Latest news with #King'sBirthdayWeekend
Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Waka's pace-setting fullback
Conner Hamlin. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER Give the ball to 'Vegas'. Wakatipu Premiers' speedy fullback Conner 'Vegas' Hamlin has been the rugby side's not-so-secret weapon this season, so far dotting down for seven tries after scoring nine in his first season with the team last year. The Dunedin-born 32-year-old, who moved to Queenstown early last year to be a PE teacher at Wakatipu High, would be one of the Central Otago comp's quickest players. But he also works well in tandem with Wakatipu's other pacy outside backs including Jamie Natapu and newcomer Jack Caunter. "It's good to be a part of like a back three where we can all rely on each other and we know where we're going to be and read the game really well," he says. At 78kg, Hamlin's also on the small side but doesn't lack for courage on defence. "I would say I would probably be on the lower side of most collisions I run into. The fact I've split my head open twice already this season is probably a good sign of that." The latest happened playing for Central Otago during the first half of their thrilling Topp Cup win over South Otago during King's Birthday Weekend, so he sat out Wakatipu's game against Matakanui Combined last weekend. Hamlin's played senior rugby for 12 years including about 85 games for Canterbury's Springston club, rep games for Ellesmere and Otago Country and even some games in the United States — his nickname springs from a 'court' session with Wakatipu team-mates when telling a story from his time in Las Vegas. Playing for Waka, he declares, "has probably been the most enjoyable footy I think I've played in my senior career, just because everyone gets along with everyone else". "And you enjoy turning up to Tuesday, Thursday trainings, no matter what the conditions are." He was on the field for the team's amazing come-from-behind win over Alexandra last month, but says his favourite was their White Horse Cup win over Upper Clutha last year. Handing it back this year was disappointing, Hamlin says. "[Veteran Bradley Cross] said, 'I think we were playing not to lose, rather than playing to win' — that's what you've got to. "If we could go and take it off Upper Clutha in the last round this year, that would be very handy." Hamlin, who'll be fit to take on Maniototo this Saturday, says it's healthy for the team and the club's future that five players who took the field last Saturday left Wakatipu High only two years ago. Out to square the ledger Having suffered a first-round away loss to Maniototo, 22-19, one of only two this season, Wakatipu will be out for revenge when they host the Ranfurly-based team at the Queenstown Recreation Ground this Saturday at 2.30pm. Wakatipu "warmed up" with a hard-fought 23-7 win over bottom-placed Matakanui Combined in freezing conditions last weekend — Waka's flying lock Josh Aperahama-Paenganui is pictured securing the ball during the game at the Rec Ground. Wakatipu's flying lock Josh Aperahama-Paenganui's pictured securing the ball during his team's game against Matakanui Combined at the Queenstown Rec Ground last Saturday. Co-captain and second-five Rube Peina starred by scoring all his team's points including two tries. Arrowtown, whose only win came in their season-opener against Matak, travel to play Cromwell this Saturday, seeking to go one better after drawing 26-all with them at home in the first round. Arrowtown lost 41-14 away to Alexandra last weekend.
Otago Daily Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Over 20 medals won in competitions
Posing with their medals from karate events over King's Birthday Weekend are (from left) Bruce Potter, Abigail Conradie, 14, Elijah Knights, 15, Angel Bruce, 13, Sharon Ferreira, Angelo Javier, 9, Zachary Struthers, 15, Daniel Conradie, 14, Curtis Melton, 15 and Petri Conradie. PHOTO: SUPPLIED An Alexandra karate club achieved remarkable successes at tournaments over King's Birthday Weekend, with the club winning more than 20 medals. Counties Shotokan Karate Alexandra Dojo instructor Petri Conradie said he was really proud of the efforts of the martial artists who took part in the tournaments. "They have been working hard for the past, it's about three months, that we've been working towards going to compete at this tournament and it's great to see that all the hard work is rewarded." The club took part in two events over the long weekend, the first of which was New Zealand South Island Schools Tournament held on the Saturday. It included competitors from both primary and secondary schools. The second tournament, held on the Sunday, was the Karate New Zealand Otago Southland Regional Championships, which drew competitors of all ages. Club members participated in both events. "In total per day, there was about 130 participants across various divisions," he said. At the event on Sunday the club got 17 medals, the fifth-most of all the clubs that competed, Conradie said. The events are a stepping stone for the young martial artists to compete in South Island-wide and national events. "The kids really get to measure themselves quite well against who else is out there, and then at the nationals, then it's a combination of the South and North Island and kids that almost do it professionally." For the children to perform at the South Island or national level was really good, he said.
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Nelson Rider Basalaj Claims First NZ Title
JUNE 9, 2025: South Islander Bailey Basalaj finally lived the dream at the weekend as he collected his first major New Zealand motorcycling title. The Honda rider from Nelson has been racing at the ultimate level for many years now, and on Sunday he finally broke through to achieve his career-long ambition. He won the opening round of the 2025 Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships near Nelson in April, but he was still taking nothing for granted as he headed to round two near Whanganui over the King's Birthday Weekend, barely a week ago. Basalaj managed to win the weekend near Whanganui and, with two outright victories in a row, it set him up for 'a more relaxed third and final round', two back-to-back days of racing, near Martinborough on Saturday and Sunday. Basalaj finished runner-up in the 'sprint' segment of the competition held on Saturday, beaten to the finish by Owaka's Blake Affleck, and it was the same story again the following day, during the more-arduous long-loop phase, with Affleck once more winning ahead of Basalaj. This gave Affleck overall honours for the weekend, but, more importantly, it was enough for Basalaj – with his eventual 1-1-2 scorecard for the series – to wrap up the premier Expert Grade title overall. Second overall for the series was Affleck (with 3-4-1 round results over the series) and New Plymouth's Josh Houghton (2-6-3) completed the Exert Grade podium, while Whangamata's Ethan Jameson (4-3-11) and Amberley's Nathan Hodge (6-5-5) rounded out the top five for 2025. Best of the Intermediate Grade riders at the weekend was Masterton's George Callaghan, followed by Masterton's Dave Edmonds and Tokoroa's Mark Newton. For the series overall it finished with Callaghan on top (with a 2-1-1 score-card over the three rounds), followed by Whanganui pair Grant McKinlay (1-6-5) and Jason Wakeling (0-2-7). Best of the women this season was Stratford's Megan Collins, who finished a highly-creditable fourth overall in the Intermediate Grade. In addition to Yamaha-Motor New Zealand, the 2025 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships were supported by Motorcycling New Zealand, Tasman Pine Forests Ltd, Macaulay Metals, Best Build Construction, Silver-bullet web site and Kiwi Rider magazine. 2025 Yamaha NZ Enduro Champs calendar: Round 1: April 25-26, Nelson. Day 1, 725 Dovedale Road, Day 2 Moutere Highway, 3.8km west of the Redwood Valley Hall. Round 2: June 1-2, near Whanganui. Round 3: June 7-8, Ruakokoputuna Hall, Martinborough District, South Wairarapa.
Scoop
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Nelson Rider Basalaj Leads A Honda 1-2 At Nationals
JUNE 8, 2025: South Islander Bailey Basalaj led a Honda 1-2 finish to the top of the series podium as his year's New Zealand Enduro Championships wrapped up in the North Island. The 21-year-old industrial refrigeration engineer from Nelson has been racing at the ultimate level for many years now, and on Sunday he finally broke through to achieve his career-long ambition, but he had a fight on his hands with fellow Honda rider Blake Affleck making a late charge for the title. Basalaj won the opening round of the 2025 New Zealand Enduro Championships near Nelson in April, but he was still taking nothing for granted as he headed to round two near Whanganui over the King's Birthday Weekend, barely a week ago. He managed to win again over the weekend near Whanganui and, with two outright victories in a row, it set Basalaj up for 'a more relaxed third and final round', two back-to-back days of racing, near Martinborough on Saturday and Sunday. Basalaj finished runner-up in the 'sprint' segment of the competition held on Saturday, beaten to the finish by Affleck, from Owaka, south of Balclutha, and it was the same story again the following day, during the more-arduous long-loop phase, with Affleck once more winning ahead of Basalaj. This gave Affleck overall honours for the weekend, but, more importantly, it was enough for Basalaj – with his eventual 1-1-2 scorecard for the series – to wrap up the premier Expert Grade title overall. Second overall for the series was Affleck (with 3-4-1 round results over the series) and New Plymouth's Josh Houghton (2-6-3) completed the Exert Grade podium, while Whangamata's Ethan Jameson (4-3-11) and Amberley's Nathan Hodge (6-5-5) rounded out the top five for 2025. Best of the Intermediate Grade riders at the weekend was Masterton's George Callaghan, followed by Masterton's Dave Edmonds and Tokoroa's Mark Newton. For the series overall it finished with Callaghan on top (with a 2-1-1 score-card over the three rounds), followed by Whanganui pair Grant McKinlay (1-6-5) and Jason Wakeling (0-2-7). Best of the women this season was Stratford's Megan Collins, who finished a highly-creditable fourth overall in the Intermediate Grade. 2025 New Zealand Enduro Champs calendar: Round 1: April 25-26, Nelson. Day 1, 725 Dovedale Road, Day 2 Moutere Highway, 3.8km west of the Redwood Valley Hall. Round 2: June 1-2, near Whanganui. Round 3: June 7-8, Ruakokoputuna Hall, Martinborough District, South Wairarapa.
Otago Daily Times
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Sub-union day the focus as senior rugby takes break
Southland senior club rugby took a break for King's Birthday Weekend. The rugby focus switched to the best Southland Country players competing for their sub-unions on Monday. The annual sub-union rugby day was hosted by the Central Pirates Rugby Club this year. In the first game, Western Southland and Central had an extremely tight game, with Western eventually winning 7-0 in double extra time. Eastern beat Northern to progress to the final, and beat the gallant Western team 26-14 after leading 12-11 at halftime. Eastern have been the powerhouses of country rugby in recent years. The Barbarians premier club team contributed 13 players to the Eastern team and two players to the Northern team. With four games remaining in the round robin phase of the premier club competition, the Barbarians are desperate to win this weekend on their sponsors' day at the Gore Showgrounds. The Baabaas are fourth-equal on the points table alongside Marist and Blues. The Barbarians will play against Blues tomorrow. This is a must-win game for the Barbarians with tougher encounters to follow against Woodlands, Pirates Old Boys and Star to finish. The Barbarians have had some of their key players unavailable through injury for large portions of the season. Lock Woody Kirkwood is now back on the field chasing a spot in the Stags squad, as is midfielder Angus Simmers. Pirates Old Boys are celebrating their 25th anniversary this weekend, beginning tonight. The premier team will play Star in the main event at Surrey Park tomorrow. Marist will host Woodlands at Miller St.
