12 Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Thursday <strong>December</strong> <strong>21</strong> <strong>2017</strong> News Local News Now <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Fire rages, homes at risk Drink driving mates crash close to each other • By Andrew King TWO MATES who had been drinking at a Christmas function in Rolleston crashed their vehicles on the same road about 30sec apart last Thursday night. One of the vehicles flipped and landed upside down in a water race on Lincoln Tai Tapu Rd about 10pm. <strong>The</strong> other vehicle also ran off the road and landed in a dry ditch. Said Senior Constable Andy Williamson of the driver who ended upside down: “I don’t know how the hell he got out. He was lucky he wasn’t killed.” WRECKED: Police don’t know how the driver of this vehicle got out after flipping into a ditch near Tai Tapu last Thursday night. Both drivers were out of their vehicles when emergency services arrived. When police tested them for alcohol, one recorded more than 900 mcg/L and the other more than 500 mcg/L, Senior Constable Williamson said. Both drivers are under the age of 20. <strong>The</strong> legal limit for those under-20 is zero and 250 mcg/L for those over 20. <strong>The</strong> drivers were heading to Tai Tapu when they crashed. “It is just stupidity really,” Senior Constable Williamson said. “<strong>The</strong>y both knew they would have to get home at some stage and drove anyway.” Lincoln deputy fire officer Roger McClenaghan said the car that landed upside down was “an absolute mess”. “I’m not sure if the second guy was looking at his mate that had just crashed and then crashed himself,” he said. Both will be charged with excess breath alcohol and will appear in the district court. Golden Oldies countdown steps up • By Bridget Rutherford THE GOLDEN Oldies are coming to town – and the countdown is on. In 100 days, Christchurch will host the largest sporting event in its history, the Christchurch Casino Golden Oldies Celebration. More than 10,000 people are expected to descend on the city from all over the world to take part, volunteer or watch the month-long event, which will run throughout April. Organised by sport event management, tour and travel company, Vintage Sport and Leisure, the events will be different to any others in Golden Oldies’ history. It will combine 10 different sports. Normally, Golden Oldies’ tournaments for each sport are held in different international cities every two years. But come April, the event will combine 10 different sports. Lawn bowls, golf, squash, football and basketball are new, while the traditional rugby, cricket, netball, hockey and softball will feature as well. <strong>The</strong> structure was designed especially for Christchurch following the September 4, 2010, and February 22, 2011, earthquakes, to show the city is again able to host major sporting events. ChristchurchNZ, which is the city’s economic development and profile agency, will play a large role the event. Attraction general manager Linda Falwasser said it will be a milestone for the city. “Events amplify the spirit of our people; ignite excitement and bring communities together, attracting visitors and stimulating economic activity,” she said. “It is an immense opportunity to showcase Christchurch and Canterbury to an international audience and to show how far we have come as New Zealand’s newest city.” Ms Falwasser encouraged businesses to consider how they could SOCIAL: Christchurch’s Jacqui Francis, Jude Tuuta, Debbie Elstob, Paula Goodman and Rose Cavanagh (above) in Hobart last year to compete in the Golden Oldies netball competition. HUGE: More than 10,000 competitors are expected in Christchurch for the event, such as members of the International Harlequins from Canada, who competed in Cape Town, South Africa, last year. create excitement and join in the “fun, friendship and fraternity” – the Golden Oldies ethos. Event director Peter McDermott said organisers had reached about 60 per cent of the target numbers, with entries expected to spike in the new year. “One hundred days to go is a critical milestone as we continue to push for entries across all 10 sports and as operational aspects of hosting such a major event move closer.” Cure Kids will be the event’s charity partner. - CELEBRATION BEGINS IN - DAYS HOURS MINS Golden Oldies rugby holds a special place at Twickenham GOLDEN OLDIES rugby will be immortalised in an international sporting museum. Nearly 40 years after it began in Auckland, Golden Oldies rugby will feature in a permanent display at the World Rugby Museum at Twickenham Stadium, London. It will be part of the Rugby for All display, a section where visitors are introduced to the sport’s diversity, which includes deaf, wheelchair, gay, mixed ability and blind rugby. Museum officer Jayne Linaker said the new display highlighted the different forms of rugby and aimed to encourage more people to get involved. <strong>The</strong> World Rugby Museum is currently under construction and will re-open at its new location in the south stand of Twickenham in early February. <strong>The</strong> display will become part of an exhibition which has more than 600 objects in permanent galleries. <strong>The</strong> museum originally opened in 1996 as <strong>The</strong> Museum of Rugby. It attracts about 25,000 visitors annually. Peter McDermott, managing director of Vintage Sport and Leisure, which owns the Golden Oldies brand, said rugby was the most popular sport in the portfolio. He said its place in the World Rugby Museum display reflects its global nature and reach. “<strong>The</strong> first Golden Oldies rugby festival in 1979 attracted 16 teams from just two countries. Next year’s Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival, part of the Christchurch Casino Golden Oldies Sports Celebration, will have more than 120 teams from 14 countries.” Headquartered in New Zealand where it was founded, Golden Oldies currently has offices in San Francisco, Tokyo and London with representation in Australia. •For further details. visit www.worldrugbymuseum. com and www. christchurchgoldenoldies. com
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Thursday <strong>December</strong> <strong>21</strong> <strong>2017</strong> 13