Articles in ‘Sport’

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…

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. I…

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…

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…

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,…

‘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…

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…

LIAM WHITER 2019 Captain Liam Whiter commits to Franklin United for 2020. Pukekohe local Liam Whiter, with 32 appearances in the red, black and white uniform, 20 in 2019, has signed on for another season. The former Pukekohe High School student has two years of Franklin United First Team experience under his belt and is excited for the upcoming season, already training through…

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…

The appointment of Mark Holt as Head Coach for the Senior Teams is an exciting one for Franklin United. Here is the statement I made in the club release last week; “Over the last year we have recognised the need to keep aligning our senior team activities, philosophies, culture with our academy operations and when he has been in NZ, Mark has contributed heavily to the academy. We…

Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do. — Pele The words of a true legend, recognised by some as the best player of the beautiful game EVER and words that rang true for a group of Franklin United Academy members who were lucky enough to spend part of their recent school…

The Weir Rose Bowl began in the 1950s as a competition for U-12 boys, with the WRB trophy donated by Tom Weir, a member of the Junior Management Committee of Auckland Football. The event is viewed as an important step in the development of aspiring young footballers, giving them their first taste of regional football. After the formation of the Federations in 2000, the WRB…

The Counties Cycle Classic returns this year on October 13th at, Pukekohe Park raceway again using the world-famous VS track to start and finish the races. Fast become a fixture on the cycling calendar, the event organised by the Rotary Club of Pukekohe Inc. is shaping up to be even bigger and better this year. Organiser Graham Russell says the classic has again been well…

Another season has passed, my 19th season of winter football in Franklin. Another year of progression – slowly but steady improvements that continue to drive the football talent space forward in our community. I was MC at last week’s prize giving and whilst writing a speech, it gives the chance to reflect. Firstly, thank you to the member clubs whom are doing a fantastic job in…

The 2019 season is nearly at an end and it has been a challenging yet rewarding season for many reasons. At the start of the year, we decided to focus 100% on local talent at first team and reserve level. For the last three years, we have been nurturing that talent, building their experience and their ability to play. This season they were ready to play in the NRFL Division 2,…

Shane Thomas never imagined he would one day end up becoming a volunteer junior football coach, let alone winning the title of 2019 Regional Junior Football Coach of the Year for Auckland, that is until two years ago when he found himself an unexpected stand in coach for his son’s football game and he’s never looked back. Shane admits that he was a little embarrassed at first (on…

Football has long been a poor cousin next to Rugby in New Zealand and Football in South Auckland; (although being the fastest growing sport in our area) has long been at the mercy of the more central Auckland clubs who glean the best players through a process of size, resource and overall performance at both age group and national level. The local establishment of Franklin United…

Polocrosse, the fast paced, 6 player team game played with a ball and net, all while on horseback is coming to Counties Polocrosse Club 588 Glenbrook Rd, Karaka on the 16th and 17th March, 2019. If you have never seen Polocrosse before this is your chance! This event is not to be missed with the feature game each day at 1pm being a test match between the New Zealand and the…

While our warmest seasons are gearing up and thoughts of spending more time outdoors is on everyone’s minds, The Auckland Motorcycle Club will instead be mourning a loss on the now closed KartSport Mount Wellington. For forty years, The Auckland Motorcycle Club has been prominent figures in all aspects of motorcycling and road racing, especially Karting, Bucket and side car…