Bay Harbour: August 14, 2019

PAGE 16 Wednesday August 14 2019
BAY HARBOUR
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Vote keeps clubs in reserve grade
• By Gordon Findlater
LYTTELTON, Otautahi and
Suburbs will continue to
compete in the metro rugby
premier reserve grade after a
decision was overturned at a
meeting last week.
A Canterbury Rugby Football
Union decision made three years
ago meant teams wanting to
compete in the premier reserve
grade would have needed a team
in the premier competition from
next season.
However, this requirement
was overturned last week at a
meeting between all 16 metro
sub-union clubs. The three clubs
which don’t have a team in the
premier competition will now
still be able to compete in the
reserve grade.
All of the metro sub-union
clubs voted in favour of no
changes being made to the teams
currently competing in the
premier reserve grade.
“The clubs were given some
material by the metro committee
to talk to their boards about and
come back with their boards’
feelings based on the material
we’d given them, which they
did,” said metro sub-union
committee chairman Brent
Goldsmid.
“It was basically unanimous
that given the player number
difficulties the sport faces,
to restrict teams from the
competition would make no
Bid to promote
squash in Sumner
THE SUMNER Tennis and
Squash Club wants to prevent
squash from fading as a sport.
The club will host the
Canterbury masters and
under-23 squash tournaments on
Saturday and Sunday as part of
an effort to promote the game in
the region.
Said president Phil Loughnan:
“Hopefully this will be the
first of many, with the club
reintroducing a Sumner open
next year.”
“Squash nationally is a fading
game, but it’s a great game the
club is committed to growing,”
Mr Loughnan said.
STILL ALIVE: Lyttelton will continue to compete in the metro premier reserve competition after
a decision to exclude them, Suburbs and Otautahi was overturned last week.
He said it will be an
opportunity to showcase the
club’s rejuvenated facilities,
which are “arguably the best in
Christchurch.”
The club on Heberden Ave
has spent more than $1 million
renovating the squash and tennis
courts and associated facilities,
which were reopened late last
year.
“The courts have new floors
and lighting and have been
heavily insulated to give excellent
playing conditions,” he said.
•For more information,
email p.loughnan@gmail.
com
sense. The environment over the
last three years has changed . . .
three years ago, it was probably
the right decision, now it’s not
and we’re happy to change that.”
Lyttelton club president
SPORT
Clinton Norris said he was
confident going into the meeting
about the future of the three
clubs, but was surprised by the
amount of support for the clubs
to continue competing in the
reserve competition.
“To listen to what the clubs
had to say was overwhelming. It
means we can all work together
and make something better for
our local rugby,” said Norris.
The decision, which would
have ruled Lyttelton, Otautahi
and Suburbs out of the premier
reserve grade, came to light
recently, with vocal support for
it to be overturned on social
media.
“We got up two months ago
and just spilt the beans about
what effect it would have on our
clubs and how hard it would
be. No one had thought about a
pathway and then we asked for a
full review,” said Norris.
Lyttelton currently have two
senior teams and eight junior
teams. Suburbs have two senior,
a colts, a women’s and seven
junior teams. Otautahi have two
senior and four junior teams.
Experienced new coach appointed
THE REDCLIFFS Tennis Club
has appointed an internationally
experienced new head coach.
Originally from Canterbury,
Alan Adair has been coaching
at a high level in Germany
for many years, but recently
returned to Christchurch with
his family.
He replaces Jack Tiller, who
has taken up a role in Ashburton
as head coach of the Mid-
Canterbury region. Adair brings
a great deal of expertise to the
club and can coach at all levels
– from absolute beginners to
professionals.
His goal is to teach tactically
intelligent tennis, which
suits each player’s individual
strengths and weaknesses.
The former junior New
Zealand age group champion
has previously been the
Southland regional coach and
also coaches at the Kaiapoi and
Amberley clubs.
TACTICAL:
Alan
Adair has
replaced
Jack Tiller
as Redcliffs
Tennis Club
head coach.
Adair will be available to
meet potential new members at
the ‘love tennis’ open day from
1-4pm on September 7 and 8 at
the Redcliffs club.
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