Teacher's deep dive into running Ross Shield rugby in Wairoa
Much of the memorabilia held by the Blake whanau, which has been represented on the fields multi-generationally, was lost in a homestead fire, including Bill Blake's own Wairoa cap from 1944 and the caps of sevens sons who wore the green jersey between 1975 and 1985.
Whakatope, whose own sports prowess was in netball and basketball, said during lunch-break at her kura kast week: 'If there's anything that Wairoa needs it is that we all band together. Since Wairoa last hosted this tournament in 2019, we've all been through quite a bit.
'I put my hand up,' she said. 'I'm new to the Ross Shield, new to rugby.'
Things started late, in May, and there were just 'eight weeks to go' in a town where the performance of the organisers and this year's team run parallel in importance.
First, she had to start finding out 'what it was all about' and was surprised, in a good way, to learn what the Ross Shield tournament means to the families, including her own, and the district.
The Blake whanau at the 2023 Ross Shield tournament in Napier in 2023, for the recapping of the primary schools rugby patron and his seven sons whose Wairoa Ross Shield team caps were lost in a fire. Photo / NZME
She made a beeline for such rugby stalwarts as Sid Ropitini, Toby Taylor and Wayne Hema, and organisers of last year's tournament. That was held in Waipukurau and won for a third year in a row by Napier, in a continuation of the Napier-Hastings domination since Wairoa shared the title with Hastings East 31 years ago.
Amid the horrors that the weather has thrown at Wairoa since the last Ross Shield tournament there, fingers are crossed that Lambton Square will be in good nick for three games a day.
Senior Wairoa sub-union defences for the Barry Cup are being played at other venues, such as the first on July 20 at Māhia, to help keep the square's turf fresh for what will be the biggest event of any sort in Wairoa this year.
Players and officials will be accommodated at the only two motels in town and at marae as far away as Māhia, more than 40km from Wairoa.
At least six Hawke's Bay referees, mainly from Napier-Hastings, will officiate as referees or associate referees, with three needed per game.
They're expected to include appointments officer Mark Johnson and fellow career school teacher, principal, and Premier grade referee Martin Hantz.
A particular feature will be the end-of-tournament handing over of the tournament's first mauri stone to organisers of the 2026 tournament to be held in Hastings.
It's being provided by Ngāti Pāhauwera as a symbol of protection and strength for the tournament, one of the last under-13 weight-restricted rugby tournaments in New Zealand.
The tournament has outlasted such others as the upper North Island's inter-provincial Roller Mills tournament, canned in 2019 as the Northern Region Rugby Council stopped enabling provincial competition for teams under the age of 16.
Doug Laing is a senior reporter based in Napier with Hawke's Bay Today, and has 52 years of journalism experience, 42 of them in Hawke's Bay, in news gathering, including breaking news, sports, local events, issues, and personalities.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
4 days ago
- 1News
Capewell out, Boyd returns for NZ Warriors against Dragons
State of Origin star Kurt Capewell will miss NZ Warriors' crucial home game against St George Illawarra Dragons on Friday with concussion, but halfback Tanah Boyd is back in the starting line-up. Boyd was a last-minute drop from the team that fell to Canterbury Bulldogs last weekend, but has been ushered back into the line-up to replace the man who replaced him — Te Maire Martin — who lasted just 23 minutes, before also succumbing to concussion. Capewell left the field in the 60th minute for a head check and was cleared to return, re-entering the game with five minutes left on the clock, but has apparently not recovered as hoped afterwards. His place in the second row will be filled by teenage sensation Leka Halasima, with rookie Eddie Ieremia-Toeava promoted to the interchange. Hooker Wayde Egan also returns from a shoulder niggle, replacing Freddy Lussick in the playing line-up. Meanwhile, the Dragons have tweaked the team that defeated Cronulla Sharks last week, with Hastings-born centre Mat Feagai returning from a groin injury to replace Moses Suli, who has injured a knee. ADVERTISEMENT Prop Michael Molo is back from an ankle injury, while Auckland-born youngster Loko Pasifiki Tonga is named for the first time since Round 18. The Warriors sit fifth on the NRL table, but just two points clear of Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks, with eighth-placed Dolphins and ninth-placed Sydney Roosters another two back. St George are 11th, four points outside the playoff eight, but have accounted for tabletoppers Canberra Raiders and Cronulla in their last two outings. Warriors v Dragons, Go Media Stadium, 8pm, Friday, August 15 Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 16. Demetric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith Reserves: 18. Freddy Lussick, 20. Ed Kosi, 21. Tom Ale, 22. Kayliss Fatialofa, 25. Bunty Afoa ADVERTISEMENT Dragons: 1. Clint Gutherson, 2. Tyrell Sloan, 3. Hayden Buchanan, 4. Mat Feagai, 5. Corey Allan, 6. Lyhkan King-Tongia, 7. Kyle Flanagan, 8. Emre Guler, 9. Damien Cook, 10. David Klemmer, 11. Luciano Leilua, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Jack de Belin Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle, 15. Michael Molo, 16. Hame Sele, 17. Loko Pasifiki Tonga Reserves: 18. Ben Murdoch-Masila, 19. Lachlan Ilias, 20. Jacob Halangahu, 21. Nathan Lawson, 22. Christian Tuipulotu By Grant Chapman for
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- NZ Herald
Losses for Ngāti Porou East Coast, Poverty Bay in Heartland warm-up games
K.C. Wilson, pictured playing for Ngāti Porou East Coast in their King's Birthday derby match against Poverty Bay, had a busy weekend on the rugby field. Wilson scored a try as the Coast were beaten 40-31 by Eastern Bay of Plenty on Saturday at Tolaga Bay. He was back in action on Sunday, also scoring a try as his Ruatōria team beat TVC 19-14 in a Barry Cup sub-union defence at Ruatōria. Photo / Paul Rickard
NZ Herald
08-08-2025
- NZ Herald
Hawke's Bay owner-breeder celebrates maiden success: John Jenkins
Sunshine Ale is prepared by the Hastings training partnership of Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos and was having her fourth start when she lined up over 1400m last Sunday. It was her third consecutive race on the Awapuni synthetic track and followed two good third placings, over 1200m and 1400m. The mare certainly showed plenty of courage to win after being forced to race three-wide for the entire race. She ran out even wider making the tight home bend but, once balanced up by apprentice rider Amber Riddell, she attacked the line strongly and stuck her neck out in the last few strides to snatch a nose victory. Newrick and his wife Karen were on course to witness the success and could be heard in the race commentary cheering the mare home. 'We were in an area where there was only Karen and I and four other ladies and we all started cheering,' Newrick said. 'We didn't know who the ladies were but they had obviously backed the horse too.' Newrick said he had been suffering from influenza and was in two minds about whether to travel to Palmerston North and see his mare race. 'I said to Karen I don't think we'll go,' Newrick said. 'I'd been there to see her finish third in her last two starts but I was crook and didn't really feel like making the trip. 'Then I got a text from Guy Lowry saying you need to be there as he was confident she would run a big race.' Sunshine Ale is by Telperion out of Red Carpet, a Pins mare that Newrick bought for $6000 from a Karaka mixed bloodstock sale in 2017. Sunshine Ale is the only one of her progeny that has got to the races. 'I ended up giving the mare away but, if Sunshine Ale continues to show some form, I will end up breeding from her,' Newrick said. He added that Sunshine Ale is named after a horse that his grandfather owned. 'They say it was a pretty good horse but I can't find any records about it. All I've got is a photograph of my grandfather sitting on a horse called Sunshine Ale.' Newrick said reports are Sunshine Ale has come through last Sunday's race well and there is a strong chance she may return to the Awapuni synthetic track for another 1400m race on August 31. Sunshine Ale is one of two horses Newrick is racing at the moment, the other being Kayzino, a Tarzino mare who is also prepared by Lowry and Zydenbos and has had two starts for a third and an eighth. 'She is presently on my property having a good spell and I've also got a weanling full-sister to her coming on,' Newrick added. Sunshine Ale was one of two winners at last Sunday's Awapuni meeting for Lowry and Zydenbos as they also produced Uncle Ken to dead-heat for first in a maiden race over 1700m. The Savabeel three-year-old gelding was having only his second start after finishing a debut third over the same distance on the same track at the beginning of July. Uncle Ken drew the number one barrier and jockey Kelly Myers managed to settle him into a perfect trailing position, third on the fence. She tracked the leader, A Sensible Prince, to the home turn before angling around that horse's heels to lodge a challenge. A Sensible Prince still had a handy advantage inside the final 100m but Uncle Ken kept up a powerful finish and the two crossed the line locked together. Uncle Ken is by Savabeel out of the Makfi mare English Rose and is owned by her breeders, the Waikato Stud. Injury puts Dictation on the sideline Hastings-trained Dictation is unlikely to be seen back on a racetrack until next winter after suffering a tear to a suspensory ligament. The Tavistock seven-year-old was one of the pre-post favourites for this Saturday's $100,000 Hospitality NZ Canterbury 135th Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton but was withdrawn from the 4200m feature soon after acceptances were taken on Wednesday. Paul Nelson, who trains the gelding in partnership with Corrina McDougal, said the horse had pulled up reasonably well following his all-the-way win in last Saturday's Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) but a scan of the horse's leg revealed the injury. 'He had a bit of a cut on his front fetlock after Saturday's race but that cleared up and he had still been working alright,' Nelson said. 'But the vet that checked him over said there was something not quite right and when we had him scanned it showed a very minor tear to a suspensory.' It was devastating news for Dictation's connections as they had been looking forward to clashing with last year's Grand National Hurdles winner Berry The Cash in this year's edition. 'He was right on target for race,' a disappointed Nelson said. The stable will still be represented by Suliman in the Grand National and Nelson said he was satisfied with the horse's run for fifth in last Saturday's Sydenham Hurdles. 'It was a nice race and he wasn't really knocked around. 'Any rain will help him a bit and there is some rain forecast.' The stable will also line up Nedwin in the 150th running of the $200,000 Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) and Nelson said the horse has come through his run for fourth in last Saturday's Koral Steeplechase (4250m) in great order. 'The other part-owner in the horse [Mick Gardner] thought he would work him himself the other morning and that was alright but he hasn't wanted to work him again since because the horse is so full of himself.' Dictation took his record to seven wins from 34 starts when taking out last Saturday's $50,000 Sydenham Hurdles and has won more than $172,000 in stakemoney. He is owned by the I See Red Syndicate, a 26-member group of jumping enthusiasts that has been racing horses with Paul Nelson and his wife Carol for 21 years. In that time the I See Red Syndicate has chalked up 43 wins, including many of New Zealand's prestige jumping races, and more than $1 million in stakes. Big plans for La Crique after trial win Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group 1 winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupō on Monday. The seven-year-old daughter of Vadamos comfortably took out her 900m heat by 1-1/4 lengths, giving her connections plenty of confidence heading into the spring. 'I was really happy with her trial, it was more of a day out for her,' Katrina Alexander said. 'She got to the lead fairly soon out of the gates and had gone along at a nice clip and won very comfortably, still on the bridle. 'She has shown a lot of freshness on her side and put in a very nice trial. I really couldn't be any happier with her.' The Alexanders have had their patience tested with their star mare, with feet issues curtailing a number of her preparations, and they reared their head again in autumn when prematurely ending her Australian campaign. 'She has had a very good spell and we haven't rushed her back in,' Alexander said. She added that La Crique's feet are in top order heading into the spring, and the mild winter has been favourable for their mare's early preparation. 'Her feet are really good,' she said. 'The [winter] season has probably been a little kinder on her. We have had wet periods, but I have been able to do alternative work with her and she is trucking along very nicely. 'Our problem has always been trying to prepare her through a wet end of winter and early spring.' Australia has always been the main aim for La Crique this spring; however, her trainers haven't ruled out remaining in New Zealand to tackle the spring carnival triple crown, which is set to take place at Ellerslie and Te Rapa this year. 'Australia was our original thought,' Alexander said. 'We will most likely stay here for at least the first race of that series [Group 1 Proisir Plate, 1400m], and we are just going to see what happens. 'Physically, she looks great, but I am mindful that she is a seven-year-old mare. We have been to Australia and struck a problem before, and we don't want a repeat of that costly exercise.' La Crique has just had two starts in Australia, running fourth in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington three years ago, and winning the A$500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm last year. While plagued by feet issues throughout her career, La Crique has been able to amass an enviable record of nine wins and 13 places from 26 starts, and has earned nearly $2m in prizemoney.
