24 The SPORT <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>January</strong> <strong>25</strong>, <strong>2024</strong> Celebration time ... Jack Becks, and his wife Mignonne, Allan Gill, Kaiapoi Bowling Club President,(far left), and Kevin Smith from Bowls NZ, (far right). PHOTO: SUPPLIED Bowling milestone Fifty years continous membership of the Kaiapoi Bowling Club by Jack Becks, was celebrated at the Kaiapoi Club Outdoor Bowls recently. Jack started playing bowls 54 years ago at the age of 29. He was amember of the KaiapoiClub BowlingClub before he left for two years to play elsewhere. After two years away he came back to Kaiapoi Club where he has enjoyed 50 years continuous membership since his return. Jack was club coach for 31 years, and enjoyed alot of success on the greens. Among his many achievements at club level, Jack was part of the club’s winning ChampionofChampion Triples team in 200708,ChampionofChampion Fours in 20152016,and with son Kerry in 2020, won aCharter Club National title. President Alan Gill presented Jack with acommemorative trophy, and his wife, Mignonne, with alarge bunch of flowers. Kevin Smith representing Bowls New Zealand was also theretooffer congratulations and acknowledgement of such alongstanding partnership between Jackand the club. The weekend celebrations did not end there for the Becks family. While this was all happening at Kaiapoi, over at Burnside Jack and Mignonne’s son, Kerry, was teaming up with his longstanding mate, Paddy Stewart, to take on all comers at the prestigiousBurnside Pairs. By the end of the weekend the Becks family had another reason to celebrate as Kerry and Paddy went on to win. Everyone awinner When the Hurunui Hoopsters took on Police team, Hot Fuzz,inafriendly basketball exhibition game, players brought all their passion to the court. The result was awinwin for the Amuri community in Hurunui District. The game, held in the Amuri Gymnasium in December,marked the end of acommunity basketball league organised by the Filipino team, the Hoopsters,for the Amuri community. ‘‘We wanted to bring the community back together as it had been awhile since we had a community gathering,’’ Hoopsters player Trammart Penamante says. Constable Damian Schuurman says Hot Fuzz was made up of representatives fromHanmer Springs, Culverden, Cheviot, and Highway Patrolbased out of Hanmer Springs. ‘‘In true community spirit, with some numbers down in the Police team, the Hoopsters lent us some of their best players after half time. ‘‘While tactics like that might not be good for league rankings, they build community spirit, with the exhibition match cementing another successful year of collaborative partnershipbetween Amuri’s newcomers and migrants, and the wider community,’’ Hurunui District Council’s Welcoming Communities facilitator Natalie Paterson says. Ms Paterson says although onfarm dairying in remote rural areas comes with its fair share of socialisation hurdles, Amuri continues to thrive as awelcoming community that cherishes its bond with its migrants, and newcomers, through these social events. The large Filipino community in the Amuri Basin are known for their community gatherings and their hard workethic, Constable Schuurman says. ‘‘This was agreat opportunity for us to engage with them, let off alittle steam and aheap of sweat. I’m hoping we can make this ayearly event. ‘‘Community events like these are agreat way to connect with the community, meet new people, and show them that we are more than just the uniformwewear. It can break down alot of barriers. After all, we arepart of the community too.’’ Sandy Velmonte, amember of the Hurunui Welcoming Communities Advisory Group, says the exhibition game ended with acommunity party and traditional Filipino pinoy games, attended by about 300. Ms Paterson says sharing ameal is an important way to connect cultures and she thanked the community for getting behind the gathering, with Culverden Four Square donating 10 bags of groceries and Culverden’s MCE Asian Store donating two hampersand three sacks of rice. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black says the event is an outstanding celebration of energy and diversity the Filipino community brings to the Hurunui. You can catch Hurunui Police taking on Hanmer Thermal Pools for agame of cricket on March 9, in Hanmer Springs. <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> athletes excel at ColgateGames The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> Track and Field team had some great results at the threeday South Island Colgate games in Dunedin recently. Over 1000 athletes attended the event, with many personal bests, top eight finishes, including avery special moment from <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong>sprint champion Lily Morrison, in grade 14. Not only did Lily receivethree Gold medals in the 100m sprint, the 200m sprint and long jump but was a recipient of the Nick Willis Scholarship Award. Lily is arising star to watch as she moves from children's athletics to juniors next season. The Colgate Games are held in <strong>January</strong> every year and are made up of two events —one in the <strong>North</strong> Island and one in the South Island. Started in 1979, it’s the biggest and oldest athletics event for childrenaged seven years to 14 years old. The 13 medals won by <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> athletes Lily Morrison Girls 14, 100m, 200m and long jump, Gold. Sophie Paterson Girls 14, long jump, Bronze. Alexander JonathanBoys 13, 1600m race walk, Gold. Cody Broderson Boys 13, high jump, Bronze. Jackson Atkinson Boys 12, discus and shot put, Bronze x2. Valentina Davey Girls 12, 1200m, walk, Bronze. Isla Edwards Girls 11, 1200m walk, Silver. Miriama JonathanGirls 11, 1200m walk, Bronze. Sybil Davey Girls 10, high jump, Bronze. Boys 13 4x100m relay, Farai Musesengwa,Isaac Lyon, Alexander Jonathanand Cody Broderson Bronze. The team is now resting and competes again in the <strong>Canterbury</strong> Club competition on Saturday, <strong>January</strong> 27, at the Nga PunaWai Sports facility in Wigram. Abronze finish ... Farai Musesengwa, from <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong>, on his way to helping his team win bronze in the Boys 13, 4x100m relay at the Coalgate Games. PHOTO: SUPPLIED PROUDLYSUPPORTINGLOCAL SPORT RANGIORA
In reflection -Loburn’sdarkest day PHOTOS BY JOHN COSGROVE Away ... Aplantation of trees erupts into flames at Loburn during Friday’s fires. Helping ... Neighbours rush to help save belongings from a house threatened in the blaze. Hot spots ... Afirefighter douses hotspots at one of the damaged properties. Lost ... Rangiora Volunteer firefighters dampen down hotspots at one of the destroyed homes. Mopping up ... Volunteer Firefighters continue the dampening of hot spots on Saturday. Help on hand ... Neighbours secure anumber of horses at one of the fire sites. Alight ... Flames rise at one of the fire sites on Friday.
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