Sport

Talk fest to be a highlight

A festival of sport next month at the Lake Wānaka Centre will feature two evenings of inspiration and talent, organiser Bronwyn Coers promises.

The New Zealand Olympic team physio Helene Barron will be joined by Otago University associate professor Tania Cassidy, on a Friday October 15 evening sponsored by Stonewood Homes.

The following night at an evening sponsored by Breen Construction, the theme “Overcoming Mountains” will be discussed by Olympic medal winners Ellesse Andrews, professional skier Beau-James Wells, Paralympics coach Raylene Bates and national multi-sport champion and coach Dougal Allan.

“The Speaker Series is designed to be a source of information and inspiration for everyone with an interest in sport,” Coers said. “We hope athletes, coaches, volunteers and supporters of all ages will come along and learn from and be entertained by our fantastic speakers.”

Tickets to the Upper Clutha Sports Community Mitre 10 Mega Festival of Sport and Recreation over the two nights are on sale.

In a snapshot of what’s coming, Helen Barron said the Olympics “were like no other” and learnings from the experience will benefit not just elite athletes, but regional, recreational and young developing athletes.

“Leaders are often applauded for the way they behave,” Tania Cassidy said. “Yet questions are increasingly being asked about what is appropriate behaviour for leaders in the 21st century.”

Ellesse Andrews said in her three years in elite level sport she experienced the highest of highs.

“However, alongside this comes trying times as I navigate my journey as a professional athlete. I am excited to share some snippets of my story, and the learnings I have taken away from my experiences.”

Beau-James Wells said there were many ups and downs for a professional skier.

“One week you are at the top of your game succeeding in competitions, and the next, you're lying in a hospital bed wondering how you got here. It is a rollercoaster of emotions but it's how you deal with it that counts.”

Dougal Allan said it has only been as he nears the end 15 years in elite endurance sport that he has really begin to appreciate the value, lessons and growth that have come from the many setbacks, failures and disappointments he encountered.

“Many of the experiences I am now most thankful for are those where things didn't go to plan. Because now, with the benefit of hindsight, I realise that without those moments I would

never have achieved the successes I have”. Olympic cyclist Ellesse Andrews, who grew up in Wānaka, will be among the speakers.

New event unveiled

Bill Roxburgh Challenge Wānaka has announced another multisport event to add to a busy calendar.

The inaugural Earshots sponsored Challenge Wānaka Cross Triathlon and Duathlon will be staged on February 19 at Glendhu Bay and use existing swim and run courses, as well as Bike Glendhu’s mountain bike course.

The Integrity Homes Challenge Wānaka Festival events also include the OSM Challenge Wānaka Multi on October 30, the Wānaka Medical Social Triathlon on February 13.

The Challenge Wānaka Festival will run from February 17 to 19 and feature a bay-to-bay swim, an intermediate challenge, triathlons.

“We know of many awesome mountain bikers who wanted to be part of our event and being out at Bike Glendhu seemed a perfect opportunity to create a Cross Triathlon or Duathlon for these keen individuals,” said race director Bill Roxburgh.

“The upper mountain is a fantastic and testing place to ride, so we are super excited to see racing up there. We hope that this event will bring in a new type of competitor to our region for the festival and we are sure it will entice even more people to come and experience Bike Glendhu in their training months, as well as for the race.” The Cross Triathlon will comprise a 1500m swim in Glendhu Bay, followed by a 32km ride, which sees riders cycle up to the summit of Bike Glendhu twice and a 10.5km trail run on the lower mountain, alongside the Challenge Wānaka Half competitors. The Duathlon will see athletes bike and run the same course, just without the swim section. This event is for competent mountain bikers, as the tracks on the upper mountain are rated Grade 4, with plenty of sharp climbs and fast technical descents, making for a challenging yet breath-taking ride. Challenge Wānaka Sports Trust is a charitable trust which donates profits to charities and organisations and subsidies youth, adaptive and community sports participation. For more details go to www.challenge-wanaka.com

PHOTOS: Photosport.nz

Australian Brad Kennedy claimed his second New Zealand championship title in 2019. Golf date changes

Young people in and around Wānaka are being encouraged to keep active during lockdown as part of a regional sporting challenge.

The New Zealand golf open date has changed.

Tournament organisers announced last week that the Millbrook event will run from March 31 to April 3.

New Zealand’s premier golfing event was shelved this year as a result of Covid and was originally scheduled next year for February.

This date change for the 102nd New Zealand Open has been made to allow for the best possible field to compete for the Brodie Breeze Trophy after other events dates were changed and give the tournament the best chance of being staged.

Two major Australasian tournaments - the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship – had been rescheduled from November and December this year to January and February next year.

“This new date avoids any tournament conflict for players, and whilst we have no certainty at present, we are hopeful that travel and quarantine restrictions and alert levels by that time will allow more freedom of travel between Australia and New Zealand, and hopefully even further afield,” tournament chairman John Hart said.

The Open will be played across 36 holes, including nine new holes opening shortly, at the Arrowtown resort.