The Star: February 08, 2024

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24 The Star Thursday February 8 2024 SPORTS NEWS bROUgHT TO YOU bY ANNUAL SALE HURRY!... UP TO 70% OFF ONLY WHILE STOCKS LAST Curtains | Blinds | Shutters Unit 2 / 99 Sawyers Arms Rd 03 365 4666 or 0800 836 587 www.venluree.co.nz Les taking a step back after 70 years’ service • By Sam Coughlan BELFAST RUGBY stalwart Les McFadden has been an active member of the club for more than 70 years – but now he’s taking a step back to focus on his family. Born in Belfast, Les joined the club as a fresh-faced 10-year-old in 1953 playing in one of the junior teams – winning their division his first year with 11 wins out of 11 and only conceding three points all season. He continued to play into his teen years before a neck injury caused him to give up playing at 16, which lead to a decision to join the club’s executive committee. “They used to have dances at the old clubrooms,” he said. “There was another guy, one of my mates, and they asked us to go on the door so we signed up as committee members, at 16.” Les, 81, was made a life member in 1990 for his services but picked up his responsibilities later on. He was in charge of funding from 1996 until he finished up last week – securing money to keep Belfast rugby afloat yearon-year, a job that has got more and more challenging as time goes by. “Players don’t hang around the clubrooms now. We’ll have a band come in, have a social, but about seven – bang, they’re all gone,” he said. “It’s a completely different thing you know . . . the young ones tend to socialise in bars or nightclubs. “Years ago you’d come on a Wednesday night, and you couldn’t move in the place and they might do $10,000 over the bar, but now you’d be lucky to do $1500.” Les’ work in rugby wasn’t limited to Belfast – he managed Canterbury for a period in addition to being a liaison officer for teams who visited Christchurch – including Super Rugby and international sides in the Garden City – but sometimes taking on extensive travel. “I was the liaison officer for the Scotland team, living in with them (for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand). “We were supposed to play two games in Christchurch, at Lancaster Park – but the stand got stuffed (in the February 2011 earthquake). “So we had to go to Invercargill and Wellington and Auckland.” Most teams who visited gave Les a thank-you gift in the form of a team jersey – which got donated to Belfast’s clubrooms. “We’ve got 196 jerseys at the club from all around the world.” Les also worked for 28 years as liaison officer for the All Blacks during their Christchurch games – now few and far between with the temporary Apollo Projects Stadium not seen as a preferred venue to host test matches. Les’ role as club administrator and staying with various sporting teams has meant he hasn’t spent as much time as he would have liked with his wife, Elaine. “My wife’s been pretty sick, so I just want to spend a bit more with her, you know,” he said. “She had a rough time of it for 58 years (of marriage) you know, I’ve never been here.” He plans to spend his newfound free time tidying up his house and garage with an eye to he and Elaine moving from their Belfast home. But he’s not leaving the club completely, despite what some thought. STALWART: Les McFadden at the Belfast club rooms where he has been a member for more than 70 years. Right – McFadden (kneeling, right) in his first year with Belfast Rugby. “The chairman of the board wrote on Facebook, ‘Les is leaving the club,’ and everyone’s like ‘oh s**t,’” he said. “I said I’m not leaving, I’m a life member you know! “I’m just retired from doing the funding and every other bloody dogsbody job.” Belfast’s board chairman Simon Wilson said Les’ official work for the club would be missed. “We are often quick to celebrate the efforts of players and coaches but it’s often the huge contributions of people like Les who ensure that our game and club can continue to be the important place it is in our lives. “The club and its members could never repay Les’ untiring efforts, particularly in fundraising for the club.” Semi-final qualifiers looking tight OLD BOYS Collegians and East Shirley go into the last round of the Christchurch Metro 50-over competition knowing they will likely need a win to make the semi-finals. The two teams are equal on 32 points in fourth and fifth in the competition – where the top four teams qualify for the knockouts. Defending champions Old Boys face Burnside West University at Burnside Park in what is a rematch of last year’s final. East Shirley face a Heathcote team high on confidence having already qualified for the semi-finals with a week to spare – and enjoying the services of in-form batter Tyler Lortan. If both Old Boys and Easts win their games and neither or both get bonus points, the last semifinal spot will be decided by net run-rate. Lancaster Park host Sydenham who, after a poor start to the season, have won their last two games to be sixth. Merivale-Papanui host St Albans in a battle to decide who avoids finishing bottom of the ladder. CANTERBURY SPORTS CORNER LISTEN LIVE ON SENZ CHRISTCHURCH 1260AM IT'S KIWI FOR SPORT. DOWNLOAD THE SENZ APP.
• By Neville Idour CLEARWATER golfers Cooper Moore and Sam McGill came close but ultimately had to settle for second equal and third respectively in the Canterbury strokeplay championships at Christchurch Golf Club at the weekend. Top seed Robby Turnbull of Remuera shot 212 to prevail by two shots from Reefton’s Michael Toeke and Moore, with McGill a shot further back. McGill had set himself up nicely after an outstanding first round 65 for a three shot lead over Turnbull. With the wind getting up after lunch both players struggled with 74s, however McGill maintained his three shot lead over Turnbull. The front nine in the final Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz round saw fortunes change with McGill in bogey trouble and a Turnbull birdie at the ninth leaving him the new leader by a shot. Moore and Toeke were just a shot behind McGill, while Turnbull continued to play consistently and reached the 18th with his winning two shot margin to close the deal. Turnbull said he loves the course in the Garden City. “I hope to play as many events as I can in New Zealand and overseas, with the aim of going to college in the USA. “Next up I play final qualifying in Auckland for the NZ Open.” Moore said he was happy with his consistent scoring overall of 71, 72, 71. “Just a little disappointed with my second round when I was four under par after nine holes and a couple of mental errors and four bogeys on the back nine were costly in the final result.” In the women’s event the top seeds Chloe Lam of Remuera and Pupuke’s Juwon Kim were SPORT 25 Elmwood to face interclub leaders • By Diane Keenan championships at last weekend’s Auckland. Te Kura Hagley, a team brimming with experience, was well mid-Canterbury feature, the Elmwood has strong players MID-CANTERBURY tennis Gala Cup tournament. to call on for this week’s key beaten in their last match by coach Jack Tiller is looking He says Cashmere, who match-up. Elmwood, while Cashmere have forward to hometown support cruised past Bishopdale 5-1 Its ranks have been boosted in enjoyed two wins in the postwhen his Elmwood team in its last interclub match, is a recent weeks with the inclusion Christmas competition. takes on competition leaders top team spearheaded by the of mid-Canterbury juniors, Riley Elmwood plays Waimairi Cashmere in premier tennis interclub at Ashburton on Meredith brothers, James, Tim Breen, Tyler Leonard and Ryan after two of their players, Tessa Saturday. and Matt, the consistent Harry Watt. McCann and Holly-Jane Feutz, Mid-Canterbury is hosting Weeds, its young stars Liam “There will be plenty of local were dominant in the Gala Cup, Tennis Canterbury’s premier Barrett and Lucas Evans, and the support for Elmwood on Saturday given the opportunity the women’s singles and doubles. with McCann winning both the interclub this weekend for the McHarg brothers, Johnny and traditional “away game”, which Tim. club gives to our young players In the other match the young Tiller describes as a season highlight for players. celebrating success in the last grade,” Tiller said. Shirley. The Cashmere club has been as they move up to the premier Bishopdale team lines up against ON TOP: Cashmere’s Lucia The annual Ashburton fixture two weeks, with “It is just such an excellent Gale and Ruby Young with was introduced some years ago, Dave Meredith team environment for them to be their trophies for winning Points recognising that the mid-Canterbury based premier players have the three broth- Tiller predicts a large number PHOTOS: TENNIS Men (right), father of in as they gain experience.” the ITF J100 competition. to travel to Christchurch each ers, defending of locals will turn out to watch CANTERBURY Cashmere 30, week for competition. his New Zealand the region’s top players in action, Burnside Park 20, “It is now one of (the) most anticipated rounds of the season,” singles title. been switched to Friday night. thumped in the round by Burn- Bishopdale 16, 75s masters given Ashburton interclub has Elmwood 18, Tiller said. He beat the “Our board chair, Peter Leonard will have the biggest smile on Burnside’s Finn Emslie- Te Kura Hagley 5 side Park. Edgeware Waimairi 12, Elmwood stalwart Tiller faces accomplished Don Turner who the daunting prospect of playing won the Australian Masters singles title in Hobart, in the week ganising play, hosting the crowd Gonzaga, Ricky Kotepong and Women his face all day as he juggles or- Robson, Jordan Edwards, Emilio one of the country’s top players, Cashmere’s James Meredith, who leading up to the New Zealand and manning the barbecue. Jamie Poole this week take on Elmwood 28, have showed his class this season tournament. “It really is an occasion.” the winless Te Kura Hagley. Cashmere 26, in interclub locally and in Auckland’s Caro Bowl competition. top women’s players, Ruby in its last interclub match, the tightest clash will be between Te Kura Hagley 17, In the same week Cashmere’s Although beaten by Cashmere In the women’s competition, Bishopdale 18, Tiller goes into the game on Young and Lucia Gale won the Bishopdale’s young team have Cashmere and Te Kura Hagley, Waimairi 10, a winning note having secured International Tennis Federation’s an easier task this week against which are placed second and Shirley 7 both the singles and doubles J100 doubles championship in Edgeware Waimairi which was fourth on the points table. Clearwater pair come up short in strokeplay WINNERS: Robby Turnbull, Chloe Lam, Rachel Elder (masters) and Kieran Sharvin (masters) with their trophies after the Canterbury strokeplay championships. PHOTO: NEVILLE IDOUR Thursday February 8 2024 The Star in a close tussle throughout with Lam edging ahead in the final round over Kim 228 shots to 230. Several Canterbury youngsters acquitted themselves well, with Russley’s Alisia Ren having the best final round of 76 to finish third on 232, while the consistent Sora Kishida of Rangiora tied for fourth with Waimairi Beach’s Aroha Minhinnick on 235. Rachel Elder won the women’s masters event while Kieran Sharpin took out the men’s equivalent. Cooper Moore and Sam McGill will play the NZ Open final qualifying event in Cromwell on February 26 where there is one spot available. Moore has also received an invite to play in the NZPGA Championships on March 7 in Hastings. LIVE ON SENZ RADIO 1260 AM
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The Star: February 08, 2024

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