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Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Hamish Kerr named Canterbury's top sportsperson
Hamish Kerr was named sportsperson of the year at the Canterbury Sport and Recreation Awards in Christchurch on Friday night. It was the second time the Olympic high jump champion has won this prestigious accolade. Kerr edged out kayaker Olivia Brett, New Zealand squash player Paul Coll and rower Lucy Spoors to claim the honour. 'It's a great achievement even to be named as one of the finalists, so that is something that I'm super proud of,' Kerr said. Kerr's mentor, James Sandliands, who is currently overseas with him at the Diamond League, was named the University of Canterbury high performance coach of the year. 'It is an honour to be nominated alongside so many strong coaches for this year's awards,' Sandilands saidvia a pre-recorded message. 'Especially after such an incredible year for sport across our region.' New Zealand representative William Stedman was named Anstice Optometrists para-athlete of the year following his Paris silver medal in the men's 400m T36. The Canterbury Rams were named Blackwells High-Performance team of the year following another successful New Zealand National Basketball League season. Hockey international Charlie Morrison won the Lincoln University Outstanding Youth in Sport Award. At just 21, Morrison is a key leader in the Canterbury Cavaliers and New Zealand Black Sticks and excelled at the 2024 Olympics. Vui Suli Tuitaupe of Moana Vā – Navigators of Pacific Pride was awarded the Connetics Community Diversity and Inclusion Impact prize. Vui founded Moana Vā to uplift and empower Pacific Rainbow communities and received this award for commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for Pacific Pride. 'These awards celebrate excellence and the values that make Canterbury sport and recreation so special - resilience, teamwork and a deep connection to our communities,' said Julyan Falloon, Sport Canterbury's Chief Executive. 'Hamish continues to raise the bar for what's possible in Canterbury sport and recreation. His dedication, humility and world-class performances inspire young athletes and our entire community. 'With rising stars like Charlie Morrison and trailblazers like Vui Suli Tuitaupe, the future of sport and recreation in Canterbury is incredibly bright. We're proud to support such a diverse and inspiring group of leaders.' Meanwhile, the latest Christchurch City Council Sporting Legends of Canterbury inductees are Melissa Ruscoe and John Hellemans. Ruscoe is a trailblazing Canterbury sportswoman who captained New Zealand in football, rugby and rugby sevens. She won two Rugby World Cups with the Black Ferns and earned national honours for her contributions to women's sport. 'The mana she had on the field but also off the field, wanting to upskill anyone who was there,' said former Black Ferns teammate Steph Te Ohaere-Fox. 'She was one of my idols growing up, which was cool, and she only became an idol from watching her play to seeing what she did off the field and then seeing her in the Black Ferns. I didn't know I'd one day get to play with her in the Black Ferns, so it was cool to be alongside her, and hopefully I've inherited some of the mana she had.' A Christchurch-based sports medicine doctor, Hellemans is a pioneering figure in New Zealand triathlon. He's celebrated for his dual legacy as a world-class coach and elite athlete. Hellemans mentored multiple world champions and Olympians, including Erin Baker and Andrea Hewitt, earning the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contributions to triathlon. Baker said Hellemans is a worthy recipient due to his 'enormous and significant contribution' to triathlon, while Hewitt described her former coach as 'the GOAT' (greatest of all time). Ruscoe and Hellemans join Julie Seymour and Graham Condon as the latest Sporting Legends of Canterbury inductees. Summing up the Canterbury and Sport and Recreation Awards, Kerr said: 'In our sport, I've said it a number of times, I feel like we spend a lot of time looking forward and not a lot of time looking backwards. 'Enjoy the night, make sure you celebrate all the successes because there are a lot of them in the room.' Canterbury Sport and Recreation Awards winners: • Craigs Investment Partners sportsperson of the year: Hamish Kerr (Athletics)• L&A Apparel Community sportsperson of the year: Jarred Percival (Rugby/allround)• Blackwells High-Performance Sports team of the year: Canterbury Rams (Basketball)• ORIX Community Sports tam of the year: Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club Premier Men• Christchurch City Council sporting legends of Canterbury: Melissa Ruscoe and John Hellemans• Anstice Optometrists para athlete of the year: William Stedman (Para Athletics)• Lincoln University outstanding youth in Sport Award: Charlie Morrison (Hockey)• Douglas Furniture & Joinery high-performance official of the year: Gareth Greenfield (Hockey)• Sharp Community official of the year: Glenys McKenzie (Swimming)• Gallagher volunteer of the year: Rick Houghton (BMX)• University of Canterbury high-performance coach of the year: James Sandilands (Athletics)• UC Community coach of the year: Ross Soper (Rugby and Touch) • Connetics Community diversity and inclusion impact award: Vui Suli Tuitaupe – Navigators of Pacific Pride.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Tough time on the training turf
Sports reporter Sam Coughlan has trained in the boxing ring, been pummelled at rugby union and league practices, and had rings run around him at football and netball training. In the final part of the series, he hits the hockey turf to train with the Marist premier team Of all the sports I've tried so far, I think I felt the least comfortable playing hockey. It didn't help that the skill level was much higher than in the other sports – instead of regular club players, I found myself alongside several athletes who have either represented or are tipped to represent the Black Sticks. So, it's no surprise I struggled. It took me a while just to figure out how to pick up and hold the stick properly and control the ball. We began with a warm-up of bear crawls, short bounds, and skips, before moving into a brutal sprint drill. Starting on our knees, we had to spring up – which is harder than it sounds – and sprint to a line. After several reps, knees aching from the turf, we did the same thing but turning at the line to sprint back to the start. My lack of turf shoes comes back to bite me, losing my footing on several occasions. Finally let loose with a stick, I try to find my technique taking penalty corners, flicking the ball to a player at the edge of the circle. After a couple of poor attempts, I received some tips on technique – it helps when your teacher is Black Stick Charlie Morrison, a key player for Marist. Next, I tried shooting – experimenting with drag flicks, regular flicks, and even trying to give it a golf-style whack. None were successful. Most shots dribbled wide or went straight to the keeper – if I connected with the ball at all. A later drill, where a midfielder passes to a winger who then sets up a striker to score, boosted my confidence. I've worked out how to control the ball and play a pass, although getting much power behind any shots is proving difficult. When the team began a half-field game, I was advised to sit it out. Probably wise, considering my tiny football shin pads, lack of a mouthguard, and just 30 minutes of hockey under my belt. Watching the teams clash proved thrilling. The ease and accuracy with which they moved the ball was incredible, especially compared to my clumsy, off-target efforts. Like with every other sport I've thrown myself into, I loved the challenge of trying something new and picking up a few basic skills, even if it's abundantly clear I'm so far off the pace it isn't funny.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Engaged Capital pushes for board changes at Portillo's
Investment firm Engaged Capital plans to nominate two director candidates to the fast-casual restaurant chain Portillo's board for election at its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The nominees, Charlie Morrison and Nicole Portwood, have experience in restaurant operations and marketing, respectively. Morrison led Wingstop as president and CEO from 2012 to 2022 and served as CEO of Salad and Go from April 2022 to October 2024. Portwood, a branding expert, was chief marketing officer at Salad and Go from October 2023 to February 2025, leading initiatives to strengthen brand positioning and customer engagement. Engaged Capital, which holds 8.6% of Portillo's outstanding Class A common stock, submitted a letter to the company's board proposing the nominations to 'dramatically improve Portillo's ability to execute and close the gap with industry peers'. In a statement, Engaged criticised Portillo's performance, describing it as '...suffering due to outdated restaurant operations, ineffective marketing and lower than justified restaurant-level cash-on-cash returns. Although these issues have led to a depressed valuation for the company, they are all readily fixable.' To enhance profitability, the firm is calling for refinements in new unit development, modernisation of restaurant operations and technology, and targeted marketing investments to boost brand awareness and drive customer traffic. Portillo's acknowledged the receipt of Engaged Capital's nominations and defended its ongoing initiatives, stating: 'At the restaurant level, Portillo's is driving results through the launch of its Portillo's Perks loyalty programme, kiosks, operational enhancements and advertising beyond Chicagoland. The brand is also strategically expanding its restaurant count, leveraging the smaller Restaurant of the Future (ROTF) format and other potential upcoming formats to drive enhanced cash-on-cash returns. The restaurant company's board will formally present its recommendation regarding director nominations in its proxy materials, which will be filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ahead of the 2025 annual meeting. Portillo's, known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, crinkle-cut fries and chocolate cakes, is valued at $1bn. In May 2023, the brand launched its latest menu item, the Rodeo Burger. "Engaged Capital pushes for board changes at Portillo's" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Chicago Tribune
03-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Activist investor gets tough on Portillo's
Chicago's hometown hot dog giant Portillo's is in the midst of an ambitious national expansion, and now a proxy fight may be brewing in its boardroom. Activist investor Engaged Capital, which took a nearly 10% stake in the Oak Brook-based company last year, said Monday that it has nominated two independent candidates to the company's board. Engaged said it was 'forced' to resort to the public nominations of former Wingstop CEO Charlie Morrison and marketing executive Nicole Portwood after months of private discussions around adding Morrison to the board didn't go anywhere. 'We remain ready and willing to reach a constructive resolution that spares all stakeholders an election contest,' Engaged said in a news release Monday. Portillo's is in the midst of an ambitious national expansion plan, with a goal to grow its fleet of just under 100 restaurants by hundreds over the next two decades. The company, which has been opening restaurants in Texas, Arizona and elsewhere, hopes to transform itself from a mostly regional chain to a truly national one, betting that Italian beef sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs will have wide appeal outside the Midwest. But the company has struggled with its stock valuation, which despite an approximately 50% jump since the start of the year is still down more than 60% since it was taken public by Boston-based private equity firm Berkshire Partners in 2021. Representatives for Portillo's did not immediately return a request for comment Monday morning. Engaged has maintained it thinks the company can succeed, but only if it makes changes to how it does business. Engaged, which previously led an activist campaign at Shake Shack, has pushed Portillo's to open smaller stores, for instance. The activist, which called the company's marketing practices 'ineffective' in the Monday news release, thinks Portillo's needs to increase its brand awareness outside the Chicago area, perhaps by opening in high-visibility locations, such as airports, people familiar with the matter told the Tribune last year. Portillo's has previously shown willingness to listen to Engaged, which now owns about 8% of the company. Last month, Portillo's announced it was adding Chipotle executive Jack Hartung to its board after being introduced to him by Engaged. Still, Engaged said Monday that Portillo's still needs to 'refine its approach to new unit development, modernize restaurant operations and related technology, and deploy targeted marketing investments to increase awareness and drive traffic.' Portillo's revenue increased 4.5% in 2024, the company said in fourth-quarter earnings release last week. But that growth primarily came from new restaurant openings. Same-store sales declined 0.6% during the same period. When Engaged announced it had taken a stake in the company last summer, people familiar with the matter said conversations between the parties were constructive, and that a leadership change was not on the table. For the time being, Engaged is not focused on making management changes at Portillo's, people familiar with the matter said. Portillo's, which was founded in a Villa Park parking lot in 1963, was family-owned until it was acquired by Berkshire about a decade ago.
