Top rally driver pays a visit to Timaru Girls' High School
New Zealand's fastest female rally driver made a pitstop at Timaru Girls' High School last week.
Emma Gilmour, who was the first female driver to sign for McLaren Racing and the first female driver to have won a Rally New Zealand round, spoke to the school's senior students about her life and career as part of her Vantage Pitstop programme.
Timaru Girls' was selected as the lucky school for her to visit in South Canterbury after entering and winning a competition.
Gilmour spoke to the students on topics like making the switch from dreaming of an Olympic equestrian career to rally driving, bouncing back from a horrific crash in Italy 18 months ago while racing for McLaren, building self-belief, navigating your personal journey and setting dreams and goals.
She said she felt very lucky to be able to share her experiences with students around the country.
"It's a cool opportunity. We had a lot of entries from Timaru Girls' High to come here and the school has a bit of a soft spot in my heart, because I went to an all-girls school as well.
"I think it's great for girls to see a role model as well as the opportunities that are out there for them.
"Not necessarily in motorsport but showing your path can change and you don't have to have it all figured out at school.
"I think there's that pressure that you need to know where you're heading and have it all mapped out, but in my case you never know where you're going to end up."
Showing off their newly acquired Emma Gilmour posters are TGHS students (from left) Maria-Moana Kaui, 16, Ella Andrews, 17, and Pārākore Courage, 16.
Gilmour said she enjoyed speaking with the TGHS students.
"It was awesome, I really enjoyed the interaction.
"It's always interesting what questions come out of the audience and what different girls pick up on or are interested in.
"The girls here were an awesome audience and they asked some great questions."
Gilmour also competed at the South Canterbury Rally at the weekend and said she always loved travelling to and racing in Timaru.
"I'm from Dunedin, so I like it because it's nearly a home-type area.
"There's always fantastic roads and beautiful scenery that we race on and there are lots of mad passionate motorsport fans here.
"I always love coming back."
Although she spoke to the students about setting goals and dreams, Gilmour said she still had a few of her own.
"I still want to win the New Zealand title, I've been runner-up many a time.
"I'd still love the opportunity to race overseas if that came up but I enjoy what I'm doing and whatever happens, happens.
"I never would have predicted the McLaren opportunity coming when it did in my career.
"I just feel fortunate to be doing it as I can."
TGHS deputy principal Logan Callow said it was fantastic to have Emma Gilmour visit the school.
"It's always good to have people from the community come in and people that have done really well in their field.
"I think particularly having a successful woman speaking to the females at this school makes thing resound a wee bit more than perhaps if it was someone else coming in.
"Her giving up the time is fantastic and it's great to see that she's supportive of our girls and their dreams and hopes and passions."
connor.haley@timarucourier.co.nz
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Triple Medal Haul For New Zealand Lifesaving Athletes At The World Games
Three of New Zealand's most accomplished lifesaving athletes have proudly represented Aotearoa at The World Games this August, returning with an impressive haul of medals and memories that will last a lifetime. The World Games, held this year in Chengdu, China, is one of the world's most prestigious non-Olympic international multi-sport events. For lifesaving sport, Pool Rescue is the sole discipline contested, and qualification standards are incredibly high, making the event a true showcase of the world's best. Flying the flag for New Zealand were Zoe Crawford, Madison Kidd, and Fergus Eadie, all of whom are current or recent world record holders in their respective events. Backed by a tight-knit team including Black Fins Campaign Lead Steve Kent and official Johnny Clough, the athletes delivered outstanding performances on the global stage. Fergus Eadie was unstoppable in the men's 50m manikin carry, becoming the only male athlete to break the 28-second barrier. His dominant swim earned him a commanding gold medal, a testament to his preparation under coaches Tom Lowe and Michael Weston. In the women's 100m manikin tow, Zoe Crawford powered her way to gold, while teammate Madison Kidd secured a bronze medal, reinforcing the strength and depth of New Zealand's female lifesaving squad. Hearing the New Zealand national anthem ring out twice in the stadium was a moment of immense pride, marking not only an individual triumph for these athletes but also a collective win for the sport in Aotearoa. Zoe Crawford is currently studying Sport and Recreation at AUT and trains with Coast Swim Club. Originally from Mairangi Bay, she transitioned from hockey into elite pool rescue swimming and broke the junior world record in the 100m manikin tow in 2023. She went on to win the senior world title and break the senior record in 2024. Zoe is known for her relentless drive and team-first attitude and brings energy and focus to every race. Madison Kidd began lifesaving at age 7 at Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club and now also competes for Northcliffe in Australia. A world record holder in the 100m Tow, which she broke three times in 2024, Madison previously competed at The World Games in 2017. She returned this year as a seasoned competitor and earned a well-deserved bronze medal. Fergus Eadie started at Muriwai and now races for Mairangi Bay under coach Tom Lowe while working full-time at Pacific Channel in Auckland. He made his Black Fins debut at the 2022 Lifesaving World Championships, earning gold and bronze across multiple events. In 2024, he broke two world records and won gold in both the 50m and 100m carry events. Fergus is known for his explosive speed and calm execution under pressure. Guiding the team was Steve Kent, a three-time World Champion, 2012 Olympian, and longtime Black Fins leader. With eight world championship campaigns under his belt, Steve brought a wealth of experience to the squad. Also supporting the campaign was Johnny Clough, who attended as an official through a High Performance Sport New Zealand Prime Minister's Scholarship. His ongoing development toward a Level 3 international official adds depth to New Zealand's presence in the sport. Reflecting on the campaign, Steve Kent said, 'I'm proud of this small team. We have had to adapt to different challenges in our build up, and I thank them for their dedication.' This campaign wasn't just about medals. It was about continuing New Zealand's legacy in lifesaving sport and supporting athletes who embody the values of excellence, resilience, and teamwork. Following this international success, the team now looks ahead to the Aon New Zealand Pool Rescue Championships in September, where the next generation of lifesaving athletes will no doubt be inspired by these incredible performances.
Scoop
14 hours ago
- Scoop
Triple Medal Haul For New Zealand Lifesaving Athletes At The World Games
Press Release – Surf Life Saving New Zealand Three of New Zealand's most accomplished lifesaving athletes have proudly represented Aotearoa at The World Games this August, returning with an impressive haul of medals and memories that will last a lifetime. The World Games, held this year in Chengdu, China, is one of the world's most prestigious non-Olympic international multi-sport events. For lifesaving sport, Pool Rescue is the sole discipline contested, and qualification standards are incredibly high, making the event a true showcase of the world's best. Flying the flag for New Zealand were Zoe Crawford, Madison Kidd, and Fergus Eadie, all of whom are current or recent world record holders in their respective events. Backed by a tight-knit team including Black Fins Campaign Lead Steve Kent and official Johnny Clough, the athletes delivered outstanding performances on the global stage. Fergus Eadie was unstoppable in the men's 50m manikin carry, becoming the only male athlete to break the 28-second barrier. His dominant swim earned him a commanding gold medal, a testament to his preparation under coaches Tom Lowe and Michael Weston. In the women's 100m manikin tow, Zoe Crawford powered her way to gold, while teammate Madison Kidd secured a bronze medal, reinforcing the strength and depth of New Zealand's female lifesaving squad. Hearing the New Zealand national anthem ring out twice in the stadium was a moment of immense pride, marking not only an individual triumph for these athletes but also a collective win for the sport in Aotearoa. Zoe Crawford is currently studying Sport and Recreation at AUT and trains with Coast Swim Club. Originally from Mairangi Bay, she transitioned from hockey into elite pool rescue swimming and broke the junior world record in the 100m manikin tow in 2023. She went on to win the senior world title and break the senior record in 2024. Zoe is known for her relentless drive and team-first attitude and brings energy and focus to every race. Madison Kidd began lifesaving at age 7 at Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club and now also competes for Northcliffe in Australia. A world record holder in the 100m Tow, which she broke three times in 2024, Madison previously competed at The World Games in 2017. She returned this year as a seasoned competitor and earned a well-deserved bronze medal. Fergus Eadie started at Muriwai and now races for Mairangi Bay under coach Tom Lowe while working full-time at Pacific Channel in Auckland. He made his Black Fins debut at the 2022 Lifesaving World Championships, earning gold and bronze across multiple events. In 2024, he broke two world records and won gold in both the 50m and 100m carry events. Fergus is known for his explosive speed and calm execution under pressure. Guiding the team was Steve Kent, a three-time World Champion, 2012 Olympian, and longtime Black Fins leader. With eight world championship campaigns under his belt, Steve brought a wealth of experience to the squad. Also supporting the campaign was Johnny Clough, who attended as an official through a High Performance Sport New Zealand Prime Minister's Scholarship. His ongoing development toward a Level 3 international official adds depth to New Zealand's presence in the sport. Reflecting on the campaign, Steve Kent said, 'I'm proud of this small team. We have had to adapt to different challenges in our build up, and I thank them for their dedication.' This campaign wasn't just about medals. It was about continuing New Zealand's legacy in lifesaving sport and supporting athletes who embody the values of excellence, resilience, and teamwork. Following this international success, the team now looks ahead to the Aon New Zealand Pool Rescue Championships in September, where the next generation of lifesaving athletes will no doubt be inspired by these incredible performances.
Newsroom
a day ago
- Newsroom
The gutsy girl driving Brazier's World Cup comeback
In her lowest moments – and there have been a few – Kelly Brazier rewinds 30 years, to her five-year-old self sprinting across frost-laced fields in Dunedin, a rugby ball tucked under one arm. That little girl is a powerful reminder of why, at 35, she's still wearing the black jersey on the world stage. Back then, she was sometimes the only girl in her age group playing rugby – often laughed at and picked on. 'I cut all my hair off so people couldn't tell I was a girl,' she says. That's how determined she was to stay in the game. Now, on the eve of her fourth Rugby World Cup, Brazier repeats a daily mantra: Remember why you started and enjoy every moment. It's guided her since the day she rejoined the Black Ferns fifteens this season – a remarkable comeback after being overlooked for the last World Cup in Auckland three years ago. 'In the past, I took things for granted. I was used to being picked in a team, used to travelling, used to winning,' says one of New Zealand's most decorated rugby players – woman or man. 'It wasn't until I suddenly stopped making the team that I felt like it was all taken away from me and I had to go back and rebuild. 'Since I've come back onto the field and back into fifteens – somewhere I didn't expect to be – I've felt less pressure, because I'm just enjoying it. 'Reminding myself of those two things – remember where you started; enjoying every moment – quickly brings a smile to my face. Then I reset, and I'm back into it.' Brazier has had multiple reasons to smile over the past 16 years: Two Rugby World Cup victories (2010 and 2017), two Sevens World Cup titles (2013 and 2018) and Olympic silver and gold medals in Rio and Tokyo. Her stunning 80m sprint in extra-time, to clinch gold for the Black Ferns Sevens at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, etched her name in New Zealand sporting history. Kelly Brazier after scoring the winning try in the 2018 Commonwealth Games sevens gold medal match. But there have also been stretches where Brazier has struggled. She walked with her head down, she says, for six months after missing selection for what she'd planned to be her final World Cup in 2022. 'That absolutely broke me,' she admits. Then, last year, her body let her down – an Achilles injury so severe she couldn't walk – costing her a trip to Paris and her third Olympics. In those moments, she seriously weighed whether she had a rugby future. Her closest supporters – her mum, Gwen, and her wife, Tahlia (with whom she has two sons) – stood firmly beside her through the toughest times. 'Tahlia was even more gutted than I was [in 2022] to be fair; she's still not happy about it to this day,' Brazier says. 'I knew they always supported me 100 percent. But both times, it was something I had to deal with myself, to come to terms with personally.' Now here she is, back in favour with Black Ferns selectors, and on her way to England – in a full-circle moment, having begun her international career with a test match there in 2009. Back to her roots – as the daughter of an English dad and an Irish mum who migrated to New Zealand not long before she was born. 'I'm pretty stoked because I wasn't expecting this at the start of the year,' says Brazier, still regarded as a rugby magician, with her precise tactical kicking and wicked sidestep. 'It's something that just popped up and happened, to be honest.' This may be her final World Cup, but the resilient and relentless Brazier isn't sure she'll hang up her boots after this Black Ferns' title defence. There's another milestone she's eager to reach. The unexpected comeback Injury almost cost Brazier her place at this World Cup, too. After the disappointment of missing the 2022 World Cup squad, she'd dived back into the world sevens circuit. But her sevens career didn't have the fairytale ending either – ongoing Achilles problems ruling her out of the 2024 Olympic campaign. (The key playmaker had quietly battled with a hamstring injury through the Tokyo Olympics three years before). Keen to play fifteens rugby again in 2025, Brazier signed with Chiefs Manawa for Super Rugby Aupiki. Then came a call from her old sevens coach Allan Bunting, now the Black Ferns director of coaching, sounding her out about a possible international comeback. 'I had no aspirations of going to another World Cup, but when I was offered a Black Ferns contract, I said yes. I was just enjoying my rugby again,' she says. RWC2025 team announcement (from left) Allan Bunting, Laura Bayfield, Kelly Brazier and Bremner sisters, Alana and Chelsea. Named as a travelling reserve for the Pacific Four series in May, Brazier was invited to the following Black Ferns camp – knowing it was her last chance to break into the squad and impress the coaching team for World Cup selection. 'Then a week before, I found I had grade two tears in both my calves,' she says. 'But they still wanted me to attend the camp, so I thought, 'Okay, that's a good thing'. I stood on the sideline all week watching and spending time in the gym rehabbing. 'We flew home and the next day I got the call to say I was in the Black Ferns to play the Black Ferns XV. I just didn't expect that at all. But that was the turning point for me.' Brazier knew she was then auditioning to be back-up first five to Ferns' co-captain Ruahei Demant. Standing in her way: 21-year-old Canterbury star Hannah King, last year's World 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. The more senior player gave herself a 50:50 chance of scoring the role. When Brazier was given the nod ahead of King to play in the second Laurie O'Reilly test against Australia – her 43rd test, but her first since 2021 – she grabbed the 'lifeline' with both hands. 'Even after that I was like, who knows? All these things were going around in my head. But once I got that call from Bunts saying I was in, I couldn't believe it,' she says. But there were others who could. Cory Sweeney, the Black Ferns Sevens coach, backed Brazier – 'a super athlete, super teammate and super mum' – all the way. 'She's been a standout player across many years, but few appreciate how hard she works and how lonely it is coming back from injury,' he says. 'Her experience and leadership will be a huge asset for the Black Ferns in England.' Bunting says it's been a privilege to have worked with Brazier for many years, and to have been 'very close to a lot of what she's achieved.' 'For her to still have the same drive and determination is inspirational,' he says. 'Being named in her fourth World Cup is a testament to her hard work. She brings a special experience to our group, and we're looking forward to seeing what she can do in England.' Emily Scarratt, about to become the first English player to compete at five Rugby World Cups, would have been both thrilled and daunted seeing Brazier's name in the Black Ferns squad of 32. 'Kelly Brazier is the best player I've marked in both codes,' she said of her sevens and 15s rival, back in 2022. 'In New Zealand you grow up with a rugby ball in your hands, so Kiwis' catch-pass, all-round skills and innate understanding of the game is typically exceptional. Kelly is out of this world.' Witnessing the explosion of women's rugby Brazier has vivid memories of her first World Cup back in 2010, also in England. 'I was young, naïve and it was a dream come true for the girl from Dunedin,' she says. 'In my second year in the black jersey, I was playing at a World Cup alongside legends of the game. 'It was completely different to now. We had zero tests leading into the tournament and just four or five days in camp in New Zealand before flying over. We stayed with all the other teams and played at Surrey University on three random fields. No stands, no stadium, nothing but the goalposts.' The Black Ferns beat England, 13-10, in the final, played at The Stoop in London in front of 13,000 fans – then a world record crowd for the women's game. Playing at second five and serving as the main goalkicker, Brazier finished as the tournament's top scorer with 48 points, including a hat-trick of tries against Wales. 'Now going back to England 15 years later and the final will be played at Twickenham [capacity 82,000] is pretty crazy,' Brazier says. 'It just shows the growth of women's rugby – and it's only going to keep growing. These are exciting times for young girls in the game.' A young Kelly Brazier makes a break in the 2010 Rugby World Cup final against England at The Stoop. And young boys, too. Brazier's sons – Oakley (5) and Sullivan (2) – will travel to England for this World Cup, even if they don't yet grasp what their mum does for a day job, or the scale of the stage she's playing on. 'Oakley doesn't even know about the All Blacks. He just sees Mum, Aunty Portia [Woodman-Wickliffe] and Aunty Gossie [Sarah Hirini] running around on TV,' Brazier says. 'But as the boys grow older, there will be lessons I can teach them from this. They'll hear the stories of how many World Cups I went to, how old I was, or the things I overcame to get there.' Brazier has learned to be smarter with her body, as 16 years as a world-class athlete takes its toll. 'That's been my biggest work-on,' she says. 'I love training, and running, and smashing myself, going into those dark places. But I've learned the hard way, with my fair share of soft tissue, Achilles and loading injuries these last few years. So now every session I do doesn't have to be in the red.' Her game has changed, too. 'I was a few kilos heavier back when I started, so I could run it straight a bit more. I don't have too much on me these days,' she laughs. 'So now it's more vision decision and setting others up. And with that sevens background, if there's space in front of me, or one-on-one, I have the ability to step people.' As a back-up goalkicker in this World Cup squad, Brazier admits she's had to up her kicking practice in the past six months to find her rhythm again. 'Kicking isn't a massive skillset in sevens, so for years I haven't done all the repetitions. But as a youngster I was out on the field kicking every morning and every night, so I have some reps in the bank,' she says. 'It's kind of like driving a car – it's always there.' Her versatility over her career, playing every position in the Black Ferns' backline other than wing, likely contributed to her selection. 'Obviously 10 and 15 are my preferred positions, but if something were to happen, I'd be happy to step in wherever the team needs me,' she says. In 2023, Brazier made a step towards a future in coaching, heading to Japan to coach the Brave Louve sevens side. She still has aspirations to become the first woman to coach the Black Ferns Sevens. 'I definitely want to coach, but post-career. But I can't tell you if that will be in six months or two years,' she says. For now, she's happy helping out with Oakley's ripper rugby team, and an all-girls' team at the Arataki club in Mt Maunganui. She's not ready to draw a line under her playing career yet. If she plays in every Black Ferns game at this Rugby World Cup, including the playoffs, she will sit on 49 tests. 'And that would eat away at me if I just left it there,' she laughs. 'I still enjoy playing; I still love training. So why not see how my body goes?' The highlights of her career may surprise you. If you'd asked her four years ago, she would have rattled off the victories at pinnacle events. But now it's the simpler things, she says, that will stay with her. 'I get a greater sense of pride and joy in just playing the game, now I'm older and have missed out on a few things,' she says. 'Some of my highlights are a random weekday down at Blake Park, nothing special, just playing rugby with my mates. 'When I finish it will be those moments I miss, not necessarily standing on a podium with a medal around my neck. Don't get me wrong – I absolutely love winning and I'm still competitive. 'But the amount of time I get to spend with some pretty wicked human beings, and travelling the world with my best mates – not many people can say they have their dream job. But this is it.' The Black Ferns leave for England on Wednesday, and will play their first game at the World Cup against Spain on August 25 (4.30am NZ time), live on Sky Sport 1, and delayed on free-to-air Sky Open.
