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Success at last: Lucie Boshier and driver Robert Butt [outside] on their way to winning the Win McPadden and Rod O’Connor Pace event at Westport Racecourse on Boxing Day.
By Damian George Blenheim racehorse co-owner Greg Ruffell hopes his new champion has turned the corner after winning her first race at Westport Racecourse on Boxing Day. Lucie Boshier, who is owned by a group of nine men from Blenheim and one from Ashburton, overcame her notorious race day stage fright to take out the Win McPadden and Rod O’Connor Pace event by “about a length�. “She’s always shown a lot of
ability but she’s been a wee bit funny at races,� he says. “She used to get a wee bit nervous. This time, she just relaxed a bit more and won quite easily in the end.� After winning all her workout and trial races and gaining three fourth placings over the last year, the Boxing Day victory could be the breakthrough the men were hoping for. “We want to win a few more races now. She’s just having a wee spell at the moment but after that we want to get her into the
Phillies races which are worth a wee bit more,� Mr Ruffell says. Lucie, who beat a field of 14 in the 2000 metre race, is trained in Rangiora by Andrew Stuart. Mr Ruffell says a group of 30 made the trip from Blenheim to Westport to cheer the horse on, and took numerous opportunities to toast her success on the way back. “All the owners and friends and family did a pub crawl on the way back. It took us four hours to get there, and about eight to get home.�
Anna sets sights on USA By Celeste Lodewyk Blenheim teenager Anna Tempero has begun packing her bags in preparation for her biggest gymnastics achievement to date, representing New Zealand in America. Anna, 16-years was informed just days before Christmas that she was one of 16 top gymnasts chosen from around NZ to compete at the 2011 IGI Chicago Style Gymnastics Meet on February 11, 12 and 13. Beaming from ear to ear, Anna says the honour of being selected has created quite a buzz amongst her family and friends. “This is my first NZ representation and I am rapt,� she grins. “All my family and friends have been hugely supportive and are just as excited as I am, I can’t wait.� Anna has been participating in gymnastics for nearly 11-years and says it was always her long term goal to compete overseas. “When the opportunity came up to apply for the 2011 event I jumped at the chance,� she says. To be selected, Anna first submitted an application before being judged at the New Zealand National GymSports Champion-
ships in September last year. There she competed as a level seven gymnast and won gold, her first ever gold medal at a national level. Now only weeks away from the Chicago competition, Anna and her family are fundraising to cover the $5000 cost for the week long trip. Currently there has been $2000 put towards the trip from a variety of sponsors, but in an effort to raise the remaining $3000 there is a Holiday Programme Fundraiser being held called, “Give It a Go Gymnastics�. The programme runs from January 18 to the 26th with two sessions per day. For more information about these fun gymnastics sessions contact Sarah Tempero on (03) 520 9262 or (03) 578 1186 or Anna Molloy on 027 645 1191.
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NZ REPRESENTATIVE: Marlborough gymnast, 16year-old Anna Tempero has been selected to represent New Zealand in America next month.
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