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Periods limiting participation

Periods limiting participation

Nothing should stop women playing sport - period.
But a new study has revealed that menstrual cycles are among the leading reasons why women forgo playing sport.
The study, a collaboration between Victoria University's women in sport team and Share the Dignity, an Australian charity aiming to end period poverty, found 68% of women skipped sport completely due to their period, while 90% worried about leaking and 72% were anxious about their period while playing sport.
That is a rather large pool of people who are missing out on the chance to exercise recreationally, or as a competitive athlete, all because of something that is outside their control.
Yes, women can pay to go on contraception to manage, or even skip, their periods, but that is not a healthy solution, and why should women pay for that on top of the cost of period products?
The study, which surveyed 330 people, found the majority agreed sports facilities and their policies needed to recognise menstrual health as a fundamental right and provide free period products.
They launched the Bloody Good Idea initiative, aimed at providing free period products at sport and leisure facilities to help improve support for athletes who had their period.
From the people who had access to free products, about 50% had utilised them when they got caught out playing sport and no-one used them to add to their personal supplies.
Menstrual cycles can cause an array of issues for women during that time of the month, including cramps, digestive disorders, bloating and increased tiredness.
Periods have historically been a taboo topic to openly talk about, but the narrative appears to be shifting in the past 10 years.
After missing the podium in the 4x100m relay at the Rio Olympics, Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui frankly told reporters her period started the day before the race.
''That's why I feel very weak and tired, but this is not an excuse. At the end of the day, I simply did not swim very well,'' Yuanhui said.
United States double world champion footballer Megan Rapinoe has called periods ''as normal as breathing'', while her compatriot rugby star, Ilona Maher, openly told her TikTok followers she was taking 50 tampons to the Paris Olympics just in case, despite not expecting her period.
That language can help change the landscape of young women's perceptions of dealing with menstrual cycles in sport.
Israel marathon runner Lonah Chemtai Salpeter spoke about her cramps being so bad during the Tokyo Olympics she had to take a break mid-race, and New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko talked about her experience with menstrual pain and tightness during the 2022 Palos Verdes Championship.
''The younger me would say it's embarrassing, but now I don't think it is that embarrassing to say it any more because I'm not the only one, right?,'' Ko said.
And she is right.
We should be supporting our young women, and elite athletes, through whatever their sporting endeavours look like and eliminating barriers that could stand in their way.
More has been done in recent years, with many football and rugby clubs swapping white shorts for darker colours to ease their players' comfort at all times of the month, and much of that has been led by those on the field now.
The conversation around periods continues to evolve - and it needs to - and it needs to be kept at the forefront to fight for a fairer future for women to understand the fundamentals of their bodies when playing sport.
It is what they deserve - period.
kayla.hodge@odt.co.nz

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Chances of NZ win pretty good: triallist
Chances of NZ win pretty good: triallist

Otago Daily Times

timea day ago

  • Otago Daily Times

Chances of NZ win pretty good: triallist

East Otago triallist Lloyd Smith and his heading dog Code are in a team out to beat their Australian rivals and bring home the Wayleggo Cup. Smith talks to Shawn McAvinue about their surprise selection and his successes during more than 40 years at the top level of the sport. A wooden sign covered in moss on a fence on the sheep and beef farm of Lloyd Smith in Palmerston reads "dog training paddock". The time spent in that paddock continues to pay off for the veteran triallist. Smith and his heading dog Code have been selected for the New Zealand team to contest the Wayleggo Cup in a transtasman test series over two days at the Ashburton A&P Show from October 31. Australia holds the cup after winning in Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, last year and Smith said the Kiwis would "endeavour to get it back". In Australia, the home team has the upper hand because they use merino sheep which had limited contact with people, and New Zealand dogs were new to the wild nature of the Aussie flock. In New Zealand, crossbred sheep were used, bringing its own home advantage. "It is a bit like preparing a cricket wicket, you prepare it for the home team," he said. The other New Zealand team members are captain Mark Copland and his dog Guy, of Methven Collie Club in Canterbury Centre, Leo Jecentho and Jake, of Karioi Sheep Dog Trial Club in Waikato Centre and Ben Millar and King, of Glenroy in Canterbury Centre. The reserve is Brian Dickison and dog Dan, of Greenvale Dog Trial Club in Southland Centre. "It is a pretty strong team. I like to think we have a pretty good chance," Smith said. Smith and Code competed in the short head and yard at the South Island and New Zealand Championships at Lochiel Station in Hanmer Springs recently and placing fifth in the South Island champs, drawing seventh and final place in the run-off at nationals. The duo finished sixth in the national championships. Code had a good run to the pen but did not yard the Romney flock. Code did not place in the top three at nationals, Smith was surprised to have been selected for the New Zealand team. He and Code also competed in the national run-off last year. The consistent performance of the 5-year-old dog might have helped them get selected for the national team, he said. Code was the progeny of Smith's bitch Samantha and a dog Crest, owned by his son-in-law Scott Hunter in Omarama. Smith's farm near Palmerston was once twice the size. He and his late wife Linda sold half of it so they could semi-retire and continue farming, rather than sell up and move to town. "I keep some dogs on and can carry on doing what I enjoy doing." He now runs about 250 ewes and about 45 beef cattle. His wife — who he described as his biggest supporter — died in February this year after battling cancer. The couple's 50th wedding anniversary was the same month she died. Smith has been dog-trialling for more than 40 years. His first year competing was with huntaway Oak in Lowburn in 1982. The pair won a national championship in 1983. "He was an exceptional dog." He won four New Zealand hunt titles before he won a heading title. As you age, a heading dog suits you better, he said. "I don't have the work for the young huntaways anyway." Since starting in the sport, he had placed 69 times in island and national championships, competing with 24 dogs. "I have been there or there or thereabouts for the last 40-odd years." Some of the scores of trophies he won were on display in his house, some were in cabinets, some were used as door stops. The rest were stored in a shipping container outside. The prizes include five green ties for winning national championships. He had also won six island championships. Smith has represented New Zealand before. He and his dog Ace won the New Zealand champs in Gore in 2010 and got selected for the New Zealand team. Being able to represent your country was a "great thrill". "When you are standing out there and the national anthem is being played, it makes you feel pretty proud." Ace had the same mother as Code. Smith then made the national team again in Wānaka with heading dog Risk about two years later. Risk broke her leg before she was able to compete. He had been reserve for the transtasman test twice including Ashburton in 2023 but was never called on to compete. The Wayleggo Cup competition course was split in four sections. Two sections were run under New Zealand rules and two sections were run under Australian rules. "You have to be mindful if you are in a New Zealand section or an Australian section." Under New Zealand rules, triallists were more free to move their body in a way to coax a flock in a direction. Australian rules meant a triallist had to stand still during a certain part of the course. "Their rules take a bit of adjusting to. Here you are allowed to move your arms and help the dog but over there it is not allowed so you've virtually got to put your hands in your pockets." Smith is the president of the Waihemo Collie Club in the North Otago Centre, a position he had held before. "We are limited member-wise so they are getting into recycling us oldies now. It is a good wee club." His late wife was a life member of the club and her involvement included running the cookshop. Winter was a good time to train working dogs, as there was less farm work to do than usual. Training a pup and taking it to the top level of the sport was the "ultimate", he said. "A pups isn't born with bad habits. The reason they end up with them is people let them develop." Wayleggo Cup What: Annual transtasman sheep dog trial test series. Test series: 37. New Zealand won: 22. Australia won: 15. Where: Alternates between the two countries. This year: Ashburton from October 31. Current cup holder: Australia. First competition: Brisbane in 1985.

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