Selwyn_Times: March 13, 2024

Selwyn Times Wednesday March 13 2024
30
SPORT
Fabrics, wools &
so much more
A treasure-trove of craft supplies and
giftware, The Sewing Room in Darfield
has been owned and operated by twin
sisters Maureen and Colleen for 27 years.
With Easter just a few days away, they
have a selection of soft, cuddly toys,
including rabbits, that any young child
would be thrilled to receive, while gifts for
any age and any occasion include a wide
selection of New Zealand giftware.
When it comes to craft supplies, The
Sewing Room is the place to go, for its
extensive selection of fabrics for quilting
and patchwork, as well as knitting wools,
knitting cottons and embroidery cottons.
These include the popular Sirdar wools,
which come in a wide selection of colours
– the Sirdar Jewelspun range offers some
very pretty shades, ideal for children’s
knitwear, and there is a good selection of
knitting patterns for children and adults.
The large display of DMC embroidery
cottons is sure to catch the attention of
keen embroiderers looking for some new
colours for their project.
The Sewing Room is located at 45a
South Terrace, Darfield. Opening hours
are 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and
10am to 12.30pm Saturday. Call in and
have a chat to Maureen and Colleen –
they will be happy to advise on materials
for all your craftwork endeavours.
TRAINING: Darfield High School rowers Sam Lindores, Ashton Sinclair
Dockerill, Bridget Moir, Ella Beswick, Mackenzie Rowlands, Isla Swords,
Amber Pankhurst, Frida Oberg and Saphia Ridgen (coxswain).
PHOTOS: PIP DEANS
Rowers training
hard ahead of
maiden season
Darfield’s Butchery
• Beef • Lamb • Chicken • Pork • Small Goods • Pet Food
All of our beef is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished and our pork
and lamb is pasture raised, the way it should be! We source our meat
regularly to maintain quality and freshness. Not only do we pride
ourselves on having the highest quality local meat available, but also
on delivering the highest level of customer service.
DARFIELD
VILLAGE
MEATS
Dual operation home kill
processor and craft butcher
with over 30 years experience
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am - 5.30pm
Sat 9am-12pm, Sun closed
35 South Terrace, Darfield. P: (03) 925 8956
www.darfieldvillagemeats.co.nz
Be Inspired
We have a large range of sewing
& crafting accessories as well as
gorgeous giftware, baby clothes &
toys & more.
• Patchwork fabric • Cross stitch kits
• Wool • Smocked dresses •
• Baby wear • Giftware •
The Sewing Room
Quilters Fabric & GiFts
41 south terrace, Midwest Mews, Darfield
Phone: 03 318 8513
email: reneesewingroom@gmail.com
• By Sam Coughlan
SELWYN SPORTING history will be
made this year when Darfield High
School’s rowing teams take to the water
for the first time.
Darfield are the first school in the
district to offer the sport, and Darfield’s
sports co-ordinator Pip Deans said the
opportunity was “fantastic.”
“I said to the kids that this is historymaking
for our area,” she said.
“We have a lot of students that leave
Darfield High School because of the
sporting opportunities at town schools,
and now we’ve got a chance that we can
actually compete against some of those
schools.”
The 16-strong group has been training
at the Lower Selwyn Huts since January,
having been loaned boats by St Thomas’,
Villa Maria, and the Avon Rowing Club.
The opportunity to start a team was
first brought to Deans in November
last year, when she was approached by
Colin Giddens, who has had a lifelong
involvement with rowing, trying to get
Selwyn schools involved in the sport.
Giddens brought with him Pat
McQuinn, a former New Zealand rowing
coach who offered to help the team out.
McQuinn coached the fours and eights
at a World Cup regatta in the mid-1970s
and has been involved in rowing for more
than 50 years. Until last year he was the
rowing coach at St Thomas’.
Giddens said he wants to give back to
the community with his and McQuinn’s
knowledge.
“We’ve been involved in it (rowing) for
some time, so there’s now a way of giving
back. And it’s been pretty amazing, to be
fair.”
Darfield’s crew were initially going to
compete at the South Island secondary
schools competition in Twizel last week,
VOLUNTEERS: A group of Darfield
students holding the boats before a
race at the South Island secondary
schools championships at Lake
Ruataniwha.
but withdrew to keep their novice status
intact for next season – allowing all
members to enter races specifically for
first-year competitors.
While the team didn’t compete at the
championships, they made the trip down
to Twizel anyway to volunteer and see how
a regatta works behind the scenes.
Deans could not have been more happy
with how the weekend went.
“It was really awesome. They got to do
all of these things in the background that
I don’t think any other teams have really
experienced, so volunteering was well
worth it,” she said.
The team are aiming high for their
maiden season.
“Our goal is to compete in the Maadi
Cup next year,” said Deans.
“You’ve got to be quite polished, I
suppose, to compete in those races, so
that’s where we’re aiming.”
The rowing season concludes with the
Maadi Cup at Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel
next week, before the new season begins in
September.