Sports News

Ella's on her way to the Olympics
Serving for the sevens underdogs
CI sevens squad looking muscular
69 fish caught in annual comp
Kite surfers enjoy weekend winds
Callout to help with beach volleyball courts
New rules spark volleys of laughter
Doing as they please in casual triathlon
Working bee for beach volleyball courts
Closely-fought volleyball battles at TSA
Cooks cricket clinches two awards
Badminton coming back to life
Tennis carnival draws hundreds
Last athletics meet for masters in Oceania champs

12013016

Cook Islands slalom canoeist Ella Nicholas has qualified for the London 2012 Olympics and has had a great start to her Olympic build up finishing third at the New Zealand opens last weekend.

Held on the white water course at Mangahao near Palmerston North, New Zealand, this International Canoe Federation ranking race featured some of the worlds top ranked slalom athletes from 10 different nations.

Young Czech star Karolina Galuskova took the womens K1 honours, narrowly beating kiwi Olympian Luuka Jones.

The 17-year-old posted a time of 111.48 ahead of Jones by just 1.39 seconds.

Third place went to Ella Nicholas who has also qualified for an Olympic place for the Cook Islands.

After a solid semi final run that placed her in the top 10 final, Nicholas improved to put down a faster time with less penalties and posted a career best result, ahead of five paddlers of higher international ranking.

Im really happy with what I achieved at this race. Ive been having some help with my race preparation from a sports psychologist and so the mental aspect of my paddling was my main focus for this race, not the outcome. This ended up paying off with a medal which was an extra bonus.

Next on the agenda for the 21-year-old 4th year medical student, are six weeks of paddling in Australia.

During this stint there are another two ICF races the Australian Open (February 10-12) and the Oceania Championships (February 24-26)  plus a large block of time on the white water.

I still have a lot of work to do in my Olympic build up. I am really excited to head to Australia this week to continue my training on the Sydney 2000 Olympic course. Im looking forward to getting into a good routine of hard white water training and hopefully have some more good results.

Nicholas, who is taking a year off her medical studies to paddle fulltime ahead of the London Olympics, is looking forward to some tough competition in Australia.

Many top international paddlers come to Australia during their winter for some off season training so the competition at these races is really tough. It is sometimes scary training amongst the best in the world but I learn so much just from watching them.

All three Nicholas siblings are medical students and slalom paddlers.

Juggling studies and training is proving difficult but they are keeping their paddles in the water until more time is on their side. Sister Jane finished 7th in K1 womens division at the weekends racing, meeting the qualifying standard for the New Zealand senior womens team and brother Bryden was 4th in the B final of the K1 mens division and 7th in the C1 mens race.

The latter is also racing for the Cook Islands and has an outside chance of earning an Olympic spot in the C1 mens division at the Oceania Continental championships later in February.

• Sue Clarke/MW

New Mission – Jamie Makara will be playing for the Cook Islands national sevens team after serving in the New Zealand Defence Force. Photo Turei Mackey/Fairfax NZ 12013015

Jamie Makara has served his country of birth in Afghanistan and now hes going to play for the nation of his ancestors on the rugby field.

The Henderson resident will suit up for the Cook Islands team at the Wellington Sevens on Waitangi weekend.

He last played for the side in 2009 during the Cook Islands best performance at the Wellington Sevens when they defeated Australia 28-10 and won the bowl final against Tonga 24-10.

The 27-year-old has since finished service in the New Zealand Defence Force that included a seven-month stint as a lance corporal peacekeeping in the Bamyan province in Afghanistan.

I grew up like most boys playing with toy soldiers so serving my country was always something I wanted to do and probably the biggest thing I have done so far, he says.

But there is nothing in the world that can prepare you for a place like Afghanistan. Their ways are so different and set in stone.

The February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch had a strong affect on Makaras battalion which is based in Canterbury.

It was tough because some in my battalion lost friends in the quake and my partner, who was also in the army, was down there helping out so I just wanted to be back home.

When I finally got on that plane I decided Id never leave New Zealand again.

Makaras selection makes four west Aucklanders in the Cook Islands team, five if you include head coach Ramsey Tomokino.

The Cook Islands is in the same pool as South Africa, England and the United States and will face a tough battle to make the top eight.

We are seen as probably the weakest team in the tournament but the opposition can do that at their own peril,Tomokino says.

Tomokino sees Makara as an important asset to a squad that has eight rookies and only three players from the successful 2009 campaign.

He is a solid unit and no doubt you will see a bit of him during the tournament. I wasnt expecting him to return to Auckland so I will drop a few hints for him to join my club Suburbs.

Makara says he will try and be a defensive rock for the team and hopefully pass on some knowledge to the younger players.

Playing in Wellington is a massive experience and it can be a little unreal. I will tell the guys not to let it all get inside their head. Just adapt to the situation and youll overcome it.

• Auckland Now

A new-look Cook Islands rugby sevens squad had their first major hit out this week against Gordon Tietjens New Zealand squad.

For the Cook Islands squad, the friendly match against New Zealand gives the largely inexperienced players a good understanding of the intensity with which they need to play games when the Wellington Sevens tournament kicks off on Friday (Thursday CI time).

Cook Islands coach Ramsey Tomokino has named eight world series debutants in his 12-man squad, which includes players based in New Zealand, Australia and Rarotonga.

He says the team is looking as fit and strong as theyve ever been.

The body shape of our boys is a lot different this year also. They were all training at One Tree Hill the other day and they all ended up taking shirts off and one of the guys commented that this is probably the best, muscular looking side that weve had in a long time. Obviously guys have adhered to what weve been saying about changing their body shapes and just having a look at the other athletes around them.

Before meeting New Zealand in the friendly match, the Cooks competed at the Fijian sevens tournament in Auckland.

The Cooks have been drawn in Pool B with South Africa, England and the USA.

The Cooks have beaten England and the USA in previous seven tournaments.

The full squad includes Ashley Drake (Horowhenua Kapiti), Sean Fletcher (on debut/Auckland), Koiatu Koiatu (Perth), Kairan Mahia (on debut/Rarotonga), Jamie Makara (Auckland), Tiakina Manga (on debut/Horowhenua Kapiti), Tai Marsters (on debut/Sydney), Beau Mokotupu (on debut/Canberra), Dexter Moroney (on debut/Auckland), Arthur Mui (Auckland), Ryan Short (on debut/Brisbane) and Jerome Vogel (on debut/Auckland).

Non travelling reserves are Junior Napara (Auckland), Trends Poila (Auckland) and Teariki Peneha (Horewhenua Kapiti).

Supporting coaching Ramsey Tomokino are manager Brent Matchett, physio Cameron Simmiss and trainer Morna Pulevaka.

• Matariki Wilson

Fifteen Cook Islands Game Fishing Club boats competed in the annual Weighmasters Competition on Saturday.

This competition was generously sponsored by Trader Don, Michigan Motors and the club.

A fresh northerly breeze provided excellent fishing conditions particularly around several local FADs.

Catches were well up on the three previous comps that were run late last year.

Altogether eight boats weighed in a total of 69 fish with a combined weight of 282 kg.

Small skip jack tuna (bonito) and yellow fin tuna were biting freely and these made up the bulk of the fish landed.

A nice bull maimai, a few small wahoo and an ono were also landed.

Don Beer came in with the heaviest fish of the day, a yellow fin tuna that would have weighed in at well over 30kg but unfortunately the fish had been savagely mauled by a shark and therefore was ineligible for the competition.

Heaviest fish 1st Teariki Buckley with a 25.6 kg yellow fin tuna, 2nd Steven Kavana with a 21.6 kg bull maimai, 3rd Poila with a 18.1 kg yellow fin tuna,

Aggregate weight 1st Pupuke Robati with 28 fish weighing 77.2 kg (mostly small skip jack tuna), 2nd Poila with a total weight of 36.6kg, 3rd Junior Ioaba with 31.7 kg.

Prize giving followed a successful days fishing along with a live band and carry on.

• Peter Etches

Alfred Story cruises along the Nikao lagoon making the most of light winds on Saturday. 12012935

Paka Worthington builds up speed along the Nikao lagoon. 12012947

Alfred Story (right) and Paka Worthington carving up the Nikao lagoon. 12012933

Eleven to 13 knot northerly winds on Saturday made for fun times on the Nikao lagoon where local kitesurfers gathered to make the most of the breeze.

Local kitesurfing association president Paka Worthington was on the water coaching as well as catching the winds himself.

Worthington has been coaching a small group of budding kiters on Rarotonga as well as Aitutaki who are keen to log wind time before the second international kitesurfing event in Aitutaki in mid June.

Tricks in the light conditions were few and far between but Alfred Story, who received kitesurfing coaching in Aitutaki recently with the Henry boys, pulled a few tricks including a cracking 360.

Worthington opted to ride as fast as the winds would allow with a surfboard type kiteboard. Both he and Story were sporting wide grins all afternoon.

The winds picked up on Sunday and once again the kiters were back in Nikao making the most of it.

• Matariki Wilson

Alanna Smith digs the ball during her beach volleyball game at the Pacific Games in Noumea. Today a working bee to develop the islands own beach volleyball courts will be held at the Nikao site at 5pm. 12012949

All sports enthusiasts, especially volleyball players and supporters, are encouraged to help develop the beach volleyball courts by joining the working bee today at 5pm.

Since the volleyball association took over the lease of the section opposite the Nikao Social Centre and the ceremonial sod turning in April last year not much has happened on the land apart from some moving of sand.

Lack of funds has been the reason for the lack of action on the land and while the volleyball federation wait for funding theyve decided that manpower will be the best way forward in developing the land with a series of working bees to be conducted over the next few weeks starting today.

The beach volleyball courts will be a recreational area for everyone to use and so the public at large is asked to come and help get the project off the ground and give our kids a great place to learn and play beach volleyball as well as beach soccer.

Please bring shovels, nail racks and wheel barrows.

The working bee will involve sifting and spreading the piles of sand on the site.

For more information contact Hugh Graham on mobile 52287.

• Matariki Wilson

Waken Punga flies through the air to pull off an aerial spike for team Ruks. 12012616

New volleyball rules have been introduced in the current Turtles Business House competition to give all teams an equal chance at the net and to create more fun for all.

The new rules were introduced last week when volleyball players took to the courts for the first week of the Turtles tournament.

The main new rule is that men cannot spike or block at the net or front zone.

Of course this new rule was met by a few grumbles especially from high flying spikers who love smashing the ball from the net.

However, the new rule means that men can only spike from the back zone of the court giving ladies more of a leading role at the nets.

In the first round of games played last Wednesday women were certainly stepping up and taking charge of the front zone with fantastic all-female battles seen under the nets.

The men took a little while to warm up with more spikes from the back zone ending up in the net than over the net.

But no doubt the men will quickly adapt to this new rule by next weeks second round.

The aim behind the new rule is to close the gap between the top volleyball teams and the lesser teams whove joined the sport recently and still finding their feet on court.

The second rule is that only underarm serves are allowed.

This means no high flying super-duper power serves which ultimately leads to plenty of volleys between teams rather than points won on ace serves.

While there was some moaning going on about the new rules most players were open minded and used the first round of games last Wednesday to put into practice the new rules with lots of laughs generated especially as men tried to spike from the back court with more fails than successes.

With 9 more weeks of play to go theres plenty of time to adjust to the new rules.

• Matariki Wilson

Paulina Beddoes slams on the brakes and swerves to avoid hitting a red ute as the inconsiderate driver pulls out in front of her at the roundabout in Avarua during Saturday’s race. 12012928

Robert Matheson leads fellow competitors out of the water from Avarua Harbour in Saturday’s triathlon. Photos and results, page 14. 12012911

Twenty-nine hardy athletes gathered at the Avarua harbour for the weekends triathlon which had been moved to town while the Matenga family held an unveiling at the cemetery next to the usual tri-site in Titikaveka.

Of the group nine athletes tackled the 200m swim, 16km cycle and 4km run together while everyone else did as they pleased combining either a swim and run or a run and bike or just completing the run leg alone.

Tereora College physical education teacher Vanessa Palmer and veteran racer Geoff Stoddart were the fastest athletes of the afternoon both clocking a time of 52:20 although Palmer was first out of the water in 2:25 while Stoddart had a swim time of 3:33.

Stoddart caught up to Palmer on the cycle leg, his strongest discipline, before the pair both finished the run in 19:23.

Remaining athletes cruised out of the water chatting and talking about the weather before hitting the bikes or the road depending on what theyd decided to do for the afternoon.

New faces were also a feature of the triathlon with a number of other national athletes using the multisport event to shape up for the busy year of sports ahead.

Triathlons are held every Saturday and on Thursdays the double discipline duathlon is run from Panama in Nikao.

Click to enlarge

Pare Tangata cruising on the bike in Saturday’s tri. 12012926

 

Click to enlarge

A papa fishing at Avarua harbour watches as triathletes compete with water craft in Saturday’s triathlon. 12012909

 

Click to enlarge

Elliot Weir powers it on the run leg. 12012917

 

Click to enlarge

Paddlers give way to triathletes on the swim leg of Saturday’s triathlon. v 12012908

 

1998 Oceania beach volleyball bronze medalists Apera Ori (left) and Makea Pauka put their back into turning the soil at the new home of beach volleyball in Nikao in April 2011 and this Monday a working bee will be held at the site starting at 5pm. 12012797

Work to further develop the beach volleyball courts in Nikao will begin on Monday with a working bee for volleyball family and supporters at 5pm.

Since signing a lease agreement with the Cook Islands Government, through the Cook Islands Investment Cooperation, construction of two full size beach volleyball courts has been at a standstill.

In April 2011 some work was started at the Nikao site opposite the social centre and next to the national tennis courts mainly landscaping of the land, removal of concrete anchors and some mining of the sand on site.

Cook Islands Volleyball Federation President Hugh Graham admits that volleyball has struggled with this large project, in particular the lack of finance to pay for machinery and materials.

Graham says that minister of Infrastructure and Planning Teariki Heather and the staff of his ministry have been very supportive and their assistance in the project is appreciated.

Graham and some members of the executive have been keeping the area mowed, however he says that volleyball really needs to make a progressive move towards getting the courts established so that beach volleyball can be developed on the island.

With dates of the Cook Islands volleyball open now confirmed for November 5 to 10, we now need to act in getting the courts ready, says Graham.

The Cook Islands Volleyball Open Champs have already generated interest from two teams in New Zealand and one from Tahiti.

It is anticipated that 10 overseas teams (five womens and five mens teams), along with teams from the three Vaka on Rarotonga will compete in the inaugural champs which are set to be held annually.

Graham says that beach volleyball will be a feature of these champs and much interest should be generated, especially with top New Zealand Beach Volleyball player Brendon Heaths international contacts.

Heath is shortly to depart our shores to compete in the New Zealand Beach Volleyball Open at the two-day Mt Maunganui event.

Graham, on behalf of Cook Islands Volleyball, is encouraging all volleyball players and supporters and anyone interested in helping to attend the working bee at the beach volleyball courts, next to the Rarotonga Golf Club, Nikao, on Monday 30 starting at 5pm. Please bring shovels, nail racks and wheel barrows.

The working bee will involve sifting and spreading the piles of sand on the site.

For more information contact Hugh Graham on 52287.

• Matariki Wilson

Waken Punga flies through the air to pull off an aerial spike for team Ruks. 12012617

Due to the recent revival of regular volleyball competitions round one games in the Turtles Business House Volleyball tournament on Wednesday night were closely-fought battles.

There was action galore at the Telecom Sports Arena as teams battled it out for a strong start in the competition.

With three games playing at the same time there were plenty of spikes and deep digs seen on court as well as lots of laughter heard. A number of teams have already emerged as teams to watch out for during the tournament, the first being Tokoroa Pride who easily defeated Turtles 97-59.

Team Ruks was another hot team and while opponents Aremango Sharks had some sweet moves it was team Ruks that were more composed to win 84-71.

The BCI1 crew were on fire and laughed as hard as they smashed the ball.

The crew defeated the TKV Boombas 82-63 who had some cracker shots of their own too.

Fiji Me just managed to edge out a tenacious Wales team of Pukapuka players 78-74 with the second Wale team under the name of Pukapuka also missing out on a close battle against Playin Up who won 77-73.

The Ponnies also posted an impressive first round high score of 94 against TKV1 while the Rebels showed no mercy on team Robos winning 83-71.

The Rebels were also the winners of the nights spot prize of a Turtles voucher for being the best dressed team of round one.

Mangaia Sport tried their best but the Wes Side crew were just too strong to take the win 82-64.

The Southpac Spikers tried valiantly but the experienced TKV2 side were too good this time round winning 88-67.

All teams are reminded to please pay fees by round three.

Next weeks round two games will of course be played again at the Telecom Sports Arena with the spot prize for the night going to the best dressed team.

Spectators are all welcome to get along to the TSA to check out the games and some fantastic action as well as cheering on the players who really come to life with a little bit of encouragement.

Round one results Ruks 84 vs Aremango Sharks 71, BCI one 82 vs TKV Boombas 63, Fiji Me 78 vs Wales 74, Playin Up 77 vs Pukapuka 73, TKV two 88 vs Southpac Spikers 67, Wes Side 82 vs Mangaia Sports 64, Rebels 83 vs Robos 71, Tokoroa Pride 97 vs Turtles 59, TKV one 61 vs Ponnies 94.

• Matariki Wilson

Click to enlarge

Papa Lee Ponini of the TKV Boombas team was impressive on court with his elevation abilities. 12012605

 

Click to enlarge

Dominique Williams was all grace as she slammed a spike over the net for the Aremango Sharks. 12012610

 

Click to enlarge

Theresa Taiarui (left) of the BCI Bank crew taps the ball back over the net. 12012608

 

Taio Nooroa of Mangaia has won the ‘volunteer of the year’ award . 12012541

The Cook Islands have won two awards at the 2011 Pepsi International Cricket Council East Asia Pacific Development Programme Annual Awards this week.

Cook Islands Cricket Association won the award for the best cricket promotion and marketing programme for attracting the New Zealand Northern Knights to Rarotonga for a pre-season camp and T-20 match against the Cook Islands national team.

For Cook Islands Cricket general manager Alister Stevic the award isnt the associations alone but one that must be shared with everyone that has contributed to the development of cricket in the Cook Islands.

A lot of hard work went into getting the Knights here and thanks to the huge cooperation of all the local people starting with awesome welcome for the boys by Kaka Ama, Miss Cook Islands Engara Gosselin and the boys at the Ministry of Culture, says Stevic.

Stevic says that award recognises not just Cook Islands Cricket but all the work everyone put into making the Knights stay in the Cooks a memorable one.

This just shows that the Cook Islands can foot it with the big boys and that the country has so much to offer.

Stevic went on to say that the successful hosting of the Knights cricket team is also a testament to the capabilities of Cook Islanders as sports administrators on and off the cricket pitch.

This will lead into bigger and better things for cricket in the Cook Islands.

Stevic also acknowledges the strong partnerships cricket has with the business community including the Edgewater Resort, which helped the local cricket association by accommodating the Kiwi cricketers on their summer camp in the Cooks.

Stevic also acknowledges the efforts, support and promotion of the Knights visit to Rarotonga by local media both print and television.

The second award for Cook Islands Cricket was won by Taoi Nooroa of Mangaia who scooped up the volunteer of the year award for his outstanding efforts in reviving cricket on Mangaia after the sports 70-year absence on the island.

His (Taoi Nooroa) success comes on the back of his passion for the sport, says Stevic.

Nooroa has been instrumental in reviving the sport on the island that hosted the Manea Games in 2011 where cricket was one of the medal sports contested by the southern island teams.

Stevic says that Nooroas efforts have translated into six womens teams on Mangaia as well as mens teams on the rise.

He has just done so much for the sport on the island as a volunteer.

With two awards in hand the Cook Islands now enter the global cricket awards with real chances of bagging more awards at the event.

• Matariki Wilson

The racquet sport of badminton is set to make a comeback in the Cook Islands with a come and have a go day organised for Friday, February 3.

Sports enthusiast Hugh Graham, also the president of the Cook Islands Volleyball Association, is buzzing with excitement over the revival of the sport.

The public is invited to give the sport of badminton a go next Friday. Those that are interested can play a role in growing the sport starting with being on the committee to set up regular tournaments and development programmes.

Badminton in the Cook Islands was last associated with the international badminton body in early 2000.

According to Graham and his brother Robert Graham of CISNOC badminton was a regular sport in the Cook Islands back in the 80s.

In fact, the brothers remember the sport being part of the physical education curriculum when they attended Tereora College and it was one of the many sports students contested as part of the traditional inter-house sports competition at the national college.

Graham bought badminton equipment on his recent trip to China and will donate it to the badminton association when the body is formally established.

For now the call is going out to all sporting enthusiasts on the island to get behind this new code and give it a go next Friday.

Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles) much like tennis.

Players score points by striking a shuttlecock (a feathered projectile in place of a ball) with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their opponents half of the court.

Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. A rally ends once the shuttlecock has struck the floor.

For more details or to show your support for the re-establishment of the code contact Hugh Graham.

• Matariki Wilson

It was all about the balancing act before kids could rip into mini tennis games at yesterday’s Coca Cola tennis festival. 12012511

There was barely room to stand at the National Tennis Centre in Nikao yesterday when hundreds of Rarotongas children gathered for the Coca Cola tennis carnival.

Giving children something fun to do and to fall in love with the game of tennis was the whole aim of the free one-day carnival sponsored by CITC and Coca Cola.

For older kids already introduced to tennis the day presented the perfect opportunity for them to show off their skills to parents and of course make new friends on the court.

Kids aged over seven played mini tennis games on two courts while the babes aged seven and under had a ball playing fun tennis inspired games.

Once the kids, some as young as three, demonstrated they could properly hold their racquets and mini tennis bats after a couple of fun drills it was on to the mini courts for the tennis development game known as prisoner.

On four mini sized courts the little stars smiled and skipped their way through the prisoner game which involves kids hitting the ball into the court and if they missed the ball or hit it outside of the playing area they would have to sit to the side or go to prison.

As sitting on the side or in prison wasnt much fun the children quickly learned to hit the ball within the court boundary and within no time at all the kids were consistently hitting the ball over the net.

Coach Malcolm Kajer was thrilled to see the large number of children at the courts. The federation hopes they enjoyed themselves so much that their parents would sign them on for regular tennis lessons and one day fly the Cook Islands flag at regional or international tournaments.

With so many kids running around in the heat of the day lots of cold water was supplied to go with the sausage sizzle and keep the little athletes hydrated and fuelled for the full-on fun day.

Of course ice creams were the food of choice for all the budding tennis stars.

CITC key brands manager George George was overwhelmed with the response to the programme and wished that other codes were as proactive as tennis in taking up golden opportunities like Wednesdays free tennis carnival to develop their own codes.

Tennis lessons are given daily at the Nikao Tennis Centre and once school starts up again the after-school tennis programmes will begin again and so will the ANZ tennis in school programme.

• Matariki Wilson

Athletics Cook Islands will again hold a mini track and field meet at the BCI Stadium on Friday afternoon for all interested athletes.

This will be the last chance for the Cook Islands masters athletes who are due to participate in the bi-annual Oceania champs that are being held in Tauranga, New Zealand from February 5 to 12.

A total of nine Cook Islands athletes have entered in the championships.

Last weeks competition saw a couple of the up and coming Cook Islands junior athletes show some early season form with Jolyn Iro throwing the shot put out to 10.63m and Alex Beddoes recording a 12.4s 100m sprint and 2m 17.5s for 800m.

The best age grade points scored was achieved by Iro in the shot put with 690 points, just beating Beddoes 100m score of 689.

Other scores achieved were Luke Tukaroa 100m (578), Alex Beddoes 800m (547) and Tamarua Herman discus (476).

The programme for Friday will have two throws (javelin and shot put), a sprint, a long/triple jump and a middle distance event and the afternoons programme will start at 4:45pm.

Last weeks results were 60m-David Lobb (M60) 9.2s, Tamarua Herman (M70) 12.2s, 100m-Alex Beddoes (M16) 12.4s, Luke Tukaroa (JM) 13.0s, 800m Alex Beddoes (M16) 2m 17.5s, Luke Tukaroa (JM) 2:42.9s, Shot Put Jolyn Iro (W17) 10.63m, Tamarua Herman (M70) 6.73m, Discus Tamarua Herman (M70) 21.64, David Lobb (M60) 19.46, Teaea Parima (M55) 16.35, Long Jump David Lobb (M60) 3.84.

• ACI