Mary Anne Gill

Erina Wehi-Barton is excited about the prospects of a growth in waka ama involvement following a record entry of King Country paddlers competing in the national champs at Lake Karāpiro this week.

Nine teams from the Maniapoto branch of the Aratika Water Sports Club club – up from three last year – were lakeside.

“It’s the intensity now. All the kids want to paddle,” said Wehi-Barton whose iwi affiliations are Ngāti Rereahu - Maniapoto - Waikato - Rarua - Tūwharetoa - Te Atiawa.

The club has 56 paddlers with the youngest – Parakau Mulligan-Green, 6, of Te Kūiti – making his debut on Sunday after a pōwhiri from Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā iwi.

The lack of suitable training facilities in Te Kūiti does not hamper members – they head west to Awakino instead and rely on iwi and whānau for ongoing support.

Last year the younger members of the club went to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands to compete and came home with six gold, three silver and six bronze medals.

“Waka ama caters for the entire whānau – from babies, siblings, kaumatua, everyone,” said Wehi-Barton, a mātauranga (traditional) researcher who has spent the last 10 years establishing rangatahi/whānau initiatives and observing the behaviours of awa and tuna.

Her doctorate studies are focusing on the economic benefits of using her knowledge of the moon phases and soil for the betterment of her people.

Meanwhile a woman described as the “queen of waka ama” was honoured during an emotional pōwhiri at the start of the week-long sprint championships at Lake Karāpiro on Sunday.

Members of Kiwi Campbell’s whānau including people from Waipā, Waikato and King Country were present as several speakers recalled the Gisborne woman’s contribution to the sport.

Campbell, 43, a competitor, coach and administrator from the Horouta Waka Hoe Club - and a regular visitor to Karāpiro - died last November.

Four years ago, the mother of two boys Mairangi and Maia, and wife of Bruce Campbell, was inducted into Waka Ama New Zealand’s virtual hall of fame for her outstanding contribution to the sport.

With a spine-tingling call, fellow club member Cynthia Sidney led the visiting teams towards Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā iwi, waka ama officials and local competitors.

Just over two hours later, the Tamariki pools got underway highlighting the phenomenal growth of waka ama since Mareikura, the first club in New Zealand, was established in Gisborne in 1985 followed five years later by the first national outrigger canoe paddling champs at Karāpiro.

A record 3868 competitors and twice as many spectators are at the lake all week and more than 1400 of them are aged 13 years and under.

Competitors have come from throughout New Zealand with internationals from Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, United Kingdom and Australia.

Campbell’s aunty Liz Reedy of Hamilton said her niece’s death came as a shock to her whānau. Seeing how highly people involved in the sport valued her involvement was emotional, she said.

Campbell had recently joined the Waka Ama board adding to her significant achievements competing on the water and coaching off it.

'All the kids want to paddle'

Cambridge harness racing legend Nicky Chilcott is on the cusp of another personal milestone.

The 53-year-old veteran trainer needs one driving win to notch up 700 wins in the sulky, cementing her place as the country’s second best female driver.

She brought up 699 last week at the Cambridge Raceway in race three driving favourite Showtym Girl and had a chance to bring up the milestone in race eight behind Idolou but was well beaten.

Chilcott doesn’t have a drive tomorrow night (Friday) at her home track on Cambridge Raceway, but will be in action at Otaki next week.

The 700 total will be 121 short of South Island-based Samantha Ottley’s mark and well behind the only drivers to have more than 3000 career wins – Te Awamutu’s Tony Herlihy (3693), Maurice McKendry (3410) and Ricky May (3146).

“To be honest I’m not a numbers’ person,” said Chilcott. “I’m pretty proud of the achievement though.”

From 7902 starts since her first win behind Local Choice at Auckland on July 2, 1993, she has notched up 699 wins, 760 seconds and 746 third placings for stake money of $5.342 million.

She is also in the exclusive 500 trainers’ club with 558 wins from 4945 starts.

Chilcott doubts she will get to 800 driving wins but reckons she still has another 10-15 years in the sulky ahead of her mostly driving the horses she trains.

“I’m starting to slow down, and I don’t freelance anymore. I used to actively ring around for drives, but I don’t anymore.”

She has 22 horses in her White Star Stables next to the Cambridge Raceway and Village Rebel is arguably the best in what she describes as a “bread and butter” crop.

“I don’t have stars as such but we’re ticking away nicely.”

One of them is Messenger Buoy who won an emotional race on December 19 driven by Leah Hibell. Ten days earlier, part owner Alan Messenger of Taranaki died and his fellow owners – wife Lyn and daughter Maree – were on hand to see the win.

Chilcott has one horse entered tomorrow night – Blazing Louie in race seven – but Andre Poutama usually drives the six year old gelding.

Meetings on the grass in Otaki on Sunday and Tuesday loom as the likely opportunities for Chilcott to bring up the milestone.

It is one her favourite tracks and she is taking down a team of 10 to compete at its first full race meeting since the pandemic.

“I’ve had some good results there over the years so that will be a good place to do it,” said Chilcott.

Chilcott nears 700

Staff Reporter

Bowlers have raised $1100 for Te Awamutu’s Riding for the Disabled organisation.

Kihikihi Bowling Club’s latest tournament – won by a Te Kūiti combination - was a departure from the norm, in that all proceeds from the day were donated.

Representatives from the RDA attended the prize giving and co-ordinator Rosalie Rea spoke about the role of the riding for the disabled in the community.

The organisation also has a branch in Ōtorohanga which will be fundraising at the Artbeat even in town this weekend. Bowlers also came to the party with individual donations – and the return of prize money into the pool.

The tournament attracted a bowlers from throughout the Waikato and King Country and the results indicated the level of competition out on the green with only one team managing four wins from four and three finishing with three wins and a draw.

The winners were the Te Kuiti team of Kevin Higgins (skip), Steve Woods and Peter Lange. Second place went to a Kihikihi team of Owen Johnston (skip), Irving Garrett and Don Millin. Cambridge Central’s Robbie Davidson (skip), Ron Greenwood and Craig Pilkington were third.

Bowlers ride to the rescue

Triple world-title holder axeman Jack Jordan is in France chasing one title that has eluded his swing – the World Championship.

Taumarunui’s Jordan achieved the sport’s first-ever three-peat last year winning the World Trophy – held annually in Europe and described as the 20/20 cricket of international wood chopping.

Now in Toulouse, France, this weekend Jordan is trying to knock off the elusive World Championship - a more traditional, long-form format across six different wood-chopping and sawing disciplines against a 12 strong international field.

“Perhaps I’ll have a bit of a target on my back coming off my three-peat success, but I’m very well prepared this year and will be giving it a bloody good crack to bring that World Championship title back to Kirikau,” he said.

Kirikau, south west of Taumarunui, is where Jordan 28, runs the family sheep and beef farm.

Jordan eyes world championship

Andy Campbell

One of the heroes of King Country’s dramatic Lochore Cup win over West Coast last month has his fingers crossed about his left knee.

Zac Wickham-Darlington’s biggest game ended early on October 20 as he twisted the knee going into a first half tackle – and it looked as though the injury could be serious.

But Wickham-Darlington is hoping to get word soon that he faces recovery spell of just six weeks – meaning a “big off season rehab” which sees him ready for the start of next season.

The injury cost Wickham-Darlington a chance of Heartland XV selection – and he has set that as a target for 2025.

“It wasn’t the tackle that actually did the damage - I did a left foot step immediately before going into the tackle, so it was just off a side step,” he explained.

The two West Coast players heard him cry out in pain and immediately got off him, something he acknowledged.

“We’ve always had a good relationship with those fellas - probably one of the most respectful teams we’ve come up against, year after year,” he said.

Wickham-Darlington spent the rest of the game in a knee brace on the sideline as the Rams took the cup in extra time 46-44.

He made it to the after match, where it was found the Lochore Cup topped out with the beer from three stubbies.

“I was walking at the after match. I was still walking around for the most part of it. It was an awesome night, a lot of the boys stayed together later and went back to one of boys houses to carry on.”

Wickham-Darlington moved from Te Kūiti to Hamilton about three years ago – but continues to play for Bush in the King Country club competition.

He is a social worker in Hamilton working with young offenders, and is often in court for them. He also assists with their rehabilitation – everything from helping them into work to assisting them obtain their driving licences.

His season with King Country came to an abrupt end – and had a hiccough in between.

Wife Shelley – Shelz - gave birth to their daughter Brisbyn in mid-September and for three weeks beforehand the midwife was worried baby could come at any minute.

“It affected my away trips, basically two Wickhgames out… I couldn’t play because I was worried if I left I would miss out.”

Wickham-Darlington learned his rugby at Hamilton Boys High School and New Plymouth Boys High.

The family had moved back to Te Kūiti when he accepted a rugby scholarship at New Plymouth. It was a timely offer because it saved his parents the issue of juggling transport for schooling in Hamilton.

In 2015, in Year 10, Darlington was playing for New Plymouth Boys High, then continued his education at Hamilton Boys High. His plans for next season are to continue wearing the Bush colours, get back into the King Country team “and make a good solid effort to get into that NZ Heartland team next year.” Teammates Kristian Gent-Standen and Kaleb Foote represented the province in this season’s team.

Zac plans summer rehab

By Andy McGechan
New Zealand made its debut appearance this season at the women’s section of the International Six Days Enduro, held in Spain, and impressed many at this huge gathering of the motorcycling world elite.
The three-rider New Zealand women’s contingent that battled in the Women’s World Trophy (WWT) teams’ class – Ngaroma’s Rachael Archer (Kawasaki) joined by Tapanui’s Kylie Dorr (Beta) and Opunake’s Taylar Rampton (Husqvarna) – managed a few jaw-dropping results on their way to finishing 10th overall in their first appearance at this massive annual dirt-biking marathon.
Archer was the stand-out for the New Zealanders. She finished overall runner-up among the women, just under three minutes behind United States team rider Brandy Richards after an incredible six days of brutal racing in the Galicia region, on the Atlantic coastline in the north-western of Spain.
Archer managed to tap into any left-over reserves of energy to significantly cut her deficit to Richards on the final day, which featured a motocross, an aspect of off-road motorcycle racing that is considered faster but arguably less technical.
The rider who finished the enduro third overall in the women’s rankings was Australia’s Jessica Gardiner, ending the event just a little under five minutes behind the hard-charging Archer.
Archer was not only overall runner-up in the individual standings for the women, but also she wound up an astonishing 54th overall (when ranked alongside the men. More than 570 riders in total were at the event.
“It felt good to win a special test (a tightly timed sprint section) at this event,” said Archer. “I felt like I rode decent and didn’t crash, so put in a solid ride.
“I didn’t really set any goals or expectations for myself coming into the week. I just wanted to learn and gain as much experience as I could. I feel like I’ve done that and also shown some speed.”
Dorr was meanwhile classified 28th individual in the WWT class (and also finished 129th overall alongside the men). Rampton dropped out after day five with an injury, but was still credited with finishing 30th overall among the women.
“New Zealand team manager Justin Stevenson said it was “not the dream result for Team New Zealand - but close”.
Team France won the premier World Trophy (WT) class ahead of the United States and Spain. In the Junior World Trophy (JWT) class, Team Sweden won ahead of France and the United States.
There was no Kiwi men’s team entered this season.

Archer shows the enduro way

Ōtorohanga netball was celebrating the century of netball in New Zealand on Friday, but unlike the parent body’s date 1924 beginning, Ōtorohanga netball’s origins are unknown.

“We lost our minutes in the ’58 flood,” Otorohanga netball president Dorothy Carr said.

They’ve since obtained some records from 1954, which may give the club a better look at its history, Dorothy said.

As its part in honouring 100 years of netball in New Zealand, the Ōtorohanga Netball Centre hosted a heartwarming celebration last Friday.

The event brought together past and present members of the Ōtorohanga netball community, giving everyone the opportunity to reminisce, reconnect, and celebrate the legacy of netball in their lives, Dorothy said.

Among the attendees were three families, each with three generations present — a testament to the enduring passion for the sport passed down through the years, she said.

A highlight of the afternoon was a game of walking netball, which symbolised the inclusiveness and longevity of the game. Players ranged in age from 13 to 85, creating a powerful image of how netball continued to unite and engage players of all ages.

Celebrations moved to the Ōtorohanga Club in the evening, where four Service Awards were presented in recognition of significant contributions to the netball community. As part of the event, the Honours Boards, dating back to 1959, were unveiled, serving as a visual reminder of the people who have shaped and supported Ōtorohanga netball over the years.

“We have now got the honours boards up to date going back to 1958 - of all our patrons presidents, treasurers, umpires co-ordinators. So we have done a bit of mahe on that,” Dorothy said.

Some service awards were presented and next year they will start doing life memberships.

“You know how you have some of those things that you need to do every year and you kind of push that out because you are busy running competitions… this has just given us an opportunity to tidy those things up.”

She said event was a powerful reminder of the deep sense of camaraderie and connection netball fosters in the community. It highlighted the role the sport plays in creating lasting memories, bringing whānau together, and building a bridge between the past and the future.

The timing of the celebration felt particularly poignant, as just two days later, the Silver Ferns secured a thrilling victory over Australia, a fitting capstone to a weekend of honouring netball’s proud legacy in New Zealand. Netball was introduced to New Zealand as ‘women’s basketball’ in 1906 – a nine-a-side game played on grass, with baskets tied to posts at either end of the court.

It was introduced by Rev J C Jamieson who started up basketball teams from his bible classes.

The first games were played on a paddock and the teams were nine-a-side.
The rules allowed three bounces, and throws from one end of the field to the other.
Baskets were used for goals and after each goal, the ball had to be tipped out to restart play.

Aiming high for a century


The Lochore Cup which the King Country Rams wrested from West Coast on Sunday, was in Taupo this week.

Rams captain Liam Rowlands took it back to Taupo, King Country Rugby union general manager Keiran Hema said.

“Our captain Liam he got hold of it yesterday afternoon and he still has it in his hands now,” he said on Monday.

The Lochore Cup and all the team’s other trophies were star exhibits this week at a Rippa Rugby tournament in Taupo.

“We’re expecting to have around 400 kids, what better way to display it?” Hema said.

“We’ve got schools from all over. We’ll have those (trophies) there for the day, and it will be a good opportunity to showcase that, and give even a level of understanding what it is about.

“It is a good opportunity to explain to our kids and to our schools who they are named after, and what they have done for rugby and just start with things early.”

The cup would be brought back to Te Kūiti in coming weeks for school visits and photo opportunities, Hema said.

The Lochore Cup is named after famed Wairarapa Bush and All Blacks player and coach Brian Lochore. It was first awarded during the Heartland Championship in 2006.

Cup goes east

Even the goalposts played their part in the King Country Rams’ defeat of West Coast in the Lochore Cup final on Sunday.

In the conversion of a King Country try the ball tipped the flag at the top of the outside post, and the conversion was given.

Then at full time with the scores levelled at 34 all, West Coast’s kick bounced off the post as full time was given. This led to 10 minutes each way extra time and KCR taking the cup 46-44.

King Country Rugby Union’s referee education officer Jamie Bell said the conversion was given because the ball came inside the post after it struck the flag on top.

“If the upright goes up to the sky and it hits the upright and bounces back in, that’s okay,” he said. “That’s probably why it was allowed, because it touched the flag up the top before it came back in. That’s what won it on the day.

“That one at the end of full time when West Coast hit the upright, that bounced out. Bounced back into the field of play - so that’s how it goes some times. It happens to anyone.”

West Coast came to Te Kuiti having won their semifinal against Horowhenua in extra time.

This time, the bounce of the ball – or off the post- went against them.

It was a full on final played out to 100 minutes before the final result was called in extra time. The final delivered all the drama expected, and a constantly changing score.

With two reasonably matched teams the tally climbed in a tit for tat fashion to 34-all at fulltime. The final 20 minutes was also busy with both sides scoring.

For Glynn Meads, son of legendary King Country All Black Colin, the final was the first time he had arrived at a match via helicopter. Glynn and Brian Lochore’s grandson Lochie McNabb delivered the Lochore Cup – named after the Wairarapa All Black captain and coach - to the ground.

Glynn’s sister Rhonda Wilcox - a former Silver Fern - was present for the Meads Cup final in Te Aroha where Thames Valley beat Mid Canterbury 37-29.

Glynn who is also the KCRFU board deputy chair, described the final as a real nail biter. It had everyone on the edge of their seats for 100 minutes.

“It really appreciated the efforts of all of the players, the whole lot of them even West Coast. Everyone had admiration for the way they played for 100 minutes.

“The West Coast forwards were fairly active and doing a lot of work which we took a bit to get on top of. You have got to do the job in the middle of the field before you spin it wide. So that was the biggest task really, doing all that grafting up the middle of the field.

“They disrupted us quite a bit lineouts.”

But the Rams hung in and persisted, Meads said.

“They were determined to win and got there in the end. When you are a good side I guess you find the way to win when it’s tough.”

Goalposts on our side

King Country has beaten defending champions West Coast 46-44 in extra time at Rugby Park in Te Kuiti today to take out the Heartland Championship's Lochore Cup.

Tries to the high flying Latrell Smiler, Ah-Kiong, Cody Nordstrom 2, Leveson Gower, Logan Patterson and Liam Rowlands and five conversions and two penalties to Patrick Hedley.

Read: Sunday's Cup Day

King Country wins Lochore Cup

Te Kūiti will host the Heartland Championship’s Lochore Cup final on Sunday for the first time in eight years when King Country takes on West Coast.

King Country made the final after beating Ngāti Porou East Coast 34-31 on Owen Delany Park in Taupō last week.

The province’s most capped player Paul Mitchell said he was expecting a good turnout at Rugby Park for the 2.05 pm match. Ground capacity is 3000 but Mitchell said he would be happy with 500.

The Rams coach Aarin Dunster – who played more than a century of games for the province - held the cup aloft in 2015 as captain.

They beat North Otago 47-34 that day.

King Country has been runner up twice – in 2006 when Poverty Bay beat them 46-34 and in 2016 when the Rams lost 44-22 to North Otago in Te Kūiti.

In the Heartland Championship, the teams ranked one to four at the end of the round robin play for the Meads Cup – named after King Country legend Colin Meads - while the teams ranked five to eight play for the Lochore Cup – named after Wairarapa-Bush and All Blacks captain Brian Lochore.

Both were knighted for their services to rugby.

Lots of points scored in the semifinal was no pointer for the final, said Mitchell.

“That means nothing now, she’s a one-off game. It’s still at home – you like to feel that you are going to be the favourites anyway.

“One and two got kicked out. Thames Valley was three and Mid-Canterbury were four. A betting man would never have picked that, I can tell you right now.”

Mitchell thinks the King Country forwards will take it on and help get the ball out wide where a lot of the season’s tries have been scored.

“We have got a big back line counterattack but West Coast will still spin it pretty wide as well, but if they get into the close quarters they will go back to their strengths, which is their forward pack – especially round the try line.

“They’ve got one more game, there’s nothing after this and there’s a trophy to lift at the end. They can’t hold back.”

The weather was looking good for Sunday (partly cloudy, light winds and a high of 21) which he expected would favour King Country.

Sunday's cup day

Norris Woodbine

The Waitomo Rugby Club out-performed many of their Waikato rugby opponents on the weekend when finishing as beaten finalists in the Suburbs Rugby Sevens.

The tournament attracted teams from Auckland, Counties, Bay of Plenty and Waikato and as usual was played in front of a large crowd of highly vocal spectators.

Waitomo were seeded fifth of the six teams in their draw and turned the tournament on its head – winning four pool games and going down narrowly in the final.

The first win was by default over Putāruru and the second produced a 33-20 win over Frankton, who fielded a large pack and exerted early dominance after scoring an early five pointer.

Next up was the closest encounter of the day as Te Rapa provided sterner opposition and tries to Jiuta Muatabu and Hedley were countered in kind before Delane Bell scorched past some tiring defenders for what appeared to be the winning try.

Te Rapa had other ideas and levelled the scores late in the game before conceding a penalty in front of the posts which Taninaloka Coolly slotted.

Hinuera lay in wait and the boys from Matamata proved to be too strong and the 28–17 scoreline was a fair reflection.

A place in the final was sealed with a win 19-0 win over Suburbs as Waitomo adapted superbly to conditions safter a thunderous down pour.

Hinuera had won the pool and proved to be a little too strong again in the final however a much closer encounter ensued as defence took precedence in a scoreless first half.

Hinuera scored early in the second spell and notched a second before an electric Cory Sargent break set the big crowd into raptures as he outpaced the cover to score. At 12-7 the game hung in the balance only for a third try right on fulltime saw Hinuera pull away.

Waitomo side came away having created a great impression on many on the side lines and their opponents as well and brought a lot from the experience.

Waitomo send seeds scattering

Paul Charman

A good turnout of young motocross riders from across the North Island is expected to contest the Ōtorohanga Schools MX Challenge 2024, at Puketotara next Friday.

Maurice Hayman, who is organising the October 18 South Waikato Motorcycle Club event, says schools fixtures of this type have been held for at least 10 years but this will be the first at the Bennett family farm on Ngutunui Rd.

Hayman said schools motocross events he had organised were originally run at Rotorua and Hauraki Plains, and have expanded out across the North Island from there.

The two-day event at Puketotara is expected to attract about 300 young riders from Whangarei, Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki. Most of them would race on a course about 2km long, providing lap times of about two minutes.

Primary and intermediate riders would ride a cut-down version of the main track.

The school-age riders race in five main competitive classes: a 12-16 years 85cc two-stroke class; a 12-14 years 125cc to 250cc four-stroke class; a 15-19 years 125cc two-stroke class; a 15-19 250 four-stroke class and a 12-19 years women’s class. In addition there will be two novice classes.

“These last categories are usually the ones which fill up first,” Hayman said.

“We get a lot of ‘newbies’ who may ride at home on the farm and it gives them the opportunity to come along and try out riding motocross, but without worrying about obtaining a competition licence,” Hayman said.

Chase Kete, of Pokuru, will be campaigning his KTM 125cc two-stroke machine at the Ngutunui Rd event.

The fifteen-year-old has been riding bikes since he was aged five or six years old.

He said motocross was now his chosen sport and one he hoped to stay with, “as long as I possibly can”.

Kete hoped a good crowd would turn out to enjoy the specatacle on Thursday.

“A lot of people like motocross because its high action. So I’d say don’t worry about the dust and the noise, just come along and have a watch,” Kete said.

Quin Hall, 16, will be riding a KTM 250 four stroke machine on October 18.

The Whatawhata resident contests the Junior 250cc class riding a 250cc KTM.

He has been riding motocross events since about age seven and says there’s nothing like the thrill of, “going fast, doing jumps and winning”.

Hall has has achieved some podium finishes racing at tracks across the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.

“The track at Ngutunui Rd should be pretty fun because its nice natural terrain and best of all its only about 20 minutes’ drive from home if that,” he says.

Like Kete, Hall recommends people come and enjoy watching a day of racing at Bennett’s Farm.

“I’d say people should bring a chair, set themselves up next to the track and enjoy a day of watching motocross. It gets pretty competitive as riders battle each other. The speeds some riders go is amazing, so are the jumps. It’s just an interesting sport and super fun to watch.”

School challenge promises top action

With their trophy cabinet brimming with silverware following a superb 34-17 victory in Whanganui the King Country Rams have an air of confidence ahead of their clash with Ngati Porou East Coast this weekend.

By securing a rare win in The River City, their first since 2013, King Country retained the Pinetree Log and reclaimed the Bill Osborne Taonga they had lost to Thames Valley earlier in the season.

The bonus point victory sealed fifth place in the Heartland Championship which assures The Rams the top seed in the Lochore Cup and a match against the eighth placed Coast side in Taupō.

Rams skipper and hooker Liam Rowlands has been superb all season and his leadership and general play has been inspirational for his troops while current Heartland rep Kaleb Foote, who nailed two tries against Whanganui, is thriving behind a dominant pack.

Tongariro United’s Dunster family are a huge part of the forward power while Hamilton Marist’s Eli Winders is forever prominent about the park.

Half back Kristian Gent-Standen has come of age in 2024 and is clearly enjoying his role behind a dominant pack and the backline is thriving with his decisive service.

The Rams have unearthed a real star in Player of Origin Patrick Hedley, who hails from Te Kuiti but represents the Varsity club in Hamilton and over the course of the season has produced a few match winning moments.

Josevata Malimole has resurrected his career and is a rock in midfield while Zac Wickham-Darlington has hit the form button since the birth of his second baby and is an absolute weapon out wide, scoring a great try against North Otago and another at Cooks Gardens.

Backs coach Ben Draper has an abundance of riches at his disposal and his final selections will be interesting.

Traditionally matches between Ngati Porou East Coast and King Country produce an exciting brand of rugby, and with fine weather predicted and the beautiful Owen Delany surface, Saturday’s game should fit the mould.

Rams, Coasters battle for final spot

North King Country riders were chuffed to find themselves nationally competitive at the New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships held at New Plymouth at the weekend.

There were 160 riders in the 9-11 age group and they were chasing one of 30 qualifying places.

North King Country Motorcycle Club riders who finished mostly in the top 10 nationally included Mason Williamson, Ōtorohanga Trail 7-9 yrs 8th place, Case Wilson, Piopio 9-11 yrs 65cc 2nd place, Flynn Neustroski, Ōtorohanga, 8-11 yrs Trail 125cc, 8th place, Heath Wilson, Piopio, 9-11 yrs 65cc 10th place, Deklan Burton, Ōtorohanga, 9-11 yrs 65cc 6th place, Evan Gray, Te Kūiti, 7-8 yrs 65cc 11th place, Reed Legg, Te Awamutu, 7-8 years 65cc 1st place, Kase Legg, Te Awamutu, 6-8 yrs mx 50cc, 12th over all.

“We weren’t thinking we would place as high as we got so we were very happy,” proud parent Kim Simpson said. “They live and breathe these bikes, they quite love them.”

There was some ugly weather off and on.

“It poured with rain for round three,” Simpson said. “Day two, round four and five the rain held off but there was still a bit of mud to push through. They did really well.”

Held at the Barrett Rd motorcycle park facility, on the outskirts of New Plymouth, the two-day event produced high calibre racing, with a large number of spectators in attendance.

Motorcycling New Zealand motocross co-commissioner Sonia Cloke was impressed with the host club’s work rate.

“The club did a fantastic job keeping up with track maintenance. They couldn’t have done better. The track gave competitors a mixed bag of conditions and the eventual champions certainly earned their titles.

“The tricky conditions really did sort them out. The brief rain we experienced really did only serve to keep the dust down.”

Bikesportnz’s Andy McGechan reported the event showed the sport was extremely healthy at this grassroots level.

“It shone the spotlight on the next Kiwi international superstars, young riders who may go on to follow in the wheel tracks of world class New Zealand riders such as Otago’s Courtney Duncan, New Plymouth brothers Darryll, Shayne and Damien King, Motueka’s Josh Coppins, Oparau's James Scott, Opotiki’s Cody Cooper and West Auckland's Hamish Harwood or Tauranga trio Ben Townley, Brodie Connolly and Josiah Natzke, for example,” he said.

Speakng at the weekend he said it was interesting to note that Harwood, Connolly and Natzke were overseas representing New Zealand at the big annual Motocross of Nations in England, “the pinnacle of senior racing at international level and often referred to as the “Olympic Games of Motocross”.

That event was won by Australia as luck deserted the Kiwi team as they finished 21st overall of the 36 nations represented and missed the cut off mark.

The trio managed third in a B-final, which was its last chance to qualify.

Riders make their national marks

At least 20 North King Country riders will compete this weekend at the mini nationals in New Plymouth.

Hosted by the Taranaki Motocross club, the event is for riders aged 4 to 11, riding bikes with engine capacities ranging from 50 to 149cc.

“Kids don’t belong to just one club, and with the great facilities North King Country offers, we have kids come from far and wide to ride our track, and so with mini nationals being a yearly event with national titles up for grabs, it’s always a huge event, wherever it’s held,” NKC secretary Kelli Wellington said.

With North King Country winning the Battle of the Clubs the last two years, club riders always did very well, coming away with a lot of national titles, Wellington said.

More than 160 entries already confirmed for the mini nationals and a crowd of more than 800 expected over the two-day event, Taranaki Motorcycle Club President, Hamish Logan, said.

“The event is shaping up to be a big one, and what a fantastic opportunity to showcase Taranaki. It sheds a positive light on mini motocross and shows what these kids can achieve at a grassroots level. The committee has put in a lot of time and we’re excited to see it come to fruition and witness what these young riders can do."

Many top-tier senior motocross riders can trace their careers back to mini motocross, with the Mini Nationals often being the start of a journey toward national and even international success.

The nationals will be at the Barrett Road Motorcycle Club on Friday and Saturday.

Mini motocrossers head south

The King Country Rams are assured of a home Lochore Cup semifinal.

And they still have an arm extended for a grab at The Meads Cup if they can beat their traditional rivals in second placed Whanganui down at the “River City” on Saturday.

Coach Aarin Dunster will travel with a squad brimming with confidence after they trampled their way to an impressive 32 – 17 victory over a gallant North Otago at Rugby Park Te Kūiti last week.

With fine weather and a magnificently presented playing strip on show both teams showed great skill and commitment turning on a thrilling encounter where the result was in doubt until the last 10 minutes.

From the start of the match King Country attacked and after just two minutes sharpshooter Patrick Hedley slotted a penalty goal which brought up the rare feat of over 100 Heartland points for the season.

The lead was short lived however as North Otago secured a converted try before wing Zac Wickham-Darlington joined a rolling maul and smashed across for a try to put The Rams in front 8–7.

Again North Otago did all the attacking and a second converted try and a penalty goal saw the visitors turn from the break ahead 17 – 8 with the wind at their backs.

Immediately after half time a Hedley penalty narrowed the gap to six and the game descended into a real arm wrestle as the gravity of the situation seemed to stilt the flare of both teams.

The Rams endured 10 minutes with a man in the bin but refused to crack before a sickening late hit saw first five Keiran Rollison stretchered from the field in the 28th minute of the half.

From there The Rams lifted a gear and with 10 to go young Hedley swooped on a loose ball in his own half and set sail in front of a roaring grandstand showing great pace to dot down in the corner and in his usual steely fashion slotted the side line conversion.

With their tails up King Country again attacked and Wickham-Darlington showed great pace and determination brushing tacklers aside in an irrepressible 40 metre dash to score under the posts before replacement prop Tom Ryan put the icing on the cake with another try.

Hedley slotted both the conversions for a personal 17-point haul which puts him into the record books as King Countries highest ever scorer and sees him out in front of the Heartland table for 2024.

By securing a 5-point bonus point victory The Rams are assured of a fifth-place finish and a home Lochore Cup semi as sixth placed West Coast cannot pass them and while they will be dependent on other results can still finish fourth with a bonus point victory over Whanganui.

With players available this week following injury breaks there will be some selection dilemmas of a positive sort for the coaches and some anticipation for the fans.

Hedley stars for the Rams

Long time Otorohanga Football Club member Ram Chetty has been made a life member of the club.

Chetty, in his 30th year of coaching sport in the King Country after coming to Ōtorohanga in 1995, received the award at the club’s prizegiving ceremony at the end of last month.

He initially taught and coached at Ōtorohanga College for a number of years, along with coaching the football club’s A Team and was coach when Ōtorohanga made it into the last 32 stage of the Chatham Cup in 1998.

Club spokesperson Cheyne Waldron recalled “when I went to Ōtorohanga College (1989 to 1992) there wasn’t a soccer team. Ram turned that around and football is now very popular. We owe a lot of that to Ram’s efforts and enthusiasm.”

Chetty has Oceania coaching qualifications and a FIFA refereeing badge and was named Ōtorohanga District Council ‘Sporting Personality of the Year’ in 2016.

The following year he became a Justice of the Peace.

He has been a coach and mentor for a large number of students, particularly at Ōtorohanga College and now at Te Kuiti High School where he now teaches.

“Much of the success that Ōtorohanga Football Club has had in recent times comes down to the number of young players that have come into the club and so much of that comes down to Ram’s coaching at secondary school level where there has been a huge resurgence in football’s popularity over the past 30 years,” a statement from the club read.

This season was a highly successful one – the club’s flagship side, Bulk Lines Otorohanga, won the Waikato BOP League 1 Championship. Other highlights of the season included winning the Bailey Meizenbeek Challenge Shield in their annual encounters against Te Awamutu and Jamie Walker bringing up 200 matches for the club.

At the prizegiving he was named A team Players’ Player of the Year while Jackson Allen was named Player of the Year in his first year at the club.

Tawhiri Ball was winner of Golden Boot and with 29 goals, top scorer in the league. Best Team Member award went to Grayson Fortis who also picked up the club’s Personality of the Year award. Club Member of the Year was awarded to Raj Naidu.

Ōtorohanga’s two reserve teams also had successful years with the club fielding a record number of players. Alex Liddington and Andrew Payne were awarded Player of the Year for the two reserve teams.

The club’s 7-a-side football starts next Thursday.

Life membership for soccer stalwart

Eltje Malzbender crowned an outstanding overall performance at the Zurich 2024 Para-Cycling Road World Championships by taking her second bronze medal of the week with a podium finish in the women’s T1 road race.

Competing over a total distance of 31.8km in tricky windy conditions which tested the bike control of the Cambridge-based tricyclist, Malzbender rode third from the outset and survived a mid-race crash to retain her position throughout the race.

In the incident, a male para cyclist competing in the T1 classification rammed into the Kiwi’s front wheel at the bottom of the hill and he fell off his bike. Malzbender thankfully remained upright on the trike.

In a repeat of the same podium finishing order from the women’s T1 individual time trial earlier in the week - gold was clinched by Marieke Van Soest of the Netherlands with Pavlina Vejvodova of Czechia in silver. A delighted Malzbender, a world champion in this event back in 2019, claimed another podium.

Malzbender, 62, said the campaign had its positives.

"Two bronze medals, a personal best for average speed in the time trial and no excessive ataxia in either event.

“I’m grateful to the support of my team - John Blake and my coach Vicki Fleming. Both have ensured the event has run as smoothly as possible.”


Bronze for Eltje

Paralympian Eltje Malzbender produced one of her finest rides to win bronze in the Women’s T1 Individual Time Trial at the Zurich 2024 Para-Cycling Road World Championships this week.

Malzbender lives with a traumatic brain injury following a crash during a training ride in 2016 when she was left on the rural roadside at Marokopa. At the time she was a physiotherapist in Te Kūiti.

After spending over a year in rehab she moved to Cambridge, where the flat terrain, wide footpaths and a residence close to town provided the ideal place to begin rebuilding her life.

She was introduced to riding a tricycle at the Cambridge velodrome and was selected on the Pathway to Podium programme with Paralympics New Zealand in 2018.

She represented New Zealand at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games and was fifth in the women’s T1-2 individual time trial.

Riding in temperatures of around 17 degrees Celsius this week, 62-year-old tricyclist completed the 11.3km route in 24m 8.5s – at an average speed of just over 28.kmh

Malzbender, who claimed a silver medal in this event at the 2023 edition, was elated with her performance.



Two bronzes for Eltje

It was a family affair at the Waitomo Golf Club as a couple and their son won championship finals last weekend.
Richard Koroheke, Brooke Walters and Kase Koroheke, 17, all topped their divisions.
Kase – who is on a 13 handicap – has played golf for just a year and won the junior title. Dad Richard swung in with the intermediate honours – and Brooke took out senior women’s title.
Stu Baird won the senior men’s category. He and Brooke were Waitomo’s top junior players in their teen years, and he has returned to the Waitomo club as greenkeeper, at the club where he learned to play.
Kase is not alone as a talented golfing youngster at the club, which has seen a resurgence thanks to the work of Jaz Stafford who has been coaching and supporting our juniors, Brooke’s mum and Women’s Club Captain Heather Gifkins said.It was a family affair at the Waitomo Golf Club as a couple and their son won championship finals last weekend.

Richard Koroheke, Brooke Walters and Kase Koroheke, 17, all topped their divisions.

Kase – who is on a 13 handicap – has played golf for just a year and won the junior title. Dad Richard swung in with the intermediate honours – and Brooke took out senior women’s title.

Stu Baird won the senior men’s category. He and Brooke were Waitomo’s top junior players in their teen years, and he has returned to the Waitomo club as greenkeeper, at the club where he learned to play.

Kase is not alone as a talented golfing youngster at the club, which has seen a resurgence thanks to the work of Jaz Stafford who has been coaching and supporting our juniors, Brooke’s mum and Women’s Club Captain Heather Gifkins said.

All in the family

Piopio’s under-15 rugby side has won the Waikato Premiership Under-15 competition – and it’s thought to be the first time in the 10-year-history of the Andrew Strawbridge trophy that it has gone out of the Hamilton area.
Coach Stacey James said the final game against Hamilton’s Fraser High was a standout as his side came back from 14-10 down to win 32-14.
Six members of the team had previously made it into the King Country Under 14s side, while three had made it this year into the Under 16s.
“There definitely is some talent coming through this year. If they choose to stay with rugby, I could see that a couple of them could go a long way,” James said. “I asked them at the start of the season what they wanted to accomplish. They all said they wanted to have fun and win – so we set out our training schedule and they all committed to it.”
James, assisted by, Carlos Karaitiana, arrived during the season after being injured, is a former Piopio College player who later played as a senior for Bush United.
“I may be biased but I think there is huge benefit to a boy’s character development from having some success in rugby at a young age. It builds that belief in what you can achieve as a member of a team and supplies good memories to take with you into the rest of your life.”

James boys take the title

An outstanding performance where a makeshift backline clicked into gear saw King Country run away with an impressive 43–17 victory over West Coast and move into a very secure Lochore Cup Heartland position.
In scoring five of the sides six tries the backs demonstrated rare cohesion on what turned out to be a hard and fast Owen Delany number one field and on the back of a dominant scrum the result was never in doubt.
With skipper Liam Rowlands leading from the front and a dominant scrummaging unit where Ōtorohanga›s Sione Paulo added grunt, the makeshift backline thrived and ran in some outstanding tries.
The crowd had barely taken their seats when from the kick off The Rams secured the ball and big centre Josevata Malimole smashed through the Coast midfield and sprinted away dotting down under the bar.
There was no time to relax as once again The Rams secured kick off possession and as play swept across the field a deft chip kick from Patrick Hedley was gathered in by fullback Cody Nordstrom who scooted down the embankment touchline out pacing the cover and crossing in the corner. Young Hedley nailed a superb side line conversion to extend the lead to 14.
The Coast replied with a try to winger Parker after their big pack spent a period hammering away inside the 22 but the comeback was short lived.
Impressive halfback Kristian Gent-Standen, enjoying his best game in Rams colours, crossed for a try in the 27th minute and soon after Hedley secured the bonus point showing extreme pace as he out stripped the defence for a great try.
The Coast pack rumbled across for a late try before the break but King Country led 26–10 in complete control.
The dominance continued into the second spell and with Standen scoring a second try and Rowlands powering across from a seemingly impossible position the match was beyond reach for the visitors who did narrow the gap with a converted try.
Finally winger Latrell Smiler-Ah Kong put the icing on the cake finishing off one last backline move with a try in the corner and the final 43–17 scoreline.
With many regular players unavailable for this game coach Aarin Dunster had a broad smile on his face after the game as the had team performed so well.
Te Awamutu’s Nordstrom was outstanding at full back, seemingly enjoying the freedom, and didn’t put a foot wrong whether counter attacking or as a last line of defence.
Hedley mover to the wing and was another with a starring role and is fast developing a reputation as a goal kicking sharp shooter, he looks destined to make the Heartland 15.
Malimole impressed in an 80-minute performance while veteran John Koko, who answered an SOS call in his first Rams game for seven years, solidified the mid field.
The Rams now travel to Poverty Bay this weekend seemingly secure in seventh place and looking to nail a home semifinal to reward their fans.

Rams take the spoils

There were some mixed results for King Country Rugby Teams over the weekend with the brightest spot being reserved for the Women’s Trailblazers team who travelled all the way to Masterton and defeated Wairarapa Bush 36–21.
After missing a place in the Heartland championship final by just one point this match was effectively the playoff for third, so represents a great result for the women as they continue to grow the game in the region.
For the record the Heartland final was taken out by Whanganui who defeated Thames Valley by 32–27 in an 11-try thriller providing a fitting climax to a hard-fought competition.
Closer to home The King Country Bighorns popped across to Putaruru to play the Waikato Divisional 15 seeking to notch up their first victory of the season and although suffering a narrow loss would have been happy with an improved performance.
Powerful number 8 Dion Peterson franked a fine game scoring the sides only try which came on the back of a powerful forward drive.
Out the back fullback Phayzen Marshall had an impressive outing and is going from strength to strength while Isaac Wana, in a King Country debut, added impact off the bench as did Athol Snedden at half back.
Down in the South Island the King Country Rams were in Geraldine where they played the powerful South Canterbury side who are leading the competition and although details are sketchy must have put up a solid performance.
At 33–19 the scoreline suggests the game was more of a contest than many expected and although dropping to eighth on the competition ladder, the Rams can still lock in a Lochore Cup semifinal.
The King Country Under 18 boys enjoyed an epic trip away to Cape Kidnappers to play Ngati Porou East Coast and although beaten on the field gained a lot of admirers in a 22-10 scoreline.
The side featured a heap of local talent including Brooky Pye, Nikora Mathieson, Ivan Reid, Riddick Rangitonga, Webcke Koroheke-Clune, Takerei Bidois, Jack Hira-Hill, Santana Howell, Mitchell Hedley and Wiremu Harris.
Te Kuiti High School Principal Gareth Williams passes on his extensive rugby knowledge as part of the coaching team.
The King Country Under 16 boys played over the weekend in a tournament in Turangi and enjoyed an early victory over Eastern Bay of Plenty before narrow losses to Whanganui and eventual tournament winners Thames Valley.
And finally, The King Country Secondary School Girls continued their development losing to a very slick Bay of Plenty Under 16 girls team 49-19.
Hamilton Rugby Union continued their recent dominance of The Peace Cup competition but were made to work hard for a 23–10 victory.
The Central Bay of Plenty side put up a grand performance but fell just short in a tense and closely fought match.
The local Maniapoto Marauders can take great heart from this result having missed the final by one conversion, having drawn with Central.

Trailblazers enjoy fine finish

Roy Pilott

They are WaiBop League One football champions – but they can’t get promoted.

Bulk Lines Ōtorohanga wrapped up the title with a resounding 3-0 home win over Northern United from Hamilton on Saturday knowing rules about club depth would tie them down.

Ōtorohanga, whose most famous player, former Australian international Archie Thompson turns 46 next month, doesn’t have the depth to field an Under-23 team, and that is a condition of playing in the Southern Conference League.

Ironically, the team at the bottom of the conference is neighbour Te Awamutu, whose struggles are a mirror image of Ōtorohanga’s fortunes in this campaign.

The Ōtorohanga Domain club won the title with 17 wins from 18 outings – but Northern would have been celebrating promotion had they managed a draw on Saturday.

Te Awamutu has battled gamely throughout the season but finished the 21-game campaign 15 points behind the field with points from four draws.

The latest was a surprise 3-3 draw with Claudelands which allowed Taupō to ensure it would finish second on goal difference barring a monumental thumping at home to Papamoa next weekend.

Two late goals at Te Awamutu denied the hosts their first win of the season – an early one at the domain set Ōtorohanga on its way to victory.

When news of the goal filtered through to the Wanderers ground in Hamilton, it didn’t take much guessing to pick who had scored it.

Tawhirimata -Tawhiri - Ball has scored goals for fun when ever he has been on the park this season – and is clearly a level above the competition.

The goal was set up by up by his brother Waikato Ball and he held off defenders in the penalty area to score from close range.

It was the only goal of an even half where both teams could have added to the goal tally on a challenging park where conditions were heavy underfoot.

Northern had dominated the first 15 minutes, getting behind the Otorohanga defence, but found centre backs Jackson Allen and Jacob O’Brien in top form.

The visitors were also caught in the second half after a period of midfield dominance as Bailey Croad found space on the left, beat the defence and goalkeeper and slotted home from a narrow angle with just over 25 minutes to play.

When Waikato Ball’s outstanding header from a Croad corner found the net five minutes later the healthy home crowd were watching their side put the finishing touches on a successful league campaign.

The game was preceded by two minutes’ silence Kīngi Tuheitia’s passing – the Ōtorohanga team has seven players of Māori descent.

Earlier in the curtain raiser played at Ōtorohanga College, the Ōtorohanga Reserves lost 3-0 to Ngaruawahia.

The club now turns its attention to its Summer Soccer Competition starting next month.They are WaiBop League One football champions – but they can’t get promoted.

Buk Lines Ōtorohanga wrapped up the title with a resounding 3-0 home win over Northern United from Hamilton on Saturday knowing rules about club depth would tie them down.

Ōtorohanga, whose most famous player, former Australian international Archie Thompson turns 46 next month, doesn’t have the depth to field an Under-23 team, and that is a condition of playing in the Southern Conference League.

Ironically, the team at the bottom of the conference is neighbour Te Awamutu, whose struggles are a mirror image of Ōtorohanga’s fortunes in this campaign.

The Ōtorohanga Domain club won the title with 17 wins from 18 outings – but Northern would have been celebrating promotion had they managed a draw on Saturday.

Te Awamutu has battled gamely throughout the season but finished the 21-game campaign 15 points behind the field with points from four draws.

The latest was a surprise 3-3 draw with Claudelands which allowed Taupō to ensure it would finish second on goal difference barring a monumental thumping at home to Papamoa next weekend.

Two late goals at Te Awamutu denied the hosts their first win of the season – an early one at the domain set Ōtorohanga on its way to victory.

When news of the goal filtered through to the Wanderers ground in Hamilton, it didn’t take much guessing to pick who had scored it.

Tawhirimata -Tawhiri -  Ball has scored goals for fun when ever he has been on the park this season – and is clearly a level above the competition.

The goal was set up by up by his brother Waikato Ball and he held off defenders in the penalty area to score from close range.

It was the only goal of an even half where both teams could have added to the goal tally on a challenging park where conditions were heavy underfoot.

Northern had dominated the first 15 minutes, getting behind the Otorohanga defence, but found centre backs Jackson Allen and Jacob O’Brien in top form.

The visitors were also caught in the second half after a period of midfield dominance as Bailey Croad found space on the left, beat the defence and goalkeeper and slotted home from a narrow angle with just over 25 minutes to play.

When Waikato Ball’s outstanding header from a Croad corner found the net five minutes later the healthy home crowd were watching their side put the finishing touches on a successful league campaign.

The game was preceded by two minutes’ silence Kīngi Tuheitia’s passing – the Ōtorohanga team has seven players of Māori descent. 

Earlier in the curtain raiser played at Ōtorohanga College, the Ōtorohanga Reserves lost 3-0 to Ngaruawahia.

The club now turns its attention to its Summer Soccer Competition starting next month.

Champions - but stuck in league

Football’s top WaiBop league and the Southern Conference could get a summer shake up.
Ōtorohanga can’t be promoted while it doesn’t have an Under-23 team, and it would be surprising if an exception was made for the Southern Conference when clubs in the Northern Conference must abide by the regulations.
But at least one club Ōtorohanga pipped to the Waikato title could still go up if the cards fall a certain way.
Southern Conference champions Cambridge face a home and away clash with Northern Conference winners Waitemata or Waiheke United for a place in the second tier of the Northern league – and success for the Waipā club would open a conference space which Northern United would want.
It would also see Cambridge, Melville, Wanderers and Ngāruawāhia in the same Northern League division.
Matamata, who finished third in WaiBop League One, are also thought to have ambitions of playing at a higher level.
Te Awamutu was one of several WaiBop clubs promoted to the Southern Conference for 2023, but while the club has excelled in bringing juniors into the game it has found it difficult to match opponents at conference level.
If the Reds don’t keep their conference place on the back of this season’s struggles, Matamata might be keen to replace them.
Football authorities are likely to want to get decisions made early. Last year the Northern Conference was started a second time after the belated promotion of Central following a ruling by the Sport Tribunal of New Zealand in March.Football’s top WaiBop league and the Southern Conference could get a summer shake up.

Ōtorohanga can’t be promoted while it doesn’t have an Under-23 team, and it would be surprising if an exception was made for the Southern Conference when clubs in the Northern Conference must abide by the regulations.

But at least one club Ōtorohanga pipped to the Waikato title could still go up if the cards fall a certain way.

Southern Conference champions Cambridge face a home and away clash with Northern Conference winners Waitemata or Waiheke United for a place in the second tier of the Northern league – and success for the Waipā club would open a conference space which Northern United would want.

It would also see Cambridge, Melville, Wanderers and Ngāruawāhia in the same Northern League division.

Matamata, who finished third in WaiBop League One, are also thought to have ambitions of playing at a higher level.

Te Awamutu was one of several WaiBop clubs promoted to the Southern Conference for 2023, but while the club has excelled in bringing juniors into the game it has found it difficult to match opponents at conference level.

If the Reds don’t keep their conference place on the back of this season’s struggles, Matamata might be keen to replace them.

Football authorities are likely to want to get decisions made early. Last year the Northern Conference was started a second time after the belated promotion of Central following a ruling by the Sport Tribunal of New Zealand in March.

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