Thursday September 6, 2018
SPORT
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Young sports talent provide insight into success
Wellington’s top young athletes with their programme certificates at the ASB Sports Centre. With them are Mayor Justin Lester (far left) and sports portfolio councillor Simon Woolf (far right). PHOTO: Supplied
Wellington’s most talented upcoming athletes were recognised at the Wellington City Council Sports Talent Development Programme presentation function on August 29. The function, held at the ASB Sports Centre, was hosted by Mayor Justin Lester with 110 athletes, parents, coaches, sports administrators and council officials present to recognise the seven sports involved in the
2018 programme; Badminton, Climbing, Fencing, Hockey, Netball, Rowing, and Volleyball. The programme, created by Sport Wellington and funded by Wellington City Council, aims to assist regional sporting organisations to develop their talent programmes to provide optimum opportunities for young Wellington athletes and equip them for success in high performance sports environments.
Mayor Justin Lester described those in attendance as Wellington’s “cream of the crop”. “We want to help nurture you and help you grow. And we want to celebrate your stories in newspapers and on TV and cheer you on at future sporting events.” An example of this is in volleyball. Leanne Turrell, Game Development Officer for Volleyball NZ says in 2015 there were five
Wellington athletes as national representatives; this year there are 17. A feature of the function was an interview with three of Wellington’s top young athletes, conducted by Jason Pine from Newstalk ZB, who shared their inspiration that keeps them at the top of their game. The three athletes, Maya Hahn (football), Saviour Tui (netball), and Thomas Hoskin (fencing)
National Rippa Rugby Champs returning to Island Bay
have been through the Sport Talent Development programme and have competed both regionally and abroad. The key aim of the Sport Wellington Performance Hub programmes, which the Talent Development Programme is part of, is to nurture successful people, not only for their sporting success but for their development as competent, capable members of society.
Sports talk
with Jacob Page
Tennis serves up more drama
Wellington Black Fern Jackie Patea-Fereti, right, seen here at a training session in Sydney last month, will be cheering on the teams at Island Bay on Monday. PHOTO: Supplied
The eighth Air New Zealand Rippa Rugby Championships is set for kick off in Wakefield Park on Monday. The annual tournament brings together 200 Rippa Rugby stars, representing 20 schools from around New Zealand, for a two-day tournament. Wellington-based Black Ferns Marcelle Parkes, Monica Tagoai, Joanah Ngan-Woo and Jackie Fereti-Patea are set to attend the tournament to cheer on the teams, along with 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup winners Les Ketu and
Kendra Cocksedge. New Zealand Rugby Head of Participation and Development, Steve Lancaster, said the tournament was a great opportunity for the teams to experience the fun that sport brings. “We’re delighted to once again welcome teams and their supporters to Wellington for an action-packed couple of days. It’s a fun time away from home and a chance to make new friends while enjoying Rippa Rugby. “Over the tournament’s eight-year history we have had more than 80 different schools compete and it’s
fantastic to watch young people represent both their school and province with such pride.” Selected pool matches and finals day matches will be livestreamed on the Small Blacks TV Facebook page, giving fans a chance to watch the action. Rippa Rugby is a fun, safe non-contact form of the game where primary school-aged girls and boys participate together in mixed teams. More than 600 schools played in regional tournaments around the country in order to qualify for the national championships.
Sometimes officials should just stick to what they know. US Open tennis umpire Mohamed Lahyani has got himself into hot water after giving Australian hot-head Nick Kyrgios a pep talk when he was down a set and a break in his second round fixture. Open organisers have said he went beyond protocol in leaving his chair to talk to the highly-strung tennis star. Lahyani can be heard saying “This isn’t you, I know that.” As it appeared Kyrgios was set to self destruct yet again in his talented but turbulent career. Kyrgios had let two big serves go past him without a swing of his racket in the points leading up to the altercation. The chat worked as he went on to win in four sets. Lahyani is one of the most respected umpires on the tennis circuit but it seemed an odd move for him to give a player a pep talk. Good communication is appreciated between officials and players in several
sports but tennis isn’t really one of them. Rugby r efe r e e Nigel Owens is one who has earned praised for his player-friendly approach. Cr icket umpi re Billy Bowden was always a charismatic and controversial figure with his flamboyant signals. He even gave Aussie quick Glenn McGrath a red card in jest for simulating the under-arm ball in the first ever international twenty20 match. Officials need to ensure the rules are enforced, they’re not there to dish out sympathy. Kyrgios has long acted like a spoilt child on the tennis court and it’s hampered his improvement in the sport. His third round opponent, and polar opposite, Roger Federer was not impressed by Lahyani’s efforts and his actions have been the cause of much debate ever since. Best officials just stick to the rules and leave the action and the meltdowns to the players.