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Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Two views — one Topp Cup
Southern Region celebrate winning the Topp Cup last season. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Southern view One Topp Cup. Two perspectives. Correspondents Francis Parker (Southern Region) and Bob Howitt (Central Otago) go at it from different angles. The stage is set for another edition of Otago Country regional action, writes Parker. The annual Topp Cup kicks off at Molyneux Park in Alexandra this weekend when hosts Central Otago look to take the prized heirloom off the visiting Southern Region side. Both country competitions have been hard fought this season so far, resulting in numerous players being omitted from both sides due to injury. The Southern Region side has had to battle with injuries and suspensions heading into this match which has seen their depth tested also. Experienced campaigners Josh Turnbull and Ethan Hippolite lead a rugged forward pack that does have a smattering of fresh faces. Prop Mafi Demont has had a fantastic season for Clutha and deserves a crack at the next level. The backline will be marshalled by the Crescent duo of Joshua Cook and Harley McHardy. Clubmate and Otago Country leader Chase Owen is outside them. McHardy adds plenty of experience in a position that was a real head-scratcher for management. The back three of Jack Blair, Junior Meafua, and Jared Hayes boast over 25 tries this season for their respective sides. Southern won the 2024 edition of the clash in Milton last season and, since 2014, the tie has been split five wins each with a no-result in 2020 due to Covid. The Central and Southern Development sides will face off in a curtain-raiser with the future stars on show. Central view Central Otago are out to regain the much-cherished Topp Cup, writes Howitt. It is a trophy with a colourful history, dating from 1913, that gives the winning team significant bragging rights. Of the past 10 contests, five have been won by Central and five by Southern, who finished in front at Milton 12 months ago. "There's a terrific rivalry associated with the Topp Cup," Southern's coach Craig Hyslop said. "Retaining it is always a huge challenge." Midfielder Chase Owen made the winning speech for Southern last year but his rival Tyler Ford, in outstanding form for Alexandra this year, will be wanting to hand out the plaudits to his team this time. Hyslop claims it was his bench players who ultimately won the contest for his team 24-12 in windy conditions last season, super sub Kace Shaw scoring a memorable try to wrap things up late in the game. Ford, who will play centre, will have a major impact on proceedings and will appreciate having Ben Maxwell, now with Maniototo, running the backline from first-five. Loose forward Will Healey, in dynamic form for Alexandra after breaking his ankle last season, is another to watch. Stalwarts of the Central team include lock Dean Sinnamon, who has scored eight tries for Matakanui Combined so far this season, fullback Doug Smith, winger Jamie Natapu, midfielder Rube Peina and No 8 Jake Burtenshaw. Props Mike Phillips (Matakanui Combined) and William Holdom (Alexandra) will anchor the scrum. The Central Otago starting fifteen includes five players from Wakatipu, four from Alexandra and two each from Upper Clutha, Matakanui Combined and Maniototo. The Topp Cup contest will be preceded by a Development Squad clash between the Central and South Otago teams.
Otago Daily Times
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Two views — one Topp Cupp
Southern Region celebrate winning the Topp Cup last season. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Southern view One Topp Cup. Two perspectives. Correspondents Francis Parker (Southern Region) and Bob Howitt (Central Otago) go at it from different angles. The stage is set for another edition of Otago Country regional action, writes Parker. The annual Topp Cup kicks off at Molyneux Park in Alexandra this weekend when hosts Central Otago look to take the prized heirloom off the visiting Southern Region side. Both country competitions have been hard fought this season so far, resulting in numerous players being omitted from both sides due to injury. The Southern Region side has had to battle with injuries and suspensions heading into this match which has seen their depth tested also. Experienced campaigners Josh Turnbull and Ethan Hippolite lead a rugged forward pack that does have a smattering of fresh faces. Prop Mafi Demont has had a fantastic season for Clutha and deserves a crack at the next level. The backline will be marshalled by the Crescent duo of Joshua Cook and Harley McHardy. Clubmate and Otago Country leader Chase Owen is outside them. McHardy adds plenty of experience in a position that was a real head-scratcher for management. The back three of Jack Blair, Junior Meafua, and Jared Hayes boast over 25 tries this season for their respective sides. Southern won the 2024 edition of the clash in Milton last season and, since 2014, the tie has been split five wins each with a no-result in 2020 due to Covid. The Central and Southern Development sides will face off in a curtain-raiser with the future stars on show. Central view Central Otago are out to regain the much-cherished Topp Cup, writes Howitt. It is a trophy with a colourful history, dating from 1913, that gives the winning team significant bragging rights. Of the past 10 contests, five have been won by Central and five by Southern, who finished in front at Milton 12 months ago. "There's a terrific rivalry associated with the Topp Cup," Southern's coach Craig Hyslop said. "Retaining it is always a huge challenge." Midfielder Chase Owen made the winning speech for Southern last year but his rival Tyler Ford, in outstanding form for Alexandra this year, will be wanting to hand out the plaudits to his team this time. Hyslop claims it was his bench players who ultimately won the contest for his team 24-12 in windy conditions last season, super sub Kace Shaw scoring a memorable try to wrap things up late in the game. Ford, who will play centre, will have a major impact on proceedings and will appreciate having Ben Maxwell, now with Maniototo, running the backline from first-five. Loose forward Will Healey, in dynamic form for Alexandra after breaking his ankle last season, is another to watch. Stalwarts of the Central team include lock Dean Sinnamon, who has scored eight tries for Matakanui Combined so far this season, fullback Doug Smith, winger Jamie Natapu, midfielder Rube Peina and No 8 Jake Burtenshaw. Props Mike Phillips (Matakanui Combined) and William Holdom (Alexandra) will anchor the scrum. The Central Otago starting fifteen includes five players from Wakatipu, four from Alexandra and two each from Upper Clutha, Matakanui Combined and Maniototo. The Topp Cup contest will be preceded by a Development Squad clash between the Central and South Otago teams.
Otago Daily Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
‘Dribbles' dedicated to the cause
Francis Parker and his daughter, Harriet. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Parker: When I first moved down to Owaka, people thought that I liked to talk a lot. But the main reason was when I first started playing premier rugby, I thought I was pretty good at drinking quickly. I was playing hooker, and I had both props next to me and challenged them to drink. At the end of the night I had about four handles lined up while they were still keeping up with each other. I dribbled over myself and just talked a bit of rubbish as well. Where did you grow up and go to school? Born in England, moved out to New Zealand when I was 10, and I went through Dunstan High School. How did you end up in South Otago? My parents took over the Owaka pub. They hadn't been publicans before — they just thought it would be a good challenge. I was doing part-time work at the top pub in Alex, so I had my bar manager's licence. They were after a duty manager down there, so I said I'd come help for a year or so, but I kind of just stayed there. Tell me about your playing career in rugby. I think I played two games of First XV rugby for Dunstan. I was more of a football player back then. I managed to get one game for the Alexandra premier team at fullback when I was 18 or 19. Anton Oliver played for Toko that day, and he ran over me a good four or five times to score three or four tries. That sort of put me off rugby for a bit. I played Fletcher Cup football for Alexandra when they were in the football league in Dunedin. And then when I came to Owaka, it was either travel half an hour to play football or try my hand at rugby again. You enjoy playing for the mighty Swamp Hens? There have been lots of memorable occasions as an Owaka rugby player. Most games that we win are quite well celebrated. I remember playing in my 150th game and I think I'd only won 11 matches for Owaka. We've got a lot better since then. You've played over 200 games now? Yeah, 204, something like that. I was on the bench a couple of weeks ago because we were short, but I've moved into a sort of assistant coach role this year. If the legs are short, I'll put the boots on, but I'm hoping to slither off into retirement. And cricket? Yeah, still playing cricket. It used to be more of a social thing with the mates over the summer because I was more of a softballer back in the day. But when I moved down to South Otago, there wasn't much softball. So I turned my hand to cricket. What's been the highlight of your cricket career? Hitting 24 runs off an Eden Carson over in between matches at the Southern Region T20 finals day last year. A couple of the Sparks turned up just to see the kids and run a few drills and stuff. Owaka were in the third-fourth playoff, and between our game and the final, one of our players had jacked up a couple of the Sparks to have a wee go with the kids. But we ended up batting. Emma Black bowled Jeremy Gray out first ball, so I had a bat. This was two or three stubbies deep, probably. Eden came on and yeah, the eyes lit up. Outside playing, what sort of administration and coaching roles have you held? Parker plays a club rugby game for Owaka. I'm not the most organised person in the world. I was president of the Owaka Cricket Club for a couple of years just because nobody else wanted to do it. But I wasn't very good. We didn't get anything improved under my leadership. I'm on committees and things, but I don't see myself as a coach or a manager or anything. I'm more than happy to help out. You tell me what to do and I'll do it. Cam Burgess, who's coaching Owaka this year, his assistant coach who helped him last year wanted to play again this year. So he asked me if I wanted to help out at the forwards, so I was just like, yeah, I'm not a coach but I'll give you a hand. Would it be fair to say you found your calling writing about, talking about and promoting South Otago sport? When I left school, I went to uni for a brief time and my goal was to do something with journalism or that sort of film and media direction. It didn't last very long at uni but, yeah, I've managed to fall into it. I don't know if it's a calling but I really enjoy it. I guess I've been pretty lucky along the way. A lot of people have sort of managed to push me in the right direction. How many hours a week do you devote to writing yarns for the ODT and doing all your social media? I'd say maybe seven or eight. Back in the early days, it would be up around 15 hours. I didn't really have any idea what I was doing, but now I've got templates set up. Saturday nights and Sunday mornings are usually the busy time, but it runs quite smoothly now. Do you feel that sports like rugby and cricket are still a huge part of a community like South Otago? Absolutely. That's hit home this year with Clinton pulling out of our rugby competition. It's dead in the town over the winter. They've got a couple of junior teams, but in terms of the buzz that a premier rugby game has on a community, it's a massive hole. I do think it's a gathering. It's where the community can gather together and enjoy each other's company for 80 minutes. I think it's very important. How do you deal with people criticising the odd thing you write? That's probably the hardest thing. It's not so much the outside noise, it's the internal, and being part of a team like Owaka who haven't always been the best team on the field. Writing about them was difficult back in the start. I'd like to hope that I'm not that one-eyed, but it was hard to write how badly Owaka played when I was part of it. It's worse when you're playing cricket and you take some wickets or you score some runs. I don't want to write myself up, and it's always hard hearing people laugh and say you only write about yourself. But I've got pretty thick skin. The Bandits, the Royal Landfill — did you invent all these names or were they around before you arrived? There'd always been a couple associated with teams like the Clutha Steamers. But with cricket, I was asked to make up names for them. And then from there, the rugby ones sort of just came as well. The grounds ... I got a bit of stick when I named them. The Royal Landfill is a particular favourite of mine. The Cosmic Bullring. Swamp Hen Park. The only thing you love more than South Otago sport is Liverpool football. How long have you supported the greatest club in the world? It was the Champions League final in Istanbul in 2005 that really made me love Liverpool. I've always supported them, but in terms of actual loyalty, it was the 2005 final. I took the morning off school to watch it. Got in a hell of a lot of trouble with parents and teachers, because they knew exactly what I was doing. But you weren't born in Liverpool, and your parents aren't Liverpudlians? No, my father is a staunch Huddersfield Town fan. He played a lot of football in England at a pretty high level. We lived probably about half an hour away from Bradford, and Bradford City and Huddersfield have a good rivalry. Do you follow any other sports? Owaka fans cheer on Parker during his 200th game of rugby for the club. I'm a bit of a closet American sport fan. I'm a big baseball fan, and I was a massive Barry Bonds fan. I try and watch as much baseball as I can. I don't keep up with the players, who's playing here and there, but if there's a game on, I always watch it. I watch most sports. And if I put you on the spot and asked you to pick a winner in South Otago club rugby this season? Clutha. Although West Taieri have hit their straps in the weekend, so whoever stays the fittest out of those two teams will win. That will be the final, I'm picking. Owaka? Well, we got our first win in the weekend. We've got Clutha, West Taieri and Crescent in the next three weeks. We'll defend our bottom four title, I'm going to say that. What's your real job? I work for AsureQuality as a meat inspector. Up to our elbows in dead animals all day. I'm also the trainer here, and I've just recently had six trainees being passed off. You're a husband and a father? Yes, had our first aerobics competition in Invercargill yesterday. It was outstanding. To be fair, I couldn't do what I do without Maree, my wife, and Harriet, my daughter. They're amazing. Marie has shouldered a lot of responsibility over the years. Harriet turns 10 in July. She's a keen netballer. And she came away with a couple of golds from her first aerobics tournament, so she's stoked. Your little brother, Rowan, died in a quadbike accident on Boxing Day, 2012, at the age of 16. What was Rowan like? He was a nice fella. Yeah, just one of those boys that everyone likes. He was sporty. I coached his under-15 rugby team. He played lock. Probably my proudest moment on a footy field was when he scored in his first ever game of rugby. He only scored one try and it was a 50m intercept and he looked like a giraffe. He was quite a tall, lanky sort of fella. And he ran 50m. He had no idea what to do. We had to tell him to put the ball down pretty much. How did his death shape you and your life? Yeah, obviously it was a shock at the time when it happened. It's just made me realise that tomorrow's not a given. And I suppose it's a cliche because everyone says it, but you've got to live every day. You've got to not be scared to do things and say things because you might not ever get a chance to say them again. It's made me a lot closer with my parents. Not that we were ever separate, but it's definitely brought me closer, especially with my dad. We do a lot of stuff now. He watches every single cricket game, every single rugby game. If I'm going to watch, say, Clutha v West Taieri at Outram, he always comes too. He's always got advice for me, what he wants me to write in the paper or wants me to write on Facebook. So he's really immersed in my reporting side of it, because I suppose he just wants to be involved, which is cool. If Rowan was here, what do you imagine he'd be doing? Well I'd have forced him into playing rugby for Owaka. I'm sure we'd have played together. It's actually quite sad, because one of my best mates, Lyndon McNab, he lost his brother, Baden, as well. We reckon that we would both be playing and our brothers would be playing as well. There's actually a trophy at the Owaka club, the Rowan Parker-Baden McNab Memorial Trophy, which is given to the player's player at the end of each year. That's pretty cool that we can remember them like that. I don't know what Rowan wanted to do. Before he died, literally the week before he died, he was named head boy at Catlins Area School. He was into diving and all that sort of stuff, but it's hard to figure out what would have happened. But I'm sure I would have bullied him into playing rugby for the Swamp Hens.
Chicago Tribune
29-03-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Assistant teachers, library assistants at Francis W. Parker School unionize
A majority of assistant teachers and library assistants at Francis W. Parker School announced their intention to unionize this week. Eighty percent of the 30 assistant teachers and library assistants on staff filed paperwork expressing their intent to form a union with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, according to Lucy Wainger, an assistant teacher in a fifth grade classroom at Parker. The Lincoln Park-based school recognized the effort on Thursday. The school administration was notified with the hope that there would be a voluntary recognition of the union effort in order to proceed to collective bargaining, said Amy Excell, a spokesperson for the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Nicole Tetreault, an assistant teacher in senior kindergarten, said a smaller group began working on this effort about six months ago before going public this week. 'We're super excited that the school recognized our union willingly, and we're super excited to work with everybody and talk about ways that we can make this the best for our students and make sure that the conditions are great for the rest of the assistant teachers and library assistants,' Tetreault said. Daniel Frank, principal of Francis Parker, said in an email to the Tribune on Thursday, 'Francis W. Parker School has enjoyed a good working relationship with the Illinois Federation of Teachers Union for the past 45 years and we have agreed with the Union to take steps towards voluntarily recognizing the IFT for our assistant teachers. We look forward to our ongoing collegial relationship with this group of educators.' The faculty at Parker, about 110 teachers, has had longstanding union representation with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and Wainger said assistant teachers and library assistants at the school decided to organize to 'allow our voices to be heard as well.' Wainger added that those in the assistant union are 'looking forward to serving as a sister union to the faculty association.' 'They've been really wonderful and supportive of our efforts, so we see ourselves as very much existing alongside them,' Wainger said. As for the next steps, Tetreault said the hope is to soon have 'open, honest, collaborative and positive dialog with the school' about the needs of assistant teachers and library assistants and how those needs can be met. Some topics to be discussed at the bargaining table include better compensation and benefits and having 'clearer, more explicit guidelines around our specific job responsibilities,' Wainger said. 'It's really just all of the things that make it possible for us to fully show up each day for our kids,' Wainger said. 'We love these jobs, and we want to keep the, and we want them to be sustainable. We want to be able to be our best selves as we are coming to work every day.'
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Prep basketball roundup: It's a Westchester vs. Chatsworth rematch on Saturday
It's rematch time in high school basketball. On Thursday night in the Southern California regionals, Chatsworth and Westchester each won their Division II quarterfinal games, setting up a rematch of the City Section Open Division final and another meeting between Alijah Arenas and Tajh Ariza. "I've got something for Tajh," Arenas said after scoring 38 points in an 80-59 win over Francis Parker. The game will be played Saturday night at a site to be announced. Chatsworth lost to Westchester in the City final. Westchester got a scare before prevailing in overtime over Cleveland 71-63. Ty Ingram scored 20 points and Ariza had 17 points. Read more: Prep basketball roundup: It will be Harvard-Westlake vs. Roosevelt on Saturday night Arenas scored almost all of his baskets on layups. He also performed well on defense, holding Tavid Johnson, who was averaging 26.5 points per game entering Thursday, to seven points. Amon Andrews made nine threes and scored 31 points for Francis Parker. The City Section continues to perform well in the state playoffs. Granada Hills 55, Fairfax 44: The Highlanders advanced in Division IV. Julius Washington scored 16 points. Sun Valley Poly 75, Bernstein 51: The Parrots moved to the Division IV semifinals and will host Granada Hills on Saturday. Quian Khawaja scored 29 points and JD Wyatt had 27 points. Riverside Poly 68, St. Augustine 67: A winning shot by Chris Holland at the buzzer sent Poly into the Southern Section Division II semifinals. Holland scored 30 points. Redondo Union 91, Los Alamitos 63: Brayden Miner scored 20 points, Hudson Mayes had 19 points and Chris Sanders had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a Division I quarterfinal game. Sierra Canyon 78, Santa Barbara 45: Bryce Cofield had 18 points and Maximo Adams 17 points as the Trailblazers advanced to a Division I semifinal against JSerra. JSerra 79, Carlsbad 54: The Lions received 25 points from Brannon Martinsen and 20 points from BJ Davis-Ray in the Division I win. Mira Costa 44, Torrey Pines 39: The Mustangs advanced to the Division I semifinals and will have a rematch against Bay League champion Redondo Union. Palisades 76, El Cajon Christian 56: Elly Tierney and Alyssa Ramirez each scored 15 points to help the Dolphins advance to the Division III semifinals. Granada Hills 53, Santa Ynez 29: The Highlanders advanced in Division IV behind freshman Alana Yeck, who scored 15 points. Fairmont Prep 63, Harvard-Westlake 56: The Huskies rallied for the Division I victory in overtime. Deana Thompson scored 17 points for the Wolverines. Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
