Marlborough Weekly - 25 January 2022

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Hospital bosses brace for Covid PAULA HULBURT Isolation rooms have been set up outside Wairau Hospital as staff prepare for a surge in Covid patients.

Portacabins have been brought in to help keep people safe when Covid arrives in the region.

And Associate Chief Medical Officer Dr Andrew Morgan says it is a case of “when and not if ” that the virus will be confirmed in Marlborough.

The move comes as the whole country moved to the red traffic light setting on Sunday night after the Prime Minister confirmed Omicron is spreading in the community.

Ten people in Motueka have been confirmed as having the Omicron variant of Covid.

“It [Covid] is definitely coming. It’s weeks, if not days away. As a hospital we are doing all we can to be prepared,” says Dr Morgan The three new portacabins are outside the Accident and Emergency Department.

A new walkway will be added between the hospital and the portacabins to allow staff easy access.

Dr Morgan says the extra rooms will be used for isolating people in their bubbles as needed.

“Patient safety is paramount to what we do,” Dr Morgan says.

Staff shortages have plagued the hospital over the festive period but Dr Morgan says he is confident in current staffing levels.

Associate Chief Medical Officer Dr Andrew Morgan is confident preparations at Wairau Hospital will help protect patients.

Photo: Paula Hulburt.

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News

TUESDAY 25 January 2022 YOUR WEEKLY

STREET TALK

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Tim Crum's group enjoyed a day of sun, wine and tunes at the Catalina Sounds’ Sound of White vineyard for Sunday’s Vinyl in the Vines. DJs Dai, Boom and Mr Slice, with Lawson’s Dry Hills’ Belinda Jackson had the vinyl spinning while punters ate, drank and took Insta selfies. See page 8 for more photos. Photo: Matt Brown.

News

RED

TUESDAY 25 January 2022

3

Red light restrictions

GATHERINGS AND VISITS Vaccinated people can gather at home or at venues with a limit of 100 people and physical distancing. The limit applies to both indoor and outdoor venues. It Includes children, but not staff.

For unvaccinated people, they can gather at home or at venues that don’t require vaccine passes with a limit of 25 people and physical distancing.

TRAVEL Anyone can travel around the country in the red setting for any reason. You don’t need to be vaccinated or have a negative test to travel unless you are travelling by airline or ferry.

BUSINESSES AND WORKPLACES Businesses can open in the red setting with and without vaccine mandates. Employers will have to follow gathering limits.

HOSPITALITY Hospitality venues such as cafes, bars, restaurants and nightclubs can open at Red with vaccine passes and restrictions.

Hospitality venues which follow vaccine pass requirements, meaning only people with My Vaccine Pass may enter the premises, have gathering limits of up to 100 people based on 1-metre distancing.

SHOPPING Shops, including outdoor markets, banks and takeaway-only businesses can open with capacity limits based on 1-metre distancing.

Some retail businesses can choose to require vaccine passes but this doesn’t affect capacity limits.

EDUCATION Education can open at red but may have to follow public health measures such as wearing a face covering.

Everyone will always be able to access basic needs like food and medical care. Supermarkets and dairies are not allowed to prevent access based on vaccination status.

FACE MASKS Under the red setting it is mandatory to wear a face-covering in the following settings: • on domestic flights • on public transport and at arrival and departure points, this includes Cook Strait Ferries and school transport but does not include designated carriages on specified Kiwirail services • in taxis or ride share vehicles • inside a retail business, for example supermarkets, shopping malls, pharmacies, petrol stations, and takeaway food stores • inside public venues or facilities, such as museums and libraries, but not at swimming pools • at a vet clinic • in an indoor setting at schools, for example a classroom and assemblies. This includes students in years 4 to 13 and staff • inside at tertiary education facilities or when a visitor to a licensed early childhood service • in the public areas within courts, tribunals, local and central government agencies, social service providers, and NZ Police • in the public area of premises operated by NZ Post Limited • when visiting a health care service, for example a healthcare or aged care facility.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RED SETTING CAN BE FOUND ON THE UNITE AGAINST COVID WEBSITE.

The new portacabins have been put in place outside Wairau Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department. Photo: Paula Hulburt.

FROM PAGE 1 The hospital’s High Dependency Unit reopened last Tuesday after staffing shortages forced a two-week closure.

Patient safety concerns sparked the closure earlier this month after health bosses struggled to fill roster gaps in the Emergency Department.

Staff returning from leave have helped plug roster gaps and the Acute Assessment Unit and HDU reopened at 7pm on Monday.

Dr Morgan says it was vital to keep the Emergency Department open.

“The main drive was that we couldn’t staff ED at that time so shutting down HDU was a way to free up staff.

“We went over and over it many times and that seemed to be the pragmatic solution.

“By closing HDU it freed up staff to fill some cover in ED. The crisis over Christmas and New Year was a bit of a perfect storm with preapproved leave.

“Things are looking much better and casual staff not working over the

Christmas period are back now and available.

“We are thankful for staff, particularly the HDU staff, and the community for all their support,” says Dr Morgan.

Staff sickness, rostered leave and a drop in overseas staff being recruited all contributed to the short-term staffing gap.

Active recruitment is well underway, Dr Morgan says.

“There is a national shortage of health care workers of all types and jobs from registered nurses to care assistants.

“With everything happening we’ve really reduced elective surgeries and concentrated on day case surgery.

Anything that is likely to require HDU care has been postponed.”

Dr Morgan says Wairau has been fortunate in that it lost no staff in ED or HDU through not being vaccinated.

“I’d like to thank the staff and particularly the HDU staff and the public and recognise that it [the closure] wasn’t taken lightly but patient safety is paramount to what we do.”

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TUESDAY 25 January 2022

News

Blenheim Super Rugby fixture off the cards The first Super Rugby game to be played in Blenheim since 2016 has been called off.

The Crusaders have been forced to move their second pre-season fixture against the Hurricanes from Blenheim to Christchurch in the wake of New Zealand’s Covid-19 restrictions.

Yesterday, club bosses revealed they had made the difficult decision to cancel the Blenheim game, originally scheduled for Friday 11 February.

The game will now be held in private in Christchurch with crowds kept out due to red light rules.

Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge says the substantial cost of delivering this fixture at a regional venue and the current Omicron situation in New Zealand made the Marlborough game untenable.

“We have to plan logistics and provide certainty to a number of key stakeholders around our events, as well as doing all we can to minimise the financial risk to our club and those local partners who will be delivering and supporting the event. “…Government announce-

The Crusaders last preseason game against the Highlanders was in 2016. Photo: Shuttersport. ment confirming a move to the red traffic light setting has reaffirmed that it is no longer practical for us to proceed with this particular match as scheduled in Blenheim.

“We cannot deliver this game in front of a crowd. Instead, we will look to reschedule a game against the Hurricanes behind closed doors in Christchurch.”

Colin says the disappointing news will be especially hard for Blenheim fans.

“It’s always a highlight of our pre-season to connect with fans in parts of the Crusaders region we don’t usually get to play, and this news will be especially disappointing for the

people of Blenheim who were really looking forward to seeing the first Super Rugby game played at Lansdowne Park since 2016.”

“Tasman Rugby has worked closely with our Crusaders events team and put a significant amount of time and energy into planning for this game, and while we know they are also disappointed, we’re grateful for their understanding during what is a difficult time.”

Tickets already purchased for the pre-season match in Blenheim will be refunded, and fans are advised the Crusaders ticketing team will process these in the coming days.

Weld Pass, between Blenheim and Seddon, will be closed for five nights.

File photo.

Full night closures for Weld Pass The Weld Pass will be fully closed for five nights in February for road crews to resurface the highway.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will close main State Highway 1 route from 8pm to 5am, from Sunday 13 February through to Thursday night, 17 February.

A spokeswoman says the early warning is to give transport companies time to make alternative plans.

“Waka Kotahi thanks all drivers who

will be inconvenienced by this work and encourages everyone to plan for the opening times if they can. Traffic will be queued at each end between opening times,” she says.

Electronic mobile signs will advertise the closures at each end, near Blenheim at the Roadhouse entry and in Seddon as well as fixed signs in other places.

The detour route will be via SH7, the Lewis Pass.

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TUESDAY 25 January 2022

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Marlborough turns out for Luxon MATT BROWN

matt@marlboroughmedia.co.nz

Leader of the opposition Christopher Luxon introduced himself to Marlborough at two packed out meetings on Thursday.

The Christchurch-born politician laid out his plans for the nation and lambasted Labour on their handling of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and their “huge amount of PR and spin”.

“Hope is not a strategy,” he told a sold-out business breakfast organised by Marlborough’s Chamber of Commerce.

“I want to get things done.”

More than 100 of Marlborough’s business leaders shared breakfast at the Clubs of Marlborough’s Taylor Room, as Luxon gave a brief background of his life and his vision for the future of New Zealand.

He repeated his speech at a public meeting at the Marlborough Convention Centre for another packed-out audience – but the big difference came when he opened questions to the audience.

About 300 people filled the public meeting, and with 200 seats many took to sitting or standing around the periphery.

The opposition leader says he believes in limited government and

opposed the current incarnation of the three-waters reform. And while he did say something needed to be done about water, he didn’t elaborate.

“Water is being well managed,” he told the crowd. “[Three waters] will have you paying for water in Wellington.”

He also held up the merger of polytechnics under a nationalised institute as an example of government overreach.

Luxon says he is extremely worried about the education system, claiming a record high number of truants and poor outcomes in math, reading and science.

“I don’t think the education system is setting us up for success,” he says.

Questions levelled at the National leader at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast included consenting headaches and worries around staffing for the upcoming vintage.

RMA reform and raising wages by driving a productive economy were his solutions.

The public meeting questions took a stranger tack, with Luxon fielding questions on United Nations fears, paid-for main stream media and a state of emergency delaying the next election.

Chris Pigou stood up and made a

National leader Christopher Luxon filled seats at the Marlborough Convention Centre last week. Photo: Matt Brown. statement on behalf of the “silent majority”.

“There’s a huge amount of anger amongst the … silent majority of New Zealanders with all the separatism and division that this Labour government is causing,” he said.

“Will you come and say this country is for all New Zealanders irrespective of race, policies will be based on need and get rid of

all this antagonism and anger out there.

“If you do come out and make a statement like that, we’ll see you as the next prime minister in a couple years’ time.”

His statement was met with a round of applause.

Luxon replied he wanted to achieve for all New Zealanders.

“We want to be an inclusive New Zealand and we want to achieve

for all New Zealanders.

“Our country has proud bicultural traditions. We’re a modern multicultural country looking forward in the world as well.”

Following the meeting, attendees spoken to by the Marlborough Weekly had nothing but praise for the National leader.

Diane Bopp says she thought he spoke very well.

“I was very impressed with his style of speech and confidence. I was impressed he didn’t rubbish the current government but gave other options.”

Walter Scott says he came across well.

“He answered the questions well.

Touched on topics people were concerned about. I expected some heckling, but there wasn’t any.

“I think it shows some satisfaction with what National are planning to do,” says Walter.

Dennis Humphreys says the heart of our nation is damaged.

“I think it’s an indication most New Zealanders have had enough. It’s time for a change in who is running the country.”

Luxon was invited to Blenheim by the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, and travelled to Nelson for another public meeting following the event.

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TUESDAY 25 January 2022

News

Woman waiting months for cataract surgery MAIA HART

Local Democracy Reporter

Two of six newly fledge kea chicks. Photo: Supplied.

Birds of a feather fledge together Six kea chicks are believed to have successfully fledged in the Nelson Lakes area in the past month. Two kea nests, each with three chicks, were monitored on the St Arnaud Range this breeding season.

Department of Conservation Nelson Lakes Senior Biodiversity Ranger Melissa Griffin says the 100 per cent survival of monitored kea chicks this

breeding season was due to the team effort by the Kea Conservation Trust, DOC rangers, the Friends of Rotoiti and other volunteers.

Only one chick fledged last year.

“We’re thrilled to have had six kea chicks successfully fledge this year. Additional trapping of feral cats this breeding season has helped their survival,” she says.

A Marlborough woman who has waited months for cataract surgery says her eye gets so sore, sometimes she wishes she could just “rip it out”.

Music tutor Marita Winstanley, 67, said she’s struggling to read the notes on her music sheets, as she continues to wait to get her eye sorted.

Winstanley says she was first told she needed eye surgery around April last year.

“I went in to get new glasses around April and the optician said, ‘no, there’s no point having new glasses, you have a very bad cataract’,” she says.

It took about three months to get her first appointment at Wairau Hospital, in Blenheim, where a doctor confirmed she would need surgery.

“I think at the time he said they were short of surgeons because of Covid,” she says.

She was then told she could get the surgery on December 1. She understood a surgeon had come to Blenheim from Rotorua to help the hospital catch-up on a backlog.

Marita Winstanley, 67, has been waiting for cataract surgery since April. Photo: Brya Ingram/Stuff.

But Winstanley was twice told her international normalised ratio (INR) levels were too high – which could cause excessive bleeding as her blood was too thin.

“I’ve had a lot to do with Wairau Hospital over the years, I’ve had knee surgeries and feet reconstruction. It’s never been as difficult as this, I just don’t know what’s going on.”

Nelson Marlborough Health general manager clinical services Pat Davidsen said there were two funded ophthalmology positions at Wairau Hospital.

Neither position was currently filled, however an offer had been

made to an overseas specialist.

“The team are supporting the individual through registration with the Medical Council, Immigration and MIQ,” Pat says.

He says Nelson Marlborough Health looked to operate one system across Nelson Marlborough with Nelson-based ophthalmologists supporting Wairau Hospital.

“We have also funded locum ophthalmologists allowing us to meet the highest need. However, this is becoming increasingly difficult as Covid-19 disruption impacts locum availability,” he says.

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News

TUESDAY 25 January 2022

Group calls for wine NEWS industry support for Tonga The wine and horticulture industries are banding together to provide support for Tonga.

The horticulture industry labour collective, comprising NZ Apples & Pears, NZ Kiwifruit Growers, Summerfruit NZ, NZ Wine, NZ Ethical Employers, and HortNZ are calling for donations from industry leaders to support the recovery of Tonga following the volcanic eruption and tsunami.

“Our industries, in particular those who employ workers from Tonga, have been saddened by news of the tsunami and its impact,” the group says.

About 1000 workers from

The wine industry is an employer of Tongans in Marlborough.

File photo.

Tonga are currently in New Zealand.

The collective says the money will be used to help small businesses, such as market gardens, recover.

In some areas, donations will

be also used to rebuild community buildings.

The Growers Relief Fund is a charity that helps to support growers in an adverse event, with wellness or when additional support is needed. The

fund also helps people working in the horticulture industry who need assistance, to help nurture the whole horticultural community.

“Our industries will also be ensuring the approximately 1000 workers from Tonga currently in New Zealand working are well supported, now and in the coming months. We are working with our growers and employers on that.”

Growers, employers and other parts of the horticulture and wine grape industries can go here to donate: https://horticulturenewzealand.formstack. com/forms/grower_relief_ fund_donation_form

Keep an eye out for tagging RUSS SMITH

Senior Community Constable

It’s no coincidence that Marlborough has a reputation for being clean, tidy and relatively graffiti-free.

The lack of large areas of tagging often draws favourable comments from visitors to the province who have experienced other parts of the country where tagging in public places is far more common.

Our low levels of tagging are the direct result of a partnership between District Council, Police and a few other social agencies, and District Council contractors keep our public spaces clean and tidy.

We have a good process for removing graffiti in Marlborough, with Council staff and Police working together to ensure the tags are photo-

graphed, removed and reported in a timely manner.

If identified, taggers will be prosecuted or held accountable for the damage they have cause.

There is a clear link between high levels of graffiti and elevated levels of crime in an area.

It is thought to be related to criminals perceptions, where if an area seems to be neglected and there is little or no pride or care taken in looking after it, criminals feel more confident that they are less likely to be disturbed, challenged or apprehended while committing crime.

Removing tagging promptly is therefore a good way of reducing the potential for crime.

There are always a few scattered tags that appear around town areas in various parts of Marlborough, but over recent

Theatre

Marlborough

Senior Community Constable Russ Smith. weeks there has been a spate of tagging on the Wairau River Bridge West of Renwick, the railway bridge over the Wairau River North of Spring Creek, several structures facing the Waihopai Valley Road, including the Waihopai Dam, the wall of a shed at Renwick Recreational Reserve, an entire wall of the Marlborough Recycling Centre in Blenheim, and the Boathouse Theatre build-

ing.

Some of these have been repeatedly tagged, despite the tags being removed each time.

Keeping our province safe is a partnership between Police and the public.

If you see someone in the act of tagging, please call the Police on 111 immediately and pass on as much information as possible.

It is also important for you to contact the Police or District Council and let them know about any tagging that you’ve discovered on your own property or that you’ve seen elsewhere.

This helps to ensure a process is started to remove the tagging as soon as possible and if you don’t tell us what you’ve seen, the graffiti may remain and multiply if we are not aware of it.

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Stall vandalised: A free community food stall has been vandalised. Koha Kai Station at Rainbow Corner Early Learning Centre in Blenheim has been targeted by individuals who threw and smeared food and rubbish around the playground and on walls. Gutted organisers say the incident last week has been so upsetting they are debating whether to keep the wellused stall open.

Fire precautions: As of 8am on Thursday 27 January 2022 all of Marlborough moves into a Prohibitive fire season.

All fire permits issued during a Restricted fire season are suspended. For further information visit www.checkitsalright.nz Landmark deal: Medicinal cannabis grower Puro have announced a multi-million-dollar deal with Helius Therapeutics in Australia. The agreement creates New Zealand’s first commercial medicinal cannabis supply chain, taking medicinal cannabis from the field to the manufacturer, and then to the patient. The Marlborough company will supply more than 10 tonnes of organic medicinal cannabis to Helius over the next five years.

Park gets wings: A new monument to the first plane that crossed the Cook Strait now adorns a Blenheim central business district park. Modelled on a 110-hp Le Rhone Avro flown froChristchurch to Upper Hutt in 1920, the plane, at Liz Davidson Park, is the first stage of the Marlborough Mile project by the Blenheim Business Association. The Marlborough Mile is a walking circuit through town in the works since 2017. The route is planned to wind through the CBD and tell the story of the region through art, sculpture and landscaping.

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Feature

Since 1919

Since 1998

Since 1991

Since 1869

Feature

Since 2003

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Since 2008

New name, same faces.

Still 100% locally owned.

Since 1878

Since 1998

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Sport

TUESDAY 25 January 2022

Popular sea swim on Sunday PETER JONES

peter@marlboroughmedia.co.nz

Given the high temperatures experienced this summer, participation in the annual Hipkins Cup sea swim may be a perfect way to cool down.

The popular event will take place on Sunday, January 30. The swim starts from the carpark around 200m north of the Rarangi Fire Station where swimmers enter the water and head for the far side of Whites Bay, completing a zigzag into the beach to finish the race.

The distance is approximately 2.5km, depending on currents and the chosen path of competitors.

Last year 20 swimmers took part and organisers are hoping for similar numbers again. With current water temperatures on the rise the swim may be more inviting than previous years, however a wetsuit is still recommended.

Swim organiser Brendon Ferguson says in order to run the event safely under the red traffic light system the swim will now be a vaccinated event.

The 2021 Hipkins Cup swim winners, from left, Finn Mackenzie (youngest swimmer, third overall), Mark Grammar (first home and first male) Georgie Kydd (first female, second overall), Peter Colbert (oldest swimmer, 14th overall). Photo: Supplied.

All competitors over the age of 12 years will need to show their vaccine passport at the registration desk.

Any supporters who want to be in the competition area before and after the race will also need

to show their pass.

Registrations will be taken on the day at the start area from 11.15am to 11.45am with a cost of $10 per swimmer.

All swimmers must wear a hi-vis swimming cap (pink, orange, yel-

low, or bright green). There will be a few available to purchase on the day if needed. Those under the age of 16 will need to be signed in by a parent or guardian Race briefing is scheduled for 11.50am with the race starting at

12 noon.

Following the completion of the race there will be a prize giving and BBQ lunch.

Any questions contact Brendon Ferguson bf@hurunuicollege. school.nz

Marlborough lose Hawke Cup hosting rights JONTY DINE Marlborough has slipped from pole position in the Hawke Cup after suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Canterbury Country at the weekend.

The zone three eliminator saw Canterbury dominate both days at Horton Park to claim a first innings victory and hosting rights for next month’s final.

Marlborough will get the opportunity to avenge the loss when the sides meet again in Rangiora on February 5.

Losing to toss and being sent into bat, little went right for the hosts from the outset.

At 58-5, Marlborough was in dire straits before a patient 64 from captain Matthew Stretch ensured his side reached 172 all out after 88 overs.

Will Williams proved exceedingly difficult to get away with an economy rate of just .88 while Zak Foulkes picked up three wickets.

Nick Weaver had Foulkes trapped in front with the fourth ball of the reply before a quickfire fifty-run partnership for

the second wicket reasserted Canterbury’s authority.

Opener Rhys Mariu scored 78 to lay the foundation for Jack Boyle and Jesse Frew to grind Marlborough into the ground.

The pair put on 129 together, with Boyle finishing unbeaten on 150 as Canterbury reached 340/5 to claim a dominant victory.

The win sees Canterbury finish on top with 20 points followed

by Marlborough on 18, Nelson 11 and Buller 3.

Marlborough manager Greg Stretch says the side was determined to earn home advantage for February’s final, but it just wasn’t to be.

“They were a strong side with lots of first-class experience, our guys applied themselves but were just short of a score.”

Despite the result, Greg says the side will take confidence from the fact that they were able to bat time ahead of next month’s showdown.

“It is a three-day game, we need to make sure we keep the score ticking over, be patient and aim to take the game nice and deep.”

Skipper Matthew Stretch’s 64 was the shining light for the Marlborough side against Canterbury Country on Saturday. File photo.

Sport

TUESDAY 25 January 2022

15

Wairau rowers in fine fettle at Canty champs PETER JONES A sizeable Wairau Rowing Club contingent produced some outstanding results the recent Canterbury championships at Lake Ruataniwha, picking up 27 medals across a variety of events.

The squad, one of the largest contingents for many years, came home with nine gold medals, including wins in the men’s premier quad and four, plus the women’s premier pair. Wairau rowers also bagged three premier silver medals as well as three bronze.

Six weeks out from the national champs, the men’s premier four of Fred Vavasour, Dylan Burton, Edward Botherway and Ed Lopas looked commanding, while the women’s premier pair of Emily Bowden and Brooke Pritchford dominated their event.

Several Marlborough Girls’ College crews were also successful in Wairau colours. Among their highlights were wins to the club eight, comprising Daisy Vavasour, Holly Feltham, Liv Matthews, Jess Bennett, Lexi Timpson, Emma Flanagan, Jorja Bacchus, Molly Glover and cox Emily Bowron; the under-15 coxed four of Grace Straker, Mila Van Rensburg, Sophia Saggers, Jessica Brown-shi plus cox Molly Wilkes; the under-15 eight of Straker, van Rensburg, Saggers, Stella Cornelius, Jessica BrownShi, Harriet McLaughlin, Eliza Glover, Bella Rayner and Wilkes, as well as the under-16 coxed four of Bennett, Ella Barnes, Lilah Stallard, Hazel Glover, with cox Iris Vavasour.

Among the Marlborough Boys’ College contingent, the novice coxed quad of Luke Martella, Thomas Pitts, Ollie Watts, Tom Wilkin and experienced cox Walter Wickham performed well in their first major regatta, winning both their heat and the final in emphatic fashion.

The under-15 group consisting of mainly novices also performed well, particularly the double sculls crew of Louis Girling and Jock Flanagan, who came second in their final, then joining Hamish Lindstrom and Ben Musgrove in both the coxed four and coxed quads for solid third placings.

A mixture of under-16, under-17 and under-18 boys formed a crew

The gold medal-winning Wairau under-16 coxed four, comprising, from left, cox Iris Vavasour, Hazel Glover, Lilah Stallard, Ella Barnes and Jessica Bennet row down to the start of their event. Photo: Supplied. for the men’s under-19 coxed eight and surprised with a strong second placing in the final. The MBC eight comprised Dylan Locke, Zac Jenkins, Hugh Straker, Leon Poswillo, Jack Stevens, Ashley-James Fitzgerald, Hunter Nelson, and George Lindstrom, plus Wickham.

The next regatta is the South Island club champs on January 2830.

WAIRAU MEDAL-WINNERS AT THE CANTERBURY CHAMPS: GOLD (9) Men’s premier quad (Reuben Cook, Fred Vavasour, Kobe Miller, Edward Lopas) Men’s premier four (Fred Vavasour, Dylan Burton, Edward Botherway, Edward Lopas) Women’s premier pair (Brooke Pitchford, Emily Bowden) Women’s club eight (Daisy Vavasour, Lexi Timpson, Emma Flanagan, Holly Feltham, Jorja Bacchus, Liv Matthews, Jessica Bennet, Molly Glover – Elizabeth Bowron) Women’s intermediate single (Grace Waring-Jones) Girls’ under-16 coxed four (Jessica Bennet, Hazel Glover, Ella Barnes, Lilah Stallard – Iris Vavasour)

Girls under-15 coxed four (Grace Straker, Sophie Saggers, Mila van Rensberg, Jessica Brown-Shi – Molly Wilkes) Girls’ under-15 coxed eight (Grace Straker, Mila van Rensberg, Jessica Brown-Shi, Sophie Saggers, Stella Cornelius, Harriot McLauchlan, Eliza Glover, Bella Rayner – Molly Wilkes) Men’s novice coxed quad (Luke Martella, Thomas Pitts, Oliver Watts, Tom Wilkin) SILVER (9) Women’s premier four (Brooke Pitchford, Emily Bowden, Kyla Otway, Orla Fitzgerald) Men’s premier double (Fred Vavasour, Kobe Miller) Men’s premier single (Reuben Cook) Women’s senior single (Brooke Pitchford) Women’s club coxless pair (Emma Flanagan, Lexi Timpson) Women’s intermediate coxed quad (Jessica Bennet, Ella Barnes, Lilah Stallard, Hazel Glover – Tessa Unwin) Men’s under-19 eight (Dylan Locke, Zach Jenkins, Hugh Straker, Leon Poswillo, Jack Stevens, Ashley James-Fitzgerald, Hunter Nelson, George Lindstrom – Walter Wickham)

Girls under-15 double (Grace Straker, Mila van Rensberg) Boys under-15 double (Louis Girling, Jock Flanagan) BRONZE (9) Men’s premier double (Reuben Cook, Logan Docherty) Men’s premier single (Edward Lopas) Women’s premier pair (Kyla Otway, Meg Flanagan) Men’s club pair (Hugh Straker, Zac Jenkins) Boys under-17 coxed quad (Dylan Locke, Reuben Dempster, Jack Stevens, Lochlan Gilmour – Tyran Carter) Girls’ under-15 coxed quad (Grace Straker, Mila van Rensberg, Sophie Saggers, Stella Cornelius – Tessa Unwin) Boys’ under-15 coxed

four (Jock Flanagan, Louis Girling, Ben Musgrove, Hamish Lindstrom – Jack Shaw) Boys’ under-15 coxed quad (Hamish Lindstrom, Jock Flanagan, Louis Girling, Ben Musgrove – Jack Shaw) Men’s novice coxed four (Luke Martella, Thomas Pitts, Tom Wilkin, Oliver Watts – Tyran Carter)

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Sport

TUESDAY 25 January 2022

SPORT

Primary producers: Both Marlborough Primary School rep cricket teams turned in some notable results at their respective festivals recently, with many highlights sprinkled throughout the week. Standout performances for the Maroon side in Alexandra were Max Ruffell’s 3-16 v CJCA, Benji Nation’s 50 v Mid Canterbury, Liam Cohen’s 4-6 v Dunedin, Max Ruffell’s 40 and 3-14 and Josh Harris’s 3-24 v Southland, plus Dane Winstanley’s 3-26 v Otago Country. Top efforts for the Yellow team in Christchurch’s Festival were Charlie Booker’s 44 v Mid Canterbury, Louis Hickman’s 3-14 v Canterbury Country and Fionn Heagney’s 37 v Canterbury Country.

Softballers team up: The Marlborough under-15 girls softball team, playing as the Central Pride, participated in the Southern Zone U15 tournament in Ashburton last week. Coached by Marshall Rawiri and Fred Hoani, the girls showed huge promise and stamina throughout the intense four-day tournament, sometimes playing three games a day or playing games back-to-back. Although the team was not placed, Marlborough player Kyla Thorstensen was named in the Rest Tournament Team at the end of proceedings. The team was: Manea Hoani-Tito, Karmah Hoani-Tito, FuYun Hsu, Bobbi Lloydd, Lilly Gapper, Cartier Barrett, Aliana Hoani-Tau’alupe, Kyla Thorstensen, Charley-Lee Taoho, Abbie Boyd.

40 spectacular years PETER JONES The scoring is often spectacular, the course is always spectacular, and the hospitality is bound to be spectacular.

For the past 40 consecutive years the Rarangi Golf Club have hosted one of the provinces most anticipated sporting events at the seaside course.

Next weekend, January 2930, the HR Engineering/RMA Summer Spectacular Tournament 2022 will tick off a notable milestone as 100 pairs of golfers of varying abilities attempt to add their names to the much sought-after trophies.

The first Spectacular tournament was held in January 1982.

It replaced a North v South Pro Am event which the Rarangi club had run for many years.

The club patron, Chris Hipkins, is the only surviving foundation member of the Rarangi club, which was formed in 1957. She is a past winner of the Spectacular, taking the honours in 1990 with playing partner Vicky Lane.

The first tournament was won by two pairs of college students, both members at Rarangi. The

Wayne Bowie, who won the inaugural Rarangi Spectacular title as a teenager, is back in the field on Saturday. Behind him is event organiser Phil d’Auvergne and club member James Sutherland.

Photo: Supplied. young ladies were Robyn McDonald and Jane Taylor while Wayne Bowie and Brian Ashby claimed the men’s title.

The club are delighted to welcome back Wayne and Brian to

play in the 40th edition of the tournament.

Many players have had a long-stanfing association with the tournament. Margaret McLeod, a current member at

Rarangi, has played in 36 of the 40 events, winning it in 1984, 1985 and 1985 with her playing partner Dot Fowke.

Alan Rutledge, another Rarangi club member, has played in the tournament 35 times, winning on two occasions with family members. The first time was in 1984 when his playing partner was his father Mervyn and then again in 1997 with his son Clinton.

Tournament organisers put the event’s longevity down to the continued support of generous local businesses, plus the support of returning players from clubs from far and wide and their own loyal members.

“Sadly, the numbers of people playing golf has declined over the years but we still have a full field of 100 pairs for this special event,” added organiser Carla Hepplethwaite.

“However two things have remained the same. One is the format of play, Saturday 4BBB and Sunday combined nett, plus the enthusiasm of the players for this tournament.

“We know that once again this event will live up to its Spectacular name”, she added.

or email paula@marlboroughmedia.co.nz

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Passed away suddenly at home on the 21st January 2022, aged 65 years. Loved son of Tui and the late Douglas English. Loved father and father-in-law of Daniel and Leah (Perth) and grandfather of Hunter and Wyatt. A lover brother and brother-inlaw of Helen Roddick, Gael and Peter Watson and a loved uncle of all his nieces and nephews.

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Clue: Blenheim is also known as this from it’s historical tendency to flood

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