Waldron closes in on milestone with Blenheim double

Matt Markham

Two winners on his annual pilgrimage to Blenheim have Ashburton trainer Ben Waldron within striking distance of a notable milestone in his career.

Victories to Georgie Zukov on Friday and then maiden pacer Franco Humbie on Sunday took the Winchmore based horseman to 99 career training wins from his more than 20 years of training a small, but select team.

The first came in 1999 when training in partnership with former Mid Canterbury horseman Andrew McPherson when Suave Century won at Forbury Park – one other win would come with McPherson before they went their own ways and Waldron’s first outright win came two years later when Sunset Glen won at Ashburton.

That’s a long time ago though, and there’s been a lot of good horses go through the barn since including Group One performer Mr Molly – but Waldron’s modus operandi these days is more on the smaller numbers and getting wins on the board.

And that’s what he achieved at the weekend when Georgie Zukov grabbed his first win in over two years on Friday and then stable-newcomer Franco Humbie broke maidens on Sunday.

Both horses were driven by John Morrison.

Georgie Zukov went from last week’s Ashburton meeting on the Tuesday to Blenheim on Friday but showed no ill-effects of a busy week with a dominant victory for his big band of local owners and then backed it up with a strong placing on Sunday.

Franco Humbie was one of the eye-catching runs on the first day, his first start for Waldron after beginning his career with Steven McRae, and then dished out an impressive performance on Sunday to win comfortably.

Waldron joins fellow Mid Cantabrian, Sarah O’Reilly on the milestone watch list.

She’s currently on 199 career driving wins in New Zealand and while no luck came her way at the weekend she’ll be back on the road and chasing victories this week again with meetings at Addington on Friday, Winton on Saturday and then a little closer to home at Methven on Sunday.

Sports Results

■ Cycling Mid Canterbury Social Wheelers

Nineteen riders, 18th January, 2023.

16km. 1st. Nigel Chatterton 27m 19s.

2nd. Charlotte Cox 27m 20s. 3rd. Chris

Gilbert 28m 23s. 4th. Neil Wylie 27m

24s. 5th. Emma Mealings 29m 57s.

6th. Nick Squires 28m 27s. 7th. Eliza

McKenzie 30m 58s. 8th. Brent Hudson

33m 04s. 9th. Paul Summerfield 25m

52s. 10th. Emma Waite 25m 56s. 11th.

Don Summerfield 25m 58s. 12th. Jelle

Hendriksen 26m 01s. 13th. Paul Brake

26m 02s. 14th. Kaylib Gorrie 25m 20s

2f/t. 15th. Rob Hooper 25m 21s 3f/t.

16th. Chris Reid 25m 21s 4f/t. 17th. Nick

Grijns 26m 41s. 18th. Tony Ward 25m

10s. F/T. 19th. Mark Summerfield 25m

29s.

■ Golf

Ashburton Golf Club

Wednesday, January 18, Competition:

Par Round

Sega Golf Winner over the Field: John McArthur +4, 2nd Richard McKernan +3, 3rd Robbie Bell +3. Other good nett scores were: Bryan Donaldson +2, Charlie Alexander +2, Terry Molloy +1, Grant Smith +1, Brent MacGregor+1, Don McQuarters +1, Gavin Douglas 0, Ross Chatterton 0, Graham Gunn 0 & Manny Sim 0. Twos: Charlie Alexander, Chris Lovelock, Richard McKernan, Dennis Stoddart, Ross Chatterton & Peter Walker. Phat Duck Closest to the pin: Hole 14#: Dennis Stoddart, McKay & Donaldson E-Bike: Closest to the Pin Hole 8#: Richard McKernan.

Midlands Seeds Social Teams

January 20

Top Team: In the Zone - 92 - Tom Blacklow, Hamish Niles, Al Jopson, Ed Harrison; Stroke of Luck - 92 - Brendan Davidson, Ollie Davidson, Nick Rattray, Isaac Bazley; Engineers & Planners - 92 - Kelvin Lysaght, Peter York, Mrtin Lo, Billy Edger. Women: Mayfield Mayhem

84.5, Business birdies 84. Men: Course Rejects 91, Read Rebels 89, Mixed:

Born Again 90.5, TGIF 89.5, The Cruisers 86.5

Top lady: Kristeen Williams 33.5, Top man: Jacob Hughes 35, Billy Edger 35.

Nearest the Pins: Columbus Coffee –Sharon Carlson, Mac & Maggies –Robin Bennett, Paul May Motor – Harrty Chatterton, Gabites Ltd – Brent Macgregor, Karen McRae Property Brokers Longest Putt: Greg Chalmers, Murray Young

Property Brokers Longest Putt: Warren

Ineson

Twos: Matt Young, Aaron Beal, Rob Hooper, Peter Walker, Nick Rattray, Paul Stoddart, Brent Macgregor.

Mayfield Golf Club

January 21 – Irish Stableford

Winners: Mark Greenslade 83, Tom Bell

79, Wayne Vessey 75, John Low 72, Wayne Blair 70.

Nearest The Pin: No 2 Aon Insurance: Harley Davies, No 11 Hydes Brothers

Spraying: Andrew Lake, No 5 Campbell Contracting: Jarrod Townley, No

14 Anz Bank Wayne Blair, 9&18 Ruralco

2nd Shot Gordon Duthie.

Twos: Andrew Lake, Kenny Read, Mark Greenslade, Jeff McNeilly,Jarrod Townley, Martin Prior, David Morrow, Murray Keir, Leo, Wayne Blair x2.

Kallara Stud - Player of the Day: Mark Greenslade: 81-14-67.

Reminder to all Mayfield Golf Opening Day, Saturday 28-01-23.

Tinwald Golf Club

Twilight - Thursday January 19th

Leading scores in Thursday’s twilight stableford -6 Jeff Naish 21, Warren Mackenzie 20, Paul Hefford 19 c/b. 7-10 Neil Rayner, Ross Preece 21, Gordon Rennie, Kevin Bishop 20, Mike Sandrey 19. 11Plus Robert George, Ewan Gordon, Selwyn Munro 22. Women

0-14 Leen Bell 17. 15Plus Barb Harris, Shona Vucetich 19. Nearest the pin; #2 Jeff Naish. #16 Mike Sandrey. Two’s; Alastair White, Brent Holmes. Hokonui Hacker; Alex Bec 14 Points.

Saturday January 21st

Leading scores in the drawn partner combined stableford played on Saturday; -Men; Lindsay Jackson & Murray Wilson 80, Percy Kelsall & John Moses 75, Adam Lowe & Brent Smith, Wayne Lloyd & Pete Marshall 74, Grant Wilson & Randall Feutz 72. Mixed; Andrew Hill & Jenny Harrex 80, Kevin Bishop & Christine Kinita 73, Clarry Whiting & Maree Moore 72. Nearest the Pin: Tinwald Liquorland #2. R Feutz Gluyas Ford #6 Gary Lee. The Fine Lion #12 Bill Mason. Ace Automotive #16 Adam Lowe. Twos; Brian Rouse, Wayne Kerr, Kevin Bishop, Leen Bell, Gary Lee, Percy Kelsall. Net Eagles; #2 Kevin Bishop, Maree

Moore, Pete Nolan. Summer Championship winners; -14

Alex Roa, 15-21 Andrew Hill, 22Plus

Steve Kircher. Women -20 Jenny Harrex, 21Plus Leen Bell. Summer Trophy for men Elvis Kelsall, CJ Trophy for women Jenny Harrex.

■ Petanque

Ashburton MSA Petanque Club

Alan Pickard Doubles Winners: Kate Marriott, Bruno FalcoAsh/Ash, Third: Jan Guilford, Tim Williams - Ash/Asc.

Plate: Ellen Pithie, John Smart - Ash/ Chch, Karine Crum, Mavis ThompsonAsh/Ash.

Bowl: Shelagh Field, Sheila Boa - Ash/ Tim.

■ Shooting Ashburton District Rifle Club

At The Butts, 22 January, 300 yards.

TR, John Snowden 49.9, 49.3, 98.12, John Miller 46.3, 48.7, 94.10, Martin Fleming 47.5, 47.2, 94.7, + 48.5, John Fleming 44.3, 44.3, 88.6, Brian Hawksby 42.1, 41.0, 83.1.

FO, Murray Cook 52.2, 56.2, 108.4, Archie Maginness 108.3, Mike Chui 52.2, 55.1, 107.3.

FTR, Mark Alexander 55.1, 54.3, 109.4, Brian Graystone 52.2, 54.2, 106.4.

FPR, David Smith 56.2, 57.4, 113.6, Darral Bradley 53.1, 58.2, 111.3.

■ Softball

Hampstead Slow Pitch

Friday, January 20

Devon Hampstead Slow-Pitch Marines & Angels 20 beat Once Were Hawkies 14, Retryed 19 beat Laser Attack 5, S & Giggles 4 beat Once Were Winners 0, The Misfits 17 beat Hakatere Hitters 4.

Mid Canterbury Softball Association

Saturday January 21

Devon Tavern Hampstead Heat 9 beat Devon Tavern Hampstead Phoenix 6, Rakaia Dairy Services Demons Rebels 9 beat Fairfield All Sorts 5.

■ Tennis

Mid Canterbury Tennis

Twilight Tennis – January 18

Grip N Rip won by default against Called To Serve, 40 Love won by default against What The Deuce, Family Affair 20 beat Know Eye Deer 13, Double Shots 17 beat beat Young Blood 16, What’s The Score 17 beat Hacker 16, Between The Lines bye, We Are Sthil Suzuki 17 beat Donalds Dux 16, Famous Grouse 19 beat Grand Slammers 14.

Draws

Softball Hampstead Slow-Pitch

■

Devon Tavern D1: The Misfits v S & Giggles, Laser Electrical D2: Once Were Winners v Laser Attack, First National Real Estate D3: Marines & Angels v Hakatere Hitters, Hurst Automotive D4: Once Were Hawkies v Retyred.

Points: Hampstead Slow-Pitch 1 Marines & Angels 33, 2 S & Giggles 31, 3 Retyred 24, 4 Laser Attack 21, 5 Hakatere Hitters 21, 6 The Misfits 19, 7 Once Were Winners 14, 8 Once Were Hawkies 13.

Mid Canterbury Softball Association

Saturday 28th January 1.00pm D1: Devon Tavern Hampstead Phoenix v Rakaia Dairy Services Demons Rebels (Plate All Sorts Base Heat), 3.00pm D1: Devon Tavern Hampstead Heat v Fairfield All Sorts (Plate Rebels Base Phoenix). Points Table - Senior Mixed 1 Demons Rebels 37, 2 Hampstead Heat 32, 3 Fairfield All Sorts 14, 4 Hampstead Phoenix 3.