4 Thursday <strong>June</strong> <strong>29</strong> <strong>2023</strong> HORNBY
Thursday <strong>June</strong> <strong>29</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 5 PURSUIT: Ever since she was a child, Sami Donnelly has wanted to follow in her Olympian father’s footsteps. Right – she was part of the team that claimed silver in the women’s pursuit at the Nations Cup in Egypt in March. PHOTO: SWPICS.COM Sami’s childhood dream within grasp • From page 1 Because of a different schedule than previous years, Donnelly will also have the opportunity to ride in the individual pursuit and potentially the scratch race. “I have always loved the individual pursuit and recently placed fourth at Oceania Championships,” she said. Donnelly said making the team was always “plan A” for her, as the World Championships is a key qualification event ahead of the 2024 Olympics. “This is being called the ‘mega worlds’ – with all cycling events in one place at the same time it is going to be a pretty busy few weeks for everyone involved,” she said. “This is also a really good chance for me to experience the pressures of an event like this, as we get taught how to ride fast but you can’t really understand the pressures of race day until you live and experience those events.” Although it will be Donnelly’s first World Championship appearance, she has already impressed on the international stage this year – and claimed a silver medal in the women’s team pursuit at both the Nations Cup and Oceania Championships in March. “As members of our squad have said before, the word ‘potential’ has been used heaps for the New Zealand women’s team pursuit. “It is so inspiring for me to see the top four girls pushing those limits, breaking national records and I definitely use it as motivation in training so I can line up confidently beside them.” The UCI track cycling World Championships take place in Glasgow from August 2-9. NEW ZEALAND UCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM Men’s sprint: Sam Dakin (Auckland), Callum Saunders (Marlborough) Women’s sprint: Ellesse Andrews (Canterbury), Shaane Fulton (Tasman), Olivia King (Waikato), Rebecca Petch (Waikato). Men’s endurance: Aaron Gate (Auckland), Regan Gough (Hawkes Bay) – conditional; George Jackson (Wellington), Nick Kergozou (Southland), Tom Sexton (Southland), Campbell Stewart (Manawatu). Keegan Hornblow (Tasman) – non-travelling reserve. Women’s endurance: Bryony Botha (Auckland), Sami Donnelly (Canterbury), Michaela Drummond (Manawatu), Emily Shearman (Manawatu), Ally Wollaston (Waikato). Rylee McMullen (Waikato) – non-travelling reserve. Friendly gym provides a sense of belonging For those people considering joining a gym but are not sure if it’s for them, Wigram Culture Fitness offers an experience unlike any other. As owner Heather Peterson explains: “We have created an environment at our gym in Wigram that is supportive. Our members come from a wide range of ages, from fathers and sons to mothers and daughters, through to husbands and wives in their 80s. “Our gym provides a sense of belonging and an environment where everyone feels welcome and part of the Culture Fitness family. “We have various workout zones and gym facilities and, in conjunction with these, our gym offers Express Fitness Lanes combined with the Fitness App Myzone.” Finding the best gym can be compared to forging a new relationship. With a bit of personal reflection, pre-planning, and some vetting, you will be on the path to what could be a match made in heaven (at least when it comes to this key element of your fitness journey). Remember, you are investing your time, money, and energy into a gym, and you need to be certain that you have made the best choice for you and your training goals. You may be enticed to base your decision on online reviews or friends’ recommendations, and while that’s an excellent starting point, there should be a few more components to consider. Here at Wigram Culture fitness we want you to come in and have a look around, and make sure we are the best fit for your Fitness Journey. “People are sometimes fearful of being watched and judged at a gym,” Heather says, “but Wigram Culture Fitness is not like that. We’re full of locals of all shapes and sizes, ages and ethnicities. “Everyone is on a different journey, so come and share yours with us and discover a really friendly, supportive environment.” To find out more, visit Wigram Culture Fitness at 187 Wigram Road for a guided tour and a chat to the team about what options will work for you. Memberships start from $12.95, and you can add a buddy for an extra $4 per week. All new memberships come with three, free introduction sessions with a personal trainer to help you get started. WIGRAM 187 Wigram Rd, Christchurch Ph: 03 366 7338 www.wigramculturefitness.co.nz
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