, sea creature and most lifelike castle. The Beach Dig rules are also straightforward: Hands only, and no pushing and shoving! That contest starts at 1pm. For littlies (under five) there will be a separate Little Beach Dig. Marlborough4Fun has an event running from 11am as part of its summer concert series, including live music with Ken Hippolite, and of course free face painting and bouncy castles. Rarangi Surf Lifesavers will have a fundraising barbecue and the Blenheim Lions will help out with car parking.
Sailing champs The Interislander Optimist regatta and Port Marlborough Starling sailing championships are being held in Picton today, tomorrow and Sunday. Around 180 sailors and their coaches, support crew and family will be in Picton for the event. Come and cheer on the Queen Charlotte sailors who will have competitors in all fleets.
Waikawa Tri The Waikawa Tri, swim, bike, run, is suitable for all levels. Enter for fun, fitness or competition. Registration at the Waikawa foreshore reserve from 8.30am on Sunday.
Friday pool The Friday K nockout pool tournament is on again. This is free and not available to those who play division 1, and you don’t need to be a member of the club. Come along and learn how to play and learn the rules. Coaching is available free. Have some fun and you might even win a $50 bar tab. Every Friday at the Clubs of Marlborough, 7pm start.
2018 Forrest Graperide This year’s GrapeRide, the most highly anticipated cycling event of the year, is just around the corner and it’s not too late to get your entry in. The 2018 Forrest GrapeRide is set for April 7 and entry numbers are up 40 per cent on the same time last year. There are still places available in the field, but organisers say not to leave it too late as the cut off sits at 2500.
Team Kiwi Can rider Craig Harper with daughter Brooke approaching the finish line in the Forrest GrapeRide last year. File photo.