Articles in ‘Sport’

Caption: Greek actress Mary Mina, Dec. 4, 2025. Photo: Xinhua · On Thursday, Greece held the Olympic flame handover ceremony for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games at the historic Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. The flame was carried into the stadium by world wrestling champion Georgios Kougioumtsidis, who then passed it to Italy’s Olympic champion Jasmine Paolini and cyclist Filippo Ganna, symbolizing the long-standing ties between…

For years, women have been called bigots for saying what everyone knows to be true. That males have an unfair physical advantage over females in sport. Now, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has finally caught up with reality. The IOC is set to announce a full ban on males in female Olympic events early in the new year. Even if those males say they are women. Even if they have long hair. Even if they throw tantrums. The decision follows…

This year’s Counties Cycle Classic will for the first time include a high speed criterium race at the Pukekohe Motorsport V8 track on Sunday 10 October 2021. · Run by the Rotary Club of Pukekohe, it will be the Classic’s fifth outing which is now run entirely on the iconic racetrack. The Criterium kicks off at 9.15am before the main races get underway at 10.30. · The Crit is a whole new ball game – fast and furious around a 1.5km course with…

Tommy could be described as a quiet over achiever. Imported by Nicola d’Almeida from Scotland in 2013, as a three year old, he was originally destined to be bred from. A pure-bred, Black Tabiano Gypsy Cob stallion, he stands at a sturdy 150cm. Kind-hearted, with a beautiful head and with very correct movement, it was evident to Nicola and fellow equestrian enthusiast Chanelle Reid that he was a very special horse. · “I’ve been more or less…

Many New Zealanders are traditionally keen on outdoor pursuits such as hunting and fishing and with gun ownership rising so is the interest in gun related sports. New Zealanders have a proud level of achievement in sports such as shooting and elocal has discovered one such local hero in the form of David Butler. Dave, as he likes to be called, can be found during working hours down at the Rusty Dog, eager to share his knowledge about all things…

Local woman Leslea Eilenberg has always been one to challenge herself. Avid elocal readers will remember her last achievements competing in world triathlons including Kona Ironman and Hawaii. Now, she has gone even further! Breaking all records for her age and weight at the International Oceania Powerlifting Championships and a Silver Medal in the Worlds Masters Games Triathlon. It all started when a gorgeous friend and patient Rachael was…

The nation’s most prestigious and competitive polo event, the BMW NZ Polo Open will be held at the Auckland Polo Club, Clevedon on Sunday 21st February. 2021 will mark the 44th year for the renowned NZ Polo Open that is cemented as a summer highlight on New Zealand’s sporting and social calendar. Despite this year with Covid-19 and the current border restrictions Lucy Ainsley, Event Director is confident the event will be one of the best yet.…

‘O jogo bonito’, or the Beautiful Game, is a phrase made popular by Brazilian professional footballer Pelé, to describe Football or Soccer, a team game, which is played by 250 million players in over 200 countries and dependencies, making it the world's most popular sport. In New Zealand, it is enjoying a refreshing resurgence, with increased international success at youth level tournaments, local players like Sarpreet Singh reaching dizzying…

Each summer Clevedon’s population grows with the influx of international professional polo players and their grooms who call the village home for the polo season. Clevedon is renowned as the capital of New Zealand polo with numerous polo fields in the vicinity and home to some of the world’s best polo ponies. February for Clevedon is the busiest month as the Auckland Polo Club hosts the prestigious NZ Polo Open, the sporting and social event of…

To those who know her, being recognised at this year’s 2019 Counties Manukau Sporting Excellence Awards as the volunteer of the year will come as no surprise, but for Suzanne Ihaia it represents the culmination of an entire team of people who work tirelessly behind the scenes at Pukekohe Affiliated Football Club. “Receiving the award was a really nice recognition for the work I’ve put in, however, I do not do it alone. It is a team effort and…