Western News: May 04, 2023

6
Thursday May 4 2023
REPRESENT: Dylan Monk (left) and his younger brother
Lewis won the 16-and-under K2 500m title at the national
canoe sprint championships. PHOTO: KARLENE ROGERS
Young kayaker sets
sights on Olympics
•From page 1
“It was such a good experience.
Hopefully I can just continue
with it,” the Shirley Boys’ High
student said.
The four-day event saw Monk
represent Arawa and New Zealand
against competitors from
New Zealand, Singapore, Japan
and Australia. Alongside eight
national titles, Monk also won the
16-and-under K1 (single) 500m,
K1 200m and K4 (four-person)
200m races at the Oceania championships,
and the K1 500m and
K4 200m for New Zealand in the
Asia Pacific Sprint Cup.
Although Monk always believed
some of his team boats
would do well, he was surprised
by some of his personal results.
“In some of the individual ones,
like the 500m, and especially the
(individual) 200m race, I didn’t
expect to win,” he said.
Monk also won a national title
with his younger brother Lewis,
14, in the 16-and-under K2
(double) 500m race. “It was really
good – and obviously winning
was a bonus as well,” he said.
With the kayaking race season
over until December, Monk will
continue to train six days a week
in a bid to represent New Zealand
again in the summer.
“I’d like to qualify for the next
Asia Pacific championships, and
maybe the junior world champs
the year after,” he said.
Monk has taken a similar
path to five-time Olympic gold
medallist Lisa Carrington, who
also took up to kayaking as a surf
life saver. The idea of representing
New Zealand at the Olympics is
in Monk’s sights – but not in his
immediate future just yet.
“I’ll just have to take it year-byyear
and see where it takes me.”
First XI stars selected for
World Cup qualifiers
• By Jaime Cunningham
PROMISING cricketers Ben
Breitmeyer and Cameron Paul
have been selected to represent
New Zealand at the under-19
Cricket World Cup qualifiers.
Breitmeyer, a former Christ’s
College student, and Paul, who
was at St Andrew’s College
till last year, are the only
Canterbury players to make in
the squad of 14 who will head
to Australia on June 9. Connor
Stewart (St Bede’s College) has
been named as a reserve.
Breitmeyer and Paul were
integral members of their first
XI sides. Fast-bowler Breitmeyer
was part of the Christ’s College
side who won the Gillette Cup in
December.
Although St Andrew’s College
did not qualify for the Gillette
Cup, Paul was in the 2021 first
XI side who beat Christ’s College
to represent Canterbury
at the New Zealand secondary
schools’ tournament.
Paul and Breitmeyer played
for Canterbury at the national
under-19 tournament in January.
They both study at Lincoln
University as cricket scholars.
The New Zealand under-19
team are aiming to qualify
for the 2024 World Cup in Sri
Lanka following New Zealand
Cricket’s decision to opt out
of last year’s tournament due
to Covid-19 and player wellbeing
issues. The squad will be
coached by Jonny Bassett-Graham,
with support from Graeme
Aldridge and Paul Wiseman.
They must top a pool
consisting of Fiji, Indonesia,
Japan, Papua New Guinea,
Samoa and Vanuatu to qualify
for the World Cup. The New
Zealand under-19s take on
Japan in their first match on
June 12 in Darwin.
New Zealand
under-19 squad: Ben
Breitmeyer (Canterbury), Sam
Clode (Northern Districts),
CHANCE: Ben
Breitmeyer and
Cameron Paul
(below) will
head to Australia
on June 9 for
New Zealand’s
under-19 Cricket
World Cup
qualifying bid.
Zac Cumming (Otago),
Rahman Hekmat (Auckland),
Oscar Jackson (Wellington),
Tom Jones (Auckland), Josh
Olliver (Auckland), Cameron
Paul (Canterbury), Snehith
Reddy (Northern Districts),
Ewald Schreuder (Northern
Districts), Lachie
Stackpole (Auckland), Ollie
Tewatiya (Wellington), Alex
Thompson (Wellington), Ryan
Tsourgas (Wellington). Reserves:
Connor Stewart (Canterbury),
Will Julian (Wellington), Matt
Rowe (Central Districts), Mason
Clarke (Otago).
Advertorial
Wigram candidate relishes a challenge
Christchurch accountant and businesswoman
Tracy Summerfield has been selected as the National
Party candidate to represent the Wigram electorate in
this year’s general election.
Having grown up in Hornby, where she attended
Sockburn Primary, Branston Intermediate and Hornby
High, Tracy says she feels a deep connection with
people across the Wigram electorate.
“While my family was not financially wealthy,
I was fortunate to have supportive, hard-working
parents, who instilled in me the importance of a good
education and the value of a hard day’s work, personal
responsibility and equal opportunity for every person
to succeed – all strong National Party values.”
From the age of 14, Tracy worked at Meadow
Mushrooms during the school holidays and weekends
which helped fund her university studies. She
graduated from the University of Canterbury with a
Bachelor of Commerce (accounting), following this up
with a Master of Business Administration eight years
later.
Tracy spent many years working in financial and
senior leadership roles in both the public and private
sectors. Then, in 2009, she and husband Gavin, with
four children under six, including twins, decided to
open an early childhood education centre.
“I relish a challenge,” she says.
Tracy returned to university, gaining a Graduate
Diploma of Teaching ECE, and over the following
12 years she and Gavin opened a further two early
childhood education centres.
They sold the three businesses in 2021.
“Much that I have achieved in life has been due to
sheer grit, tenacity and determination,” Tracy says.
“Growing up with red hair, freckles, glasses and
braces also meant I developed a pretty tough veneer!
“At this point in my life, I wish to enter politics not
only to give something back to my community, but
also because I believe there is no greater platform than
as an MP with the opportunity to contribute to good
public policy, which can improve the lives of New
Zealanders.”
Not restricted by inflexible political thinking, Tracy
says she believes in the importance of scanning for
ideas that may lie in the periphery of people’s vision.
“I am open-minded and interested in seeing what
works.
To me, a challenge is an opportunity to bring about
change for the better.
“I believe the Wigram electorate needs a strong voice
in Parliament to represent the needs of its constituents
and to promote legislation that enables families and
businesses to get ahead.”
Since her selection in March, Tracy has enjoyed
meeting local residents and business owners, listening
to their concerns and gaining an understanding of
local issues.
“The common things I hear about are the cost-ofliving
crisis, rising crime, and worsening outcomes in
health and education. Like many of you, I share these
concerns.
“I’m standing as a candidate for the National Party
as I believe National is the only party with a plan and
the ability to deliver the strong economy required to
decrease the cost of living, lift incomes for all, restore
law and order, build infrastructure and deliver better
health and education.
“Please feel free to contact me to discuss any issues
important to you, and as you see me out and about in
the electorate please come and say hello.”
Phone: 021 280 2344 Email: tracy.summerfield@national.org.nz www.facebook.com/tracysummerfieldwigram