Ashburton Guardian, Thursday, January 12, 2023

Donna’s living a life without limits

Donna McCaskill is a world pioneer.

In the last two decades Donna has represented New Zealand in the national blind cricket team.

That’s an achievement in itself but, when first selected in the mixed side, she was the only woman.

She was told vision impaired women shouldn’t play cricket, and she reacted negatively to that slur.

The Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind encourages members to “live a life without limits” and that made Donna determined to succeed in cricket.

“Our disability shouldn’t limit us,” she said. “I wanted to prove them wrong.”

She’s played in the national mixed team since the year 2000 and, her inspiration, has seen the rules changed for the World Blind Games in Birmingham, England, later this year.

The Games will host both men’s and women’s teams, something Donna has long advocated for.

During her years of representing New Zealand she’s played against Australia, England, Pakistan, India and South Africa.

In the version for blind or low vision players, a white ball is delivered underarm to the batter.

The ball is made of PVC with smaller balls enclosed inside creating a rattling sound. The batter can hear the ball being delivered and, if they have limited eyesight, can play their shots once it appears within their vision.

Then Donna takes over. She’s the wicketkeeper – the key to the game – and does all the talking.

“Depending on where the ball goes, I give the fielder specific instructions,” she said. “I listen to where the delivery’s heading, identify the fielder and give him instructions on retrieving it and returning it to me.”

Donna has 25 per cent vision and describes her vision as “like looking through a plastic wrapper. Everything is blurry.”

She was born with congenital cataracts, and has had the lenses in her eyes removed to prevent

Right – Donna McCaskill, as New Zealand wicket-keeper in a mixed team, shouts instructions to her players in a test match against South Africa.

their further spread.

“I only have close vision. I can’t drive a car and can see about six metres in front of me,” she said.

Despite that she’s never let her disability limit her. She’s office administrator for AgStaff, a recruitment agency, and is currently seeking workers for agricultural vacancies from Rolleston to Timaru.

Prior to that she was involved in farm work, but last August came off her E-scooter, which resulted in concussion and head injuries. Now she’s working indoors, with the scooter propped up against the wall.

“It took me a while to be brave again,” she said.

Two years ago Donna was elected to the Blind Low Vision

NZ Board. She’s the only South Island representative, and they meet monthly either via Zoom or face-to-face.

She wants to continue to ad-

vocate for the rights of blind or low vision people.

“The community should be more inclusive and engage people with disabilities because,

with the advancement of technology, they have keyboards or equipment modified to meet the demands of business work,” she said.

Malcolm Hopwood

Donna McCaskill in her office in The Triangle.

Singing school back for 23rd year

The Mid Canterbury Summer Singing School will bring the classics back to the stage at the end of this week for the 23rd year.

This year’s show is called Icons. So for musical director Jo Castelow, the show will be all about iconic music.

“So we range from a bit of Adele, Beatles, Prince, we have things like Time Warp, Monty Python, Queen, David Bowie, Madonna, all sorts of stuff really,” Castelow said.

“If people are expecting straight musical theatre, it’s not. It’s a bit more rock and roll and fun.”

Castelow never thought the school would last this long when she first started it, but 23 years on it’s as strong as ever.

“When I started it, I thought it would only last two years, now I’m still here 23 years later.”

Nearly 100 youth are involved in this year’s show split across senior and junior contingents, with ages ranging from nine up to 22.

Up for grabs at the end of the programme is a scholarship for two deserving recipients to help kick-start their careers in the arts, which will be presented on Saturday night.

One past scholarship winner has returned this year to help with choreography.

“I

all week and we are on stage Friday night,” Castelow said.

“So we really push through it.”

The curtain rises on the

tomorrow at 7.30pm at the Ashburton Event Centre and at the same time on Saturday. Tickets are $25.

By-election expected at month end

Jonathan Leask

Details on the upcoming Ashburton District Council by-election in the Western Ward will likely be finalised next week.

Following the sudden death of twoterm councillor Rodger Letham in December, there is a vacancy in the Western Ward, but a timeline for the by-election isn’t confirmed yet.

Chief executive Hamish Riach, who will return from annual leave next week, will need to give the electoral officer a notice of a by-election before anything can be put in place.

It is understood the process is likely to start before the end of January.

In the election in October, Letham

and deputy mayor Liz McMillan were both re-elected, with Dame Lynda Topp the only other candidate to stand.

If only one nomination is registered for the by-election, that nominee will be elected unopposed – avoiding a costly by-election process.

A candidate only needs their two nominators to live in the Western Ward, but they can reside anywhere in the district – or the country at large – as long as they are enrolled on the parliamentary electoral roll.

“Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air”

Greta Casey-Solly was the winner in 2013 and has spent some time in Australia and Wellington performing, directing and doing choreography.

More recently she has been based in Christchurch at the Court Theatre, shadow directing for RENT.

Castelow said she brings in people like Greta to help out with the show because they have been a performer before and understand the workload.

hand out the scripts in mid-December, then we audition for the solos on the Sunday, and practise singing and choreography

show

The Mid Canterbury Summer Singing School is in full swing, and participants are busy practising for their show this week. PHOTO DANIEL ALVEY

Daniel Alvey

Bryan will continue protesting outside Christchurch Hospital

“I’ve collapsed at home three times, once on the bathroom tiles.”

The severity of his condition was diagnosed last year and, since March, he’s had two strokes.

Ashburton protester, Carol Bryan, is determined to continue her silent vigil outside Christchurch Hospital until her husband finally receives his surgery.

She spent Tuesday outside outpatients and will return next week to continue her protest. Her billboard is directed at the New Zealand health system, and points out cardiology “has no money, no staff and no beds”.

She received several comments from medical people and the public. One person, she thought was a doctor, commented: “it’s not only cardiology that’s like this” while another said “there’s a lot of wasted money in this place”.

She’s chosen to protest outside Christchurch Hospital from now on because “the health system is in a crisis” and said “there’s a lot of people there to let know”.

Husband John, who’s been confined to their Walker Street home for the past 18 months, champions his wife’s initiative.

“She’s a legend. I support what she’s done,” he said.

Since he collapsed in Dunedin in 2014, he’s been waiting on a replacement valve for his heart.

He explains his aortic valve isn’t opening properly and, as a result,

“I don’t

But it was only in November before he was finally put on the Christchurch Hospital waiting list.

He’s been told it could be June this year when he’s admitted and, even then, it would depend on cardiac patients ahead of him on the list.

“Until then I’d like to stay alive and spend the next 10 years of my life with Carol,” he said. “I’m not enjoying the amount of time I’ve spent in bed.”

John Bryan is a former credit controller and poet. His poetry has celebrated the lives of many New Zealand sportspeople and he dedicated a poem and sent it to the Queen Mother on her 100th birthday. It also included a poem to the late Queen’s father, George VI.

To his surprise he received a reply from Lady Margaret Colville, lady-in-waiting at Clarence House, who thanked him and said both the late Queen and Queen Mother were touched by his poetry.

“I’m quite proud of that and want to continue writing after my surgery,” he said.

Enthusiast frustrated over dead bees

An Ashburton bee enthusiast has become frustrated with his bees dying because of sprays around town.

Heath Lyttle returned home from holiday to find thousands of dead bees across his backyard, which he suspects have ingested some pesticide.

“They were spread everywhere, all around their hive mostly.”

Lyttle said that bees were likely off foraging and someone has been spraying the flowers to kill other bugs such as aphids.

“I don’t think someone has done this on purpose, more likely they just didn’t know.

“They can travel for up to 3km away from their hive to find food.”

Lyttle describes himself as a hobbyist beekeeper, and has had a couple of beehives on his Allenton property, as well as a few farms for four years now.

“I do it for an interest, not to make money out of it.”

The hive that Lyttle lost was just beginning to build up its strength, and now has a long road to recovery.

“I lost a few thousand bees.

“Each bee takes 21 days to become a worker bee from hatching, so to get the hive back to where it was will probably take a couple of months.”

It’s not the first time something like this has happened to Lyttle either.

“A similar thing probably happens once a year.”

Lyttle wants to spread some advice that

will help keep his bees and others safe and alive.

Lyttle said spraying should not be done in the middle of the day because this is

HELP OUR BEES

AVOID spraying in the middle of the day because this is when the bees are out foraging for food.

LOOK out for any foraging bees.

AVOID spraying plants that have flowers if possible.

BUY bee-friendly sprays.

The other tips he had was to look for any foraging bees, avoid spraying plants that have flowers and looking out for beefriendly sprays.

when the bees are out foraging for food, but instead in the evening once it has cooled down and the bees have returned home.

Above – Allenton resident Heath Lyttle checking out his bees as they come and go from their hive.

Inset – The scene that greeted Heath Lyttle when he returned home from holiday to find thousands of dead bees.

PHOTOS DANIEL ALVEY

Daniel Alvey

he can no longer enjoy quality time.

feel good, I’m fatigued, tired and short of breath all the time,” he said.

John Bryan shows off the letter he received from Lady Margaret Colville, following poems he sent to the Queen and Queen Mother.

Malcolm Hopwood

Recyclers start year on good note

Keep up the good recycling, that’s the message from auditors checking kerbside recycling bins in the first weeks of 2023.

Infrastructure and Open Spaces Group Manager Neil McCann said the auditors travelled ahead of Council’s rubbish and recycling collection trucks to ensure non-recyclable items did not end up contaminating a whole truck-load of recycling.

“Early reports are that Ashburton District residents are recycling with our basic messaging in mind. They are putting out clean glass bottles and jars in their green crates, and sticking to hard plastics 1, 2 and 5, and cardboard and paper for their yellow bins.

“People also seem to have got the message that they can’t recycle leftover food or food in takeaway containers. It’s a good day when the auditors don’t find any maggots in their recycling checks.”

The most frequent recycling issues are pizza boxes with leftover food in them and container lids, of any size or shape.

“Neither of these can be recycled in kerbside collections. The pizza boxes are contaminated by the leftover food and the lids jam the automated sorting machine in Timaru, where our recycling is separated and processed,” Mr McCann said.

Persistent kerbside recycling offenders are put on a watchlist and offered educational material to help improve their knowledge

of what can and can’t be recycledCouncil’s education contractor works hard to raise awareness and encourage good habits.

“We have people going into schools to help students learn about the importance of recycling and sustainability, and we hope they take that message home to their parents because when rubbish contaminates recycling it means the whole lot has to go to landfill, which in turn costs ratepayers more money.”

Ashburton Resource Recovery Park is open seven days a week – 8am to 6pm on weekdays, 9am to 6pm Saturdays and 9am to 5pm Sundays.

Rakaia Resource Recovery Park is open Mondays 10am to 12pm, Wednesdays 3.30pm to 5.30pm, Fridays 2pm to 4pm and Saturdays 9am to 3pm.

The Methven Recycling Drop-off Facility is open 24 hours for the free disposal of recyclables. Methven also has a greenwaste facility open Wednesday 12.30pm to 2.30pm and Sundays 12pm to 4pm.

Rural recycling drop-offs are available at 12 other sites around the district. Need more info? Read our Bin It Right booklet, or see Council’s rubbish and recycling webpage.

Hamish Riach, Chief Executive

Recharging the batteries ahead of a busy budget and planning period

It’s great to see people recharging their batteries during the holidays and there is certainly plenty to do locally if you have decided to stick close to home.

You can picnic in our beautiful parks and reserves, find the perfect mountain bike track, or take the kids for a swim at the Tinwald pool. The Ashburton Public Library, the Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum and EA Networks Centre also have plenty of interesting activities on the go, including a special event about space exploration.

Spending time with family and friends, and recharging the batteries was an essential part of my Christmas and New Year break because we are straight into budget mode when Councillors and staff are back on deck this month.

Council is a big business, with just over 300 people employed in full or part-time work and an annual income of about $90 million, with

about half of that derived from rates. Like all territorial authorities, we have a continuous cycle of work and budgeting that affects your daily lives in many ways – from flushing the toilet to driving on roads and dealing with noise complaints or wandering dogs.

It works out that soon as we officially tick off one annual plan, we start work on another. The Annual Report for 2021-22 was adopted by Council last month after it had been scrutinised and approved by the auditors - the report looks at how we performed against our budget and work programme. Did we do all we said we would, did we meet budgets, did we contribute to improving the overall wellbeing of our district?

You’ll be pleased to know we met our financial goals, which are to ensure Council spends prudently, keeps rates and fees to a reasonable level, and has money to cater for growth. On the wellness front, resident surveys

showed 91 per cent of residents felt a sense of community with others in their neighbourhood and 91 per cent were satisfied with local community facilities.

The 2021/22 year was notable, not only for the ongoing impact of Covid-19 –we completed the CBD streetscape renewal and the Ashburton Relief Sewer, progressed the new library and civic building despite covid challenges, and continued to operate safe drinking water and wastewater networks for a big majority of the district’s residents.

The quality and condition of our large roading network continues to be a source of frustration for many in the community, but despite this, we graded 10,216 km of unsealed roads, resealed 70km of sealed roads and filled thousands of potholes. And in the 2022-23 year, Council increased its roading works programme to keep the improvement going.

We are about to begin work on the 2023-24 Annual Plan, and that will be adopted this June ahead of the new financial year in July.

So you can see we have a continuous stream of work auditing what we did, checking we are on track at the moment, and planning for the future.

Councillors and staff spend a lot of time balancing the work that is needed in the district against the impact it will have on rates, and having good conversations with the community about expectations.

The first big budget workshop is on 26 January, and there will be plenty of energy spent over the next few months to make sure we are all spending sensibly in 2023-24.

These news pages are created and supplied by the Ashburton District Council. For more information and the latest news, visit our website ashburtondc.govt.nz/news

Giant weta sets scene at Mayfield pool

Around 700 venturer scouts who camped at the Mayfield Domain recently have helped create two colourful murals at the Mayfield swimming pool, as part of a service project to the small rural town that hosted the big event.

The venturers, plus about 250 supervisors, lived in a temporary tent city in the domain for 10 days and took part in all sorts of adventures around the district.

Ignite ’23 attracted venturer scouts (1419 years) from all over New Zealand and Australia, and event director Wendy Eyles said they had a lovely time at Mayfield.

“We’re very aware we are a big group and can make a bit of noise, but we had great

support from locals and the public. It’s been a lovely experience and the pool murals will be a lasting, colourful reminder of our adventures there.”

As part of the camp’s programme, scouts were asked to contribute designs for two murals to be painted on the changing rooms at the Mayfield swimming pool, which the group has been using.

Two scenes, one featuring a giant weta, were selected based on the theme “Nature’s back yard”.

The project was supported by a $576 grant from the Ashburton District Council via

the New Zealand Creative Communities Scheme. Wattyl also provided discounted paint for the work.

Organisers of the large-scale scout camp also worked with the Mayfield Reserve Board, the Mayfield A&P Show committee, Mayfield playcentre, the Mayfield Swimming pool, Mayfield Squash Club, Mayfield tennis club and the local rugby club.

People can access public toilets in the Mayfield Domain again and temporary public toilets in the Panther's Rock carpark have been removed.

Road works in Triangle while new power lines laid

Traffic flows around the Triangle will be disrupted for a month or so from the end of January while new underground power lines are laid along Cass Street and Victoria Street.

The work commissioned by electricity lines company EA Networks is being carried out in several stages and involves digging up parts of both roads and some footpaths. It will start on Cass Street, near Wills Street, and move south towards Cameron Street, with the final stage on Victoria Street.

Traffic management in the area will include detours and partial or full road closures, with signs controlling where vehicles can go. The first stage will take place between Monday 23 January and Monday 30 January, and involve closing the northbound lane of Cass Street, between Victoria Street and Peter Street.

EA Networks chief executive officer Roger Sutton said the new power lines would replace a part of the electricity network that was more than 50 years old and had little capacity remaining.

“The new lines will help futureproof the

COUNCIL OFFICE

5 Baring Square West

Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri 8.30am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm

Triangle business area and be able to deliver more electricity to existing and new businesses, including a new restaurant that is currently under construction on Victoria Street.

“We’re conscious the work will disrupt traffic for a few weeks and apologise for the inconvenience, but it allows us to meet the growth we see coming in the area.”

Roading contractors for Council will also be resealing part of the northbound lane on Chalmers Avenue from 13 January and traffic will be asked to detour around the site.

You can check Council's website for details of all road closures around the district.

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Mon - Fri 9.00am - 8.00pm Sat 10am - 1pm | Sun 1pm - 4pm

Waitangi Day will be busy

Waitangi weekend looks like being a cracker in Ashburton, with several big events planned, including the return of the Multi Cultural Bite festival.

Multi Cultural Bite was cancelled last year because of covid, but is back in 2023 with plans to hold it in the Ashburton Domain on Waitangi Day, Monday 6 February.

The festival is an opportunity for the district’s different ethnic groups to showcase their culture, through performing arts and food stalls selling bitesized portions of national dishes.

Also at the domain will be the Waitangi Day Market and the Amazing Dinosaur Discovery show.

The dinosaur show will operate over the course of a week and people can book a 90-minute session that lets them explore and learn all about the prehistoric world of dinosaurs. There’ll be over 30 lifelike dinosaurs, including crowd favourite Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Brachiosaurus with a 12m long neck and robotic raptors.

Ashburton Airport is also scheduled to host an informal fly-in over Waitangi weekend, so the skies will be busy too.

EA NETWORKS CENTRE

20 River Terrace

Mon - Fri 6am-9pm (pools 7pm, gym 8pm) Sat & Sun 7am-7pm (pools 5pm, gym 6pm)

PROPOSED ROAD CLOSURE

Ashburton District Council gives public notice of a proposal to temporarily close a road to ordinary vehicle traffic to enable the holding of a community event, Gravel Sprint Meeting.

• UPPER DOWNS ROAD, from Quarry Road to approximately #518 Upper Downs Road

Period of closure: From 8am to 6pm on Saturday, 18 February 2023

This proposed closure is made under the Local Government Act 1974 – Schedule 10 (11 (e) and will be considered at the next Council meeting on 1 February 2023. Any person objecting to the proposal should lodge a notice of their objection and grounds for their objection in writing by post or email to the Council, 5 Baring Square West, Ashburton by 4pm, Friday 20 January 2023.

ROAD WORKS

A section of the northbound lane of Chalmers Avenue, between Walnut Avenue and Grey Street will be closed for resealing for at least three days from 13 January

Heavy traffic that regularly uses Chalmers Avenue will be asked to detour via Beach Road, Trevors Road and Albert Street.

NEIL McCANN Group Manager Infrastructure and Open Spaces

TRIENNIAL MEETINGS

Alford Forest Reserve BoardTuesday 24 January, 7.30pm in the Alford Forest hall

Rakaia Memorial Hall - Wednesday 1 February, 7pm in the hall supper room

Mayfield Reserve and Hall Board - Tuesday 28 March, 7.30pm at the Mayfield hall

RECYCLING TIP: NO LIDS

With the holiday season here, you might have friends and family staying over - please help us keep our recycling ship-shape by remembering hard plastics 1, 2 and 5 for your yellow bin, and no lids of any size.

Lids jam the automated sorting machine; you can recycle lids at your nearest resource recovery park, just not in kerbside recycling.

STOCKWATER

KEEP YOUR RACES CLEAR

Races need regular maintenance in summer, especially when flows traditionally drop. To help get the water through the network, races need to be cleaned of any weed growth and rubbish, like plastic containers and hedge clippings. Flow is not guaranteed, so users are advised to have an alternate water source for stock.

ASHBURTON ART GALLERY & ASHBURTON MUSEUM 327 West Street 10am - 4pm daily

Venturer scouts work on one of two new murals for the Mayfield swimmong pool.

Road toll lowest in five years

Driver behaviour needs a major improvement, according to a Mid Canterbury motoring advocate.

Canterbury and West Coast Automobile Association chairman, John Skevington, who spends plenty of time on the road between Lake Hood and Christchurch, said it was good to see the lower local road toll, but there was still more work to be done.

“Driver behaviour is a big issue, and fatigue in drivers is something people don’t take enough notice of,” Skevington said.

In 2022 there were three fatalities on Mid Canterbury roads, all single death crashes. The first was back in March where one person died on Beach Road East, the second was in October near Rakaia where a Tauranga man died on Gardiners Road, the final incident was in November where a man was killed on State Highway 77.

Despite the national road toll being 60 higher than last year, deaths on Mid Canterbury roads were the lowest they have been since 2018.

“It is three deaths too many, but we are never going to have a zero road toll, because accidents

will always happen.”

Waka Kotahi is still progressing with the Road to Zero campaign, which aims to reduce deaths and serious injures by 40 per cent before 2030.

“We support Road to Zero, but there is a lot more work needed to get there,” Skevington said.

What the solutions are, Skevington is unsure of, but some effort should be directed towards driver behaviour.

“Whether it is more driver training, or increasing fines for offences, we just need something that will change people’s behaviour.”

While the local police would

not comment on the yearly road toll, acting senior sergeant Janine Bowden said that police would be out in force over summer.

“There will be a particular focus on patrolling rural highways; expect to see a significant presence of police, anywhere and anytime,” Bowden said.

Police will also be focusing on the four main causes of death on the roads, lack of restraints, impairment, distractions, and speed.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility: we can all play a part to ensure that no-one is harmed on our roads,” Bowden said.

Bridge installation crux point for Sharplin Falls

set up for the installation of the bridges to make it easier and safer to bolt the bridges in place.

“It’s quite a complicated process, but we are looking forward to having it done.

Two steel bridges are waiting to be flown into the new Sharplin Falls Walkway next week.

Mt Somers Walkways Society president, Charles Ross, said the complex installation of the two 28.8m bridges is the crux point of the entire project, so it was set to be a big week.

“There is a heavy lift helicopter coming next week to lift all the bridge sections in.

Scaffolding is currently being

“It’s a locally treasured destination, and the community has been right behind us.”

Fulton Hogan has prepared the four bridge sections, weighing around 1500kg each, to ensure they will fit in the already completed foundations when they are flown in.

The installation of the bridges is the major component of the new walkway, and will mark a major milestone in the project that will restore safe access to Sharplin Falls.

Rockfalls on the track during and after the 2011 earthquakes meant that DOC permanently closed the track due to safety concerns in 2017.

Following extensive consultation with DOC and geologists, the society has undertaken to build a new track themselves and that process reaches a climax with the bridge installation, paving the way for the track to be completed.

Ross said the society’s volunteers have had a busy summer prepping the new track that has been cut through the bush by Cam Bissett.

“Cam has made the track and the members are doing the gravelling and final touches.

“It’s been a wet summer, which hasn’t made things easy but has highlighted any potential wet areas, so it has been to our advantage.”

Once the bridges are bolted in place there is still some track work to be completed before the society seeks DOC sign off to reopen access to Sharplin Falls.

“It will take a couple of months to get things all tidied up,” Ross said.

The cost of the two steel bridges has made up the bulk of the cost of the project, which is estimated to be around $470,000.

Ashburton District Deputy Mayor, Liz McMillan, said it will be fantastic to have the track up and running again.

She often used to take her children up the old track prior to its closure, and the new track will be a valued asset to the community and the district.

“Everyone who has been involved in that project along the way, the thousands of volunteer hours, have done an amazing job.”

Three people died on Mid Canterbury roads in 2022, the lowest local road toll in five years.

PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

Daniel Alvey

Fulton Hogan has been busy preparing the bridge sections before they are to be flown in by helicopter next week for the new Sharplin Falls Walkway. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Right – Mt Somers Walkways Society volunteers installing one of the several culverts going in to keep water off the new track.

Jonathan Leask

RantorRave

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That’s a lot of potholes on our roads

12,074 – that’s a lot of potholes.

Yes, that old chestnut again. The bane of Mid Canterbury motorists’ lives. Those pesky little beggars that invade your life and don’t seem to want to leave, a lot like moths if you leave the outside light on.

Consider me gobsmacked earlier in the week when reading that the Ashburton District Council had filled that many potholes in a calendar year.

It’s seemingly quite a lot even for our much-spruiked own expansive roading network.

Break it down and it gets even better.

That big number of potholes in a year – over 12k – equates to roughly 232 being filled per week, or 33 a day in a seven-day working week. But no-one works seven days anymore, do they?

Base it on a normal working week and it’s closer to 46 potholes a day, or roughly six potholes an hour. I know we’ve got it bad in some parts of the region, but I would have never guessed that bad. Perhaps seeing that final tally might just appease the outspoken who have suggested that nothing is being done about them.

There are really only two reasons why we’ve seen such a spike. Weather and, or human error.

We’ve certainly noticed a lot more moisture coming out of the sky than we are used to and even

the smallest of cracks in tarseal can quickly turn into a canyon when you hit it.

The chance of the increase being a result of an error in the construction of our roads is a possibility. But the chance of someone admitting that is about as likely as it is that there won’t be a single pothole filled in 2023

There really is no golden egg here, is there?

No matter how well constructed roads are and no matter what material is used there are going to be cracks. Then it’s going to rain, and that rain is going to leak into those cracks and create problems, most noticeably –potholes.

ber down.

For the sake of suspensions and tyres around the district, it’s all we can hope for.

And another old chestnut …

I see discussion has begun again this week on the proposal that the EA Networks Centre gets a hydroslide. A little bit like potholes in Mid Canterbury, this is no new debate.

We’ve walked this road before as a community and had some rather influential people leading the charge, but have been left disappointed when it didn’t happen.

– and by my calculations, based on 2023 statistics, 363 should already have been filled.

So, how do we move forward? How do we ‘reduce the curve’?

We can only hope the remedial work being done, coupled with continued improvements to our main roading areas within our network will help to get the num-

Perhaps 2023 is the year of change though and these renewed calls for tubing in which children can slide down and make a splash many finally eventuate.

Much rather that than the splash when you hit a pothole full of water … oh, there I go again.

Matt Markham

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Adjoining this area, the open plan kitchen with conversation area is a most delightful area

and used often when entertaining with sliding doors leading to the patio/barbecue area.

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The master has an enviable walk-in robe and well designed ensuite. Add to this a sunsaturated aspect supplemented by ducted air conditioning and feature gas fire plus underfloor heating in the well appointed bathrooms.

With internal access five-car garaging and plenty of off-street parking, there's plenty of room for the home handyman or car enthusiast.

Exquisitely landscaped grounds envelop the home with the softness of tranquil greenery.

Given the home's proximity to the Allenton shopping centre and town centre, rest assured you are superbly placed to make use of the town's facilities.

Viewing: By appointment only.

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Work relocation calls

Sunny, modern and central

Open Home

Family home with options

Hampstead

Trevors Road

68 Allens Road, ALLENTON

This lovely home is ideal for the family providing four bedrooms and secure grounds all within close proximity to Allenton School.

This quality 1960s home provides comfortable living with feature high ceilings plus many benefits of a modern home including double glazing, heat pumps, HRV plus log fire. Two bathrooms is ideal for a family and have recently been renovated including tiled floors and walls with finishing to an excellent standard. Well-presented grounds and sunny north-facing

living with a covered outdoor entertaining area is perfect for all occasions. Internal access garage with storeroom plus exceptional cupboard storage is most convenient.

Brand New And Waiting For You

163A William Street, ASHBURTON

This brand new build is now ready for new owners. The home has two bathrooms and three double bedrooms, master with en suite. Open plan living heated with a heat pump. Fabulous style kitchen with modern features and ample storage. The garage is a generous size with loft storage and laundry. Easy care section with new landscaping and concrete paths for easy access.

By Negotiation Web ID AUE3125730

View: Saturday, 10am - 10.30am

A Family Dream Opportunity

121 Racecourse Road, ALLENTON

Set on a beautifully established 2786m2 section sits this well-appointed large family home. Six bedrooms, two bathrooms and two toilets in the home, one bedroom sleepout with bathroom and toilet. Bright and sunny kitchen with all the modern conveniences is central to the spacious living and dining. Three heat pumps, two in the home, one in the sleepout. Double garage, large spacious garden shed and separate workshop.

Offers over: $815,000 Web ID AUW3449919 View: Saturday, 10am - 10.30am

By Negotiation Web ID AUE3529744

Offers Over: $675,000 Web ID AUW3376570

View: Saturday, 10.45am - 11.15am

View:

Room For Everyone

Offers Over: $565,000 Web ID AUT3487447

View:

55 Wills Street, ASHBURTON Here is an opportunity to own a spacious villa in a superb location within walking distance to the Ashburton Domain and town centre. Three fabulous size bedrooms, two living rooms and spacious kitchen with bifold windows. Gas cooktop and electric oven. Two log burners and HRV system. Sunny deck to relax on to entertain family and friends. Four car garaging and a great 1014m2 size section.

Dream Big

By Negotiation Web ID AUW3487470

Saturday, 10.45am - 11.15am

19A Baker Street, ALLENTON

Tucked away in a private rear section, this home will be brand new. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, master with en suite and WIR. Open plan kitchen, dining and living areas perfectly positioned for the sun and heated with a heat pump. There is a separate laundry as you walk through to the double garage. The property will be easy care with room for off-street parking.

Brand New and Coming Soon

138 Thomson Street, TINWALD

This gorgeous home offers so much with impressive off-street parking, a double car garage with internal access to the house and a double carport. Open plan kitchen/living room with double doors opening to an easy care backyard and a covered private entertaining area. Kitchen with double dish drawers, wall oven, cooktop plus a skylight. Four bedrooms, three doubles, built-in wardrobes, one single. A must view!

Road,

Opportunity knocks for Majestic Man

Trainer Phil Williamson can’t believe Majestic Man has been handed a second chance at a last hurrah.

But first, the evergreen trotter, who has a number of local owners as part of his syndicate, has to win at Cambridge tomorrow night.

The veteran trotter is a multiple Group 1 winner, which is no small feat having raced in the same era as Sundees Son, Bolt For Brilliance, Muscle Mountain and Winterfell, but his winning strike rate has dropped away in the last 18 months and Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson had resigned himself to the fact his stable star’s travelling days were over.

But with the three big names of New Zealand trotting now all set to miss the rich Melbourne trotting carnival it is back on the agenda for Majestic Man.

“You couldn’t believe we (New Zealand) could have three great trotters and they all have problems at the same time,” says Williamson.

“All of a sudden the old fella comes right back into contention for races like the Great Southern Star, because he loves Australian races and we know none of the other Kiwi trotters are going.

“He is working well and he won at Addington during Cup Week; what we want to find out on Thursday is whether that will to win is still there.

“If it is and he comes out and wins then he will be going to Melbourne.”

Majestic Man has been at his best in Melbourne where his gate speed and the smaller tracks, as well as being away from the big New Zealand three, have made him as good as any of the Aussie locals.

As an eight-year-old there is no guarantee the high-end leg speed and will to win are still there, but that is what tomorrow night’s $30,000 Group 3 is about finding out.

Majestic Man only meets four rivals

and should have the gate speed to clear them early, and anything but a victory would see the Victorian campaign abandoned.

“He will have to win and win well to be on the plane to Melbourne,” says Williamson.

He also has Love In The Port in the same race, and says even drawn inside Majestic Man he can’t make a case for him, beating the stablemate, who is rated 40 points higher.

Nelson spoils on offer

By Matt Markham matt.m@theguardian.co.nz

A strong group of Mid Canterbury locals, both human and equine, will head north today hoping to be ready to pillage the Nelson spoils tomorrow.

The annual two-day Nelson meeting kicks off tomorrow afternoon and after a red-hot start to the season for a number of drivers from Mid Canterbury, and along with an ominous line-up of local horses, the fun should continue.

Ricky May, Gerard O’Reilly and Sarah O’Reilly will all compete at the two-day meeting with good books of drives and plenty of chances, while the strike-rate barn of Brent and Tim White will be back at one of their happiest hunting grounds looking for more success.

May is in the fortuitous position of picking up a number of drives for the Greg and Nina Hope stable with their son, Ben on the sidelines following a suspension. He drives the talented Celtic Spirit in the Nelson Summer Cup Prelude, but also has strong hopes with Blue Rock Dancer, Michael Caine and Tremendous Lover for the barn as well.

Gerard O’Reilly will team up with Geoff and James Dunn for a strong chance with the talented South Seas Rock, while daughter Sarah gets her best chance on board the Whites’ trained Lone Wolf.

He’s one of four horses the Ashburton Raceway stable has engaged for the day, with Aeronaut and Kohli Trouble both looking strong each way chances while the enigmatic Randel Huston P would win if he brought his best manners to the occasion.

Prince Teka K G Cameron 6 x1021 Eurokash R T May 7 1256x Repeat Pat J R Dunn 8 56051 Missalyssa Sam Thornley 9 75833 Chief Of Staff Z E Butcher 10 55113 Sioux Princess S J Ottley R8 HOANI JACK CUP (MBL PACE) $12,500 2400m 17:4 1 5x021 Stanley’s Rule Sarah O’Reilly 2 10x10 Major Torque S J Ottley 3 x9x21 Clouding Over R J Butt 4 37781 Anna Love J W Cox 5 247x2 Winegum

Victory in Cambridge tonight could mean wonderful trotter Majestic Man heads across the Tasman sea once again.

Future cricket stars show their mettle

Red, and Canterbury Red.

Yesterday, they stepped out against South Canterbury in the 40-over variation of the game and made a strong start to have their rivals in trouble, six down after just over 20 overs.

The Ashburton Domain is a hive of activity this week, as young cricketers from across Canterbury test themselves against their peers in the regional Year 8 tournament.

The competition kicked into gear on Monday with eight teams locking horns over the course of Monday and Tuesday in a T20 format competition, before stretching into the longer variation of the game yesterday.

Teams from Christchurch, Canterbury Country, Marlborough and South Canterbury, along with the local hosts, are playing on either the Domain Oval, or one of the three pitches down the northern side of the domain.

Despite their home ground advantage, the Mid Canterbury lads had a tough start to the week in the T20 matches, losing to Marlborough, Canterbury Country

A few steady partnerships righted the ship, though, and at the time of deadline, South Canterbury were on track to post a total close to 200.

The side are back in action today on the Ashburton College wicket near to the tennis courts and will take on Canterbury Country White.

While one Mid Canterbury side is playing locally, the other Year 8 team is up the road in Selwyn doing their thing in a mirror-tournament.

They too had a tough start to the week, losing to Canterbury, West Coast and Canterbury Country before taking on Marlborough yesterday, where they were set 140 to win.

Today they are set to take on another Canterbury Junior side at the Mandeville Sport Centre from 2.30pm.

Ashburton Golf Club

Happy new year to everyone. I hope your news year’s resolution lasted longer than mine.

No more double bogies or three putts for me this year. Then my first hole at Tinwald in the new year’s tourney blew them both out of the water. Then I murmured to myself “maybe just counts on your home course!” Well, I managed to get three holes in on Saturday before that went as well. Ah well, try again next year.

Saturday did see some big movers in the Property Brokers Shootout table. Top of the pile and putting herself into 3rd place and safe in the final was the lovely exchamp Hilary Lovett, who shot a great score of 42 points, superb effort and she is certainly going to be well backed in the auction. I reckon the Blondinis will break the bank to purchase her, could be an all time record selling price.

Also putting himself safe in the final with another 39-pointer to snag himself 78 total is Kenny Clucas.

Now those with good memories can cast them back to the very first shootout, some 12 or 13 years ago, when the game was all new to us and we were bumbling through it to see how it worked.

Well every new venture needs a fall guy, a test pilot if you will, putting the game through its paces to see if it will fly or flop.

We needed a great spectacle to set the game alight. Ken stood up, hacked his way up the first in about nine or ten shots, took the very first elimination on the chin with poise and grace, everyone else laughed or sighed in relief and the legend that is the Property Brokers Shootout was born.

What a man! I reckon 13 years is long enough to put the demons to bed, so we will see how he goes this time round.

Other good scores from Saturday were Ryan Stoddart on 40 points, Grant Smith on 39, then Mitch Lye and Ram Clarke on 38.

This Saturday we have the final qualifying round for the shootout final and I think it will be a big field, with lots of players still fancying their chances of making the top 19.

If I am honest, I believe 76 points will get you in, on a countback.

At present, President Bruce sits in 14th place with the weakest of the 76 pointers, and Shane Beaven sits 10th with the strongest.

We have many players with one good score in, so a big day on Saturday could catapult you into the final.

The phantom scribe has already got started on knocking up some of the racing guide, and there are a few doozies in there.

Once we know the final 19, the guide

will be finished and hopefully, posted by Wednesday.

We will then look at having the Auction for the finalists after club opening day golf on Saturday 21st then the big race itself takes place on Sunday 29th. Its gonna be another cracker.

Talking of great games. If you have not got your entry in for the Harvey Norman Classic yet, then you better get your A into G.

This is filling up very fast with over 90 pairs already entered as of last Saturday, and with around 110 pairs being the limit, it looks like we are going to have a waiting list again.

Great work by Tom, Terry, James and the gang.

The club is in great heart, you can feel it around the course and clubhouse. Well done to everyone involved. See you around.

Good golfing.

RESULTS

Lucas Jemmett lets one go out the back of the hand.

PHOTO MATT MARKHAM 110123-MM-002

Matt Markham

PHOTOS MATT MARKHAM

Left –Angus Robins turns himself inside out during his spell.

Right – Alex Forbes looks to build up a bit of steam during his run-up.

Young athletes put to the test

by the wet weather the North Island has been enduring for the past week, but it didn’t stop the competitive nature of the athletes coming out when they did step onto the track, or the field.

Budding young Ashburton athletes are getting the chance to put their skills up against some of their peers from around the country early on in the new year.

A large contingent of 37 members of the Ashburton Athletics club will head south to Timaru this weekend to compete in the annual Colgate Games, the pinnacle of youth athletics in the Aoraki region.

The hard yards have been put in over the late spring and early summer months and everyone is excited to get into the action this weekend.

But for three local athletes, it’s a continuation of competition which began last weekend up in Whanganui for their Colgates, which were held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Ashlee Estreich, Brooke Edmond and Madi Edmond all trekked up to the North Island to compete in a varying number of events over the course of the meet and enjoyed good personal success along the way to ready themselves for this weekend.

The competition was hampered

OPINION

Beginning on Friday, Estreich kicked things off for the Ashburton trio, finishing 10th in the preliminary 400m event and also took part in the long jump.

Brooke Edmond began her weekend with a strong run in the 200m to qualify for the semi-final where she then advanced to the final, placing seventh in a strong field.

Madi Edmond finished seventh out of 20 competitors in the shot put with a best put of 8.42 metres.

On Saturday, Estreich went within a whisker of making the 100m final, missing out by 0.3 of a second.

In tough conditions for discus, Madi claimed seventh out of 25 competitors in the 12-year-old discus while Brooke placed third in the 10-year-old discus and seventh out of 61 competitors in the long jump.

Sunday’s final day saw the local trio back in action again with Ashlee just missing out on the final of the 200m for 13-year-old girls after making her way through to the semi-final, while Brooke rounded out her weekend by claiming ninth out of 40 competitors in the shot put.

Winners and losers of the past week

at least be considered for the second test.

LOSERS: Everyone, over the Trent Boult business

Confirmation that Trent Boult won’t be lining up when New Zealand takes on England next month is absolutely gutting.

This has to be about the most stupid situation I’ve witnessed in decades of watching New Zealand sport.

New Zealand hardly ever hosts a decent cricket test series.

But when the action against the Brendon McCullum-coached England begins in Mt Maunganui, one of our great fast bowlers will be just up the road watching it on TV (or maybe he’ll be at the ground, licking an ice cream).

The game has become so twisted by money and inept management that a key test cricketer will miss a mighty series because he’s been playing T20 in the UAE, which ranks alongside endeavours like playing tiddlywinks in Timbuktu.

I don’t know who to blame, but maybe cricket needs some hard and fast rules and international windows so someone like Boult isn’t ruled out by such a ridiculous clash of schedules.

The issue came up again at the end of a press conference in Pakistan, but Black Caps coach Gary Stead didn’t go into the ins and outs.

Stead cited “workload” as the reason, with Boult arriving back in New Zealand a couple of days before the first test.

But I can’t see why Boult — a free agent since last year — won’t

And there was no discussion around why Boult can’t be zoomed into test action this time, when it worked so well in England last year.

We the punters deserve a decent explanation at least.

Everyone is a loser here, including the New Zealand players who deserve to play in a fullstrength team, and even England who will want to prove themselves against the best.

The blame can probably be spread around. But cricket needs its head read if it keeps going down this stupid road.

WINNER: Sporting romance … and a couple of Hollywood types

The FA Cup has done it again.

English football’s historic knockout football competition has lost glamour over the years, but it keeps on keeping on.

There’s nothing like the FA Cup for allowing minnows to have a moment of glory in classic David v Goliath battles.

Step up Wrexham, the fifthtier club from Wales that is the subject of a fascinating fly-onthe-wall TV series.

Welcome to Wrexham is the brainchild of Hollywood’s Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who bought the club. And they’ve got a wonderful new centrepiece, with Wrexham upsetting Championship side Coventry in the FA Cup third round over the weekend.

And then there’s Boreham Wood — a football non-entity playing in the same division as Wrexham — who have been an FA Cup fairytale side in recent

years and achieved a surprise FA Cup draw in the latest round.

Chairman Danny Hunter — whose father is a former manager of the Boreham Wood side — remortgaged his house during the pandemic to keep the club going. He wanted to keep the memories alive, and make some more.

It’s a far cry from a club like EPL giants Manchester United, who have reportedly introduced a rule capping player payments at a mere $380,000 a week each.

And yet these two clubs are in the same competition.

The FA Cup is unique.

LOSER: The New Zealand honours system

Question: A colleague asked why Hamish Bond and Eric Murray didn’t receive knighthoods in the latest list, getting a lesser prize instead.

Answer: There’s no good reason, except to say that the whole national honours business is a

load of codswallop.

WINNER/LOSER: Wellington Phoenix

Great to see the Phoenix making headlines via a bizarre victory over Sydney FC in the A-league.

Sadly, they’ll go back to the fine print.

LOSERS: Climate change deniers

Some sports face difficult times due to radically changing weather patterns.

I hear climate change is a growing topic of conversation in cricket circles, for instance.

It will also be testing the mettle of groundkeepers.

Auckland’s international women’s tennis event had to survive repeated rain interventions.

At least rising American star Coco Gauff’s victory gave the ASB Classic some welcome credibility.

Meanwhile, the European heatwave is forcing ski fields to

close and a World Cup event in Switzerland will take place on artificial snow.

A climate science professor told Sky News: “By the end of the century it’s just going to be over … skiing in the Alps as we know it … the snow will continue to melt as long as the climate warms.”

LOSER or WINNER … Pat Cummins

The Australian cricket captain is getting it in the neck from some quarters after declaring overnight with Usman Khawaja five runs short of a double century. But Cummins’ job is to win test matches. And as it turned out, Australia actually needed a lot more time to try and dismiss South Africa at the SCG. Cummins is paid the big bucks to make the tough decisions.

WINNER … social media, sometimes it’s not all bad …

Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin was tweeting and sharing photos from his hospital bed, after needing life-saving treatment on the field during an NFL game last week.

It was horrifying to witness the incident, in which Hamlin rose after making a tackle then wobbled to the ground from cardiac arrest.

It’s such a relief, to see him out of hospital and communicating with one and all.

Back in the day, such a connection with a stricken star would have been impossible.

But as an old timer, it still seems weird seeing someone in his position hitting social media just days after a near-tragic event.

Ashlee Estreich kicks off in her 200m preliminary in Whanganui last weekend. Inset: Brooke Edmond celebrates her third placing in the 10-year-old girls’ discus.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

Chris Rattue NZ Herald

Chris Rattue runs through the sporting winners and losers from across the weekend.

Trent Boult won’t be facing England in the first test.

Matt Markham

In shackles punch idea out (7,2)

Assesses entry in an extra testimonial (5)

Tells waiter what one wants to be full for the priesthood (6)

How to win Test with jumper and cardigan match (4-3)

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): You're paying attention. You'll recognise where you're at with someone through the tone of your interactions. When it's a little off the norm, you notice. When it's particularly sweet, you give back in kind.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): Almost everything you see out there is not you – a humbling fact that makes you wonder about your place in it all. While you'll experiment to figure it out, never doubt that you have a place and your role is essential.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): Take things as you find them. Facts are facts. The longer you hold on to information, the more you influence it. It will help you now to know how things stand so you can really understand your influence.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): Theatrics are unnecessary, especially if you aim to stir things up. To surprise and alarm people, you just have to tell the truth. The more unpretentious and real you are, the more effective you'll be.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): The drama unfolds. There's no clear winner, nor is there a solid sense of right and wrong. Humans are messy. They connect and disconnect haphazardly. Don't worry about it making sense. Time will reveal relevant details.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): There's a heightened quality to the day. The natural world invites your appreciation. You'll experience visual poetry. Things seem more dramatic set against the ever-changing sky.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): You don't have to seek trouble, nor should you go out to meet it. There's much that can happen in the stretch between you and the problem. This time, it will be better to sit back and see who intervenes.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): Like all resources, your time, money and attention become undervalued when they are given too freely. The value increases when you hold some back.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): With certain people, you'll keep your feelings tucked away. They wouldn't know what to do with the full-fledged version of you. Be sure to air those feelings when it's safe, no good comes from bottling up indefinitely.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): You're not trying to live dangerously; it just happens when you have daring goals. Keep your eye on the prize, the periphery will be a blur. To be a bit fuzzy about the risks involved works to your advantage.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): It doesn't matter who is chosen first or third or not at all. What matters is what happens. It's a waste of energy to worry about rankings or status indicators. Just stick to your mission and things will work out.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): Relationships are like chords –built one note at a time. Stay on your lovely note and see who chimes in with you. It only takes one other tone to make it a chord, and really any tone will do.

NEW Asian Lady – 36D Cup, Busty, Massage. Phone 0225323904. I’m-Outcall.

GRAZING

WINTER Grazing Wanted. 570 Cows. Mid-Canterbury Area Preferred. Phone Matthew 0274798359.

HIRE

GENERAL hire. Lawnmowers, chainsaws, concrete breakers, trailers, and more. All your DIY / party hire, call and see Ashburton U-Hire. 588 East Street.

Open Monday-Friday 7.00am – 5.30pm; Saturday 7.30am - 5pm; Sunday 8.30am12.30pm - Phone 308 8061. www.ashburtonuhire.co.nz

MOTORING

WHEEL alignments at great prices. Maximise the life of your tyres with an alignment from Neumanns Tyre Services Ltd, 197 Wills Street. Phone 308 6737.

SUN PROTECTION ALERT Data provided by NIWA PROTECTION REQUIRED Even on cloudy days – 9:15 6:00 ampm

MEMORIAL SERVICES

ALKEMADE, Jeanette Lucy – (17-6-2020) and Theodorus Jeroen (Ted) –(17-11-2022).

DEATHS

BURDETT, Denise Elizabeth –On January 7, 2023, peacefully at Christchurch Hospital, ICU. Aged 76 years. Dearly loved wife of Roger. Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Lisa and Aaron, Craig and Sarah, Nick, and the late Carrie. Loved Grandma to Ethan, Aston, Lily and Mac. In lieu of flowers donations to the Ashburton Kidney Society would be appreciated and may be made online at bit.ly/deburdett0701. At Denise’s request, a private family service has been held.

FUNERAL FURNISHERS MASTER MONUMENTAL MASON E.B. CARTER LTD For all your memorial requirements New headstones and designs Renovations, Additional inscriptions, Cleaning and Concrete work Carried out by qualified tradesmen. 620 East Street Ashburton Ph/Fax 308 5369 or 0274 357 974 ebcarter@xtra.co.nz NZMMMA Member

FUNERALS

You

gave peace, opening the door to ongoing wraparound support.

gave hope, that this year will be better.

want you to know that we are thankful.

MAX 18

MIN 11

Mountain weather hazards: None issued.

Mostly cloudy with isolated showers, clearing to long afternoon fine spells.

Wind at 1000m: Light, but S 35 km/h about and north of Mt Hutt in the morning.

Wind at 2000m: S 35 km/h, becoming light in the afternoon.

Freezing level: Above 3000m.

Friday

Mountain weather hazards: None issued.

Partly cloudy, with isolated showers.

Wind at 1000m: Light. Wind at 2000m: Light.

last

20.3 13.6 11.7 18.0 0.2 11.6 99.6 S 31 1:46pm 18.7 13.1 –21.7 14.3 12.3 14.6 0.0 8.7 95.6 NE 35 1:00am 21.2 11.2 –13.2 0.0 ––S 44 3:55pm Tue

9:12am 9:37pm 2:55am 3:26pm

10:00am 10:25pm 3:41am 4:15pm

H 8:29am 8:55pm

qtr

9:12am 9:38pm 2:56am 3:27pm

9:56am 10:21pm 3:41am 4:11pm

9:44am 10:09pm 3:25am 3:59pm

FinalWhistle

calling time on a week of sport

Fields dreams

Mid Canterbury’s Oliver Grant gets down to save a boundary during his side’s match against South Canterbury on the Ashburton Domain Oval yesterday. The Mid Canterbury boys are playing in the Canterbury Regional Year 8 competition on home ground this week. FULL STORY: P16