Sport
TUESDAY 10 January 2012
High point of career for Lowe Former Nelson College fullback and Tasman Mako sevens player James Lowe has been selected for the New Zealand Sevens squad by super-coach Gordon Tietjens. The selection came after the Makos won the bowl trophy, capping off a great weekend for the side at the Pub Charity national sevens tournament in Queenstown. The young side, led by New Zealand sevens player and Nelson sportsman of the year, Shane Christie, won the
bowl after beating Hawkes Bay in the final 31-22. Earlier, Tasman were competitive in a tough pool, drawing with Bay of Plenty, losing narrowly to North Harbour and running short on gas against a strong Canterbury side. The Makos were then sent to the bowl competition where they beat Southland and Northland in the quarter and semi finals respectively before their final win. Auckland went on to win the competition.
Croquet coach Coutts courses countrywide Andrew Board
Nelson croquet player Jarrod Coutts is currently travelling the length of the country, coaching other croquet players. He was in Nelson last week. Photo: Phillip Rollo.
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Nelson might well be home for national youth croquet representative Jarrod Coutts, but right now it’s just the halfway point on a 2000 kilometer coaching journey throughout the entire country. From Invercargill to Whangarei, Jarrod’s summer job is helping coach association and golf croquet players throughout New Zealand, building up their skills, identifying talent, as well as helping his own aspirations in becoming a physical education teacher. Jarrod has spent a day with each club in New Zealand, coaching 180 minutes of croquet. “It’s just for player development and seeing if there are some players that should be in the national squads. It’s pretty cool for me because I got a lot of coaching in the past, so it’s a way for me to put something back into the game as well as earning a bit of coin too,” says the former Nayland College student. A grant has helped finance Jarrod’s trip, although New Zealand Croquet also chip in for his travel costs. The coaching, though, means Jarrod has had to put his own playing career on the back-burner. “I had a couple of average results overseas last year so I’m taking a bit of break from competitive playing, so this is a way to still be involved in the game.” He says the majority of the players are older, although he helped mentor a 16 year-old girl from South Canterbury, which was positive, seeing another generation pick up the sport. “The oldest I’ve coached is 85. But they enjoy learning new things. They might not get to the top but if they get something out of the session and have a little bit of fun, then I think that’s my job done.” The coaching role is something Jarrod is definitely interested in. “It’s something I enjoy and it’s something I think that people need to take them to the next level.” So far Jarrod has mapped his way through the South Island and has already set sail for the North Island where he is due to finish around the 24th.
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SPORT IN BRIEF rUgbY: Nelson College rugby star Steven Soper may not be able to take part in the 2012 season after snapping his leg at training last week. The strapping flanker had been named in a national secondary school squad to train with sevens coach Gordon Titjens this week and had been aiming for national honours with the secondary school team later this year. But he will instead be re-focusing on gettting fit again after undergoing surgery at Nelson Hospital last Friday. rUnning: In 1994 the Nelson Striders made international press when, while out for their Sunday pack run up the Maitai Valley, a wild boar sent them scurrying up a steep bank to avoid an extremely agitated attack. Dam caretaker, Trevor Ruffell, came to their rescue by killing the beast with his bare hands in the nearby river. Now the animal’s remains are mounted, and are becoming one of the region’s most sought after athletic trophies; The Boar’s Jaw. To win it runners and walkers must complete the annual half marathon along the picturesque course in the confines of the valley. But the twist is the fastest is not rewarded with the trophy. Instead it’s won by whoever paces themselves closest to their estimate without a watch for 21.1km. Stu Cottam was exact in 1998 and came back last year for his second engraving on the honours board just seven seconds adrift of his estimate. Full details on www.nelsonevents.co.nz.
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