Latest news with #KingoftheSouth
Otago Daily Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Students striving for solo success
This is part two of the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association series profiling Otago students who compete in individual sports. In this edition, we highlight a new group of talented individuals, each with their own journey and motivation behind their success. Trinity Catholic College Izabella Luna Christofoletti (15) Sport: Jiu jitsu. Highlight: Training and competitions, including the King of the South regional competition. My highlight was fighting people taller or bigger than me and actually being able to beat them in the first fight and the final round. I have won two golds and two silvers in my last competitions and have been competing against bigger and taller people than me with better physical and technical strengths. Training: Monday to Thursday, sometimes Fridays if competition classes. Sporting dream: To become a professional. Motivation: To strive to be better at the sport and become a great fighter in the future. Blue Mountain College Dylan Rawcliffe (14) Sport: Speedway. Highlight: Winning my first title recently at Riverside Speedway in Invercargill. Training: It's more doing prep work on your car, which I do all myself, checking tyre pressure and set-up etc. Motivation: I grew up watching my dad do speedway, so I wanted to do it as well. I really want to go to the NZ Titles in Ashburton next year, so I need to be able to qualify. Dream: Going to America to race sprint cars in the International class. Logan Park High School Levi Milner (14) Sports: Athletics and volleyball. Highlight: Winning the 200m final at Otago championships in 2025. Training: I train with the Hill City Athletics Club. During athletics season I train 2-3 nights a week with the club. We have club night once a week and I have long jump and high jump training two other nights. I also play other sports, football and volleyball, and training for them also keeps me fit for athletics. Dream: To play volleyball at a professional level or to race at a national level for athletics. Motivation: Every time I lose, it makes me want to race more and more to get better — it's a challenge. Columba College Elizabeth Dearden (16) Sport: Diving. Highlight: Getting to compete internationally in the 2025 Dubai International Aquatics Championships against competitors from five other countries, including the Russian Olympic team, where I was able to place fifth and sixth in my events (1m and 3m springboard). Another highlight was winning three medals at the New Zealand championships this year, coming first in the 1m event, first in the mixed synchronised diving event with my longtime diving partner Archie Vorgers, and third in the 3m event. Training: My squad trains with two-hour pool sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, where we work on strength training, perfecting and maintaining skills, as well as learning more difficult dives. On Thursdays and Saturdays we have group weight training in the gym to strengthen our dives, as well as personal gym sessions on other days to work on individual skills. Dreams: To continue training and competing to the best of my ability, and to hopefully compete in more international competitions such as the World University Games. I would like diving to allow me to travel around the world, and connect with others who share my passion. Motivation: I am most motivated by the friends I have made in my squad who encourage me to be better, and have supported me through all the ups and downs of diving. I am also highly motivated by my aspirations of further international competitions where I can compete to a high standard, potentially even at the world junior competitions or the World University Games. Finally, I want to be a role model to the younger divers that I coach, and encourage them to do their best and see where diving can take them. Cromwell College Levi Casey (12) Sport: Squash. Highlight: Winning Oceania junior championships. Training: Three to five days of training a week (solo sessions). Dream: Play professionally and play in the top 10 in the world. Motivation: Watching Paul Coll from New Zealand play at all the big PSA events, seeing how much he's achieved and wondering if I could do the same. Mount Aspiring College Eva Small (15) Sport: Freeride skiing and mountain biking. Highlight: Competing at the freeride junior world championships earlier this year. Training: Participating in team sports really helps me to keep fit. I go for runs quite a bit because it helps me with both sports. Dream: To compete in the Freeride World Tour one day, competing with friends and travelling the world at the same time. For mountain biking, it would be really cool to go to the junior downhill world cup. Motivation: I love the challenge of freeride skiing. Each run is an opportunity to improve my skills, whether it's dialing in my technique or gaining confidence in tricks. In Wānaka, the community for mountain biking and skiing is so good. There are always people to push you, and I can still enjoy the sports without being too serious. Queen's High School Eve Kelleher (15) Sports: Triathlon, cross-country, athletics, cycling, duathlon. Highlight so far: Second place at the New Zealand secondary schools triathlon, competing in Nelson at the South Island secondary schools athletics with personal bests in 3000m (first), 2km steeplechase (third) and 4x400m relay (first) and finishing third in 1500m, and finishing fourth in the three-day Tour of Southland event. Training: Swimming three mornings a week, two netball trainings and a game, two running speed sets, a morning bike, an easy run and either a long ride or a cycling race on a Sunday. Dream: To some day represent New Zealand for triathlon and hopefully go to a world championships event, or maybe even the Olympics. I would love to train overseas when I am older. Motivation: I love training hard and competing. I want to do well and be the best I possibly can be in all the sports that I compete in. I know this requires hard work and dedication, but training with like-minded friends makes it enjoyable. My parents also encourage me and are always willing to travel all over New Zealand to help me achieve my sporting goals. My main inspiration is my cousin Anika Thompson. She represents Ireland in athletics and has just recently become the European under-23 champion in the 10km and came third in the 5km. Otago Boys' High School Henry Hodgson (16) Sports: Orienteering and triathlon. Highlight: Fourth in the New Zealand orienteering sprint distance championships. Training: I swim five times, bike three times and run three times per week. Dream: Getting selected for the New Zealand team for the junior world orienteering championship. Motivation: With orienteering, I am keen to explore new territory, always wanting to make no mistakes. With triathlon, I have to get up early to swim, and am motivated to do this by my determination to do well in all of my races. Jonty Smith (17) Sport: Golf. Highlight: Senior A pennants for Balmacewen B52s, captain of OBHS golf team. Training: Personalised golf training plan seven days a week. Dream: To be selected for US college golf or play for Otago at the interprovincial championships. Motivation: My motivation comes from the people who support me like my family and people around the golf club, and wanting to achieve my goals. Noah Kitto (16) Sport: Saloons racing. Highlight: Winning Zealand speedway competitor of the year. Training: Practice runs at Waldronville. Dream: Winning a national title in the streetstocks competition. Motivation: Being the best I possibly can be, and improving my results in each competition.
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Maama Ghee: How I went from crime and prison to a new life and the boxing ring
She now trains at the gym four days a week for two hours a session - and is about to compete in a boxing charity match for a cause dear to her heart, under her boxing name Maama Ghee. She did it for her three kids - aged 15, 13 and 3. 'I'm so proud of myself' she said. The big event These days, Maama Ghee gets around 7.6 million views a month on her Facebook Page, and 2.6 million likes per month on her Tik Tok. She posts material about her workouts, and her life. 'I want to set an example for those who lack confidence and find it hard to step out of their comfort zones,' she said. Kimi Parata working out at the gym as she prepares for her corporate boxing match. Parata (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Paoa) has dropped 40kg and bulked up for a corporate fight night in Pakuranga on August 30 in an effort to raise suicide awareness. She will fight Memz at the Ben Lamond Centre, someone she has never boxed against before. 'All I know is Memz follows me on Facebook,' Parata said. Social media influencer CWK Nix is her cousin and will be in her corner on fight night, she said. Parata hopes to raise awareness of suicide. 'I lost an ex-partner to suicide, and also family members, so it's close to my heart. Kimi Putere Parata is preparing to fight Memz, who she has never boxed against before, in an August match. 'The last I heard from [my ex] was when she was released from prison in 2023 and she passed away that same year. I used emotions I felt and put it into fitness, and I know she is proud of me.' The organiser of her upcoming fight is one of Parata's 70,000 Facebook followers, Junior Pati AKA Pitbull - a former champion boxer who runs promotional companies Pitbull Showdown and King of the South. A tough start in life Parata told the Herald she's motivated by her dysfunctional upbringing, which included abuse, loss, boarding schools and state care. 'When I was nine, I was hanging with street kids in the hood stealing and drinking, smoking weed,' she said. 'I was taken off my mother at ten, my father died when I was 11. 'I was in and out of juvenile prisons, Kingslea and Rolleston in Christchurch and I went through sexual abuse and rape throughout my life as a child. Kimi Putere Parata. 'I was the youngest on the streets as a prostitute on Manchester St when I was 12ish.' Between 2015 and 2021 Parata served prison time for aggravated robbery, kidnapping and causing grievous bodily harm, she said. She told the Herald she hasn't offended since 2021. Parata sees herself as a role model 'My goal is to just step in the ring and fight for light, fight for right, fight for our people and of course growth and healing within my own journey. 'I hope what I share helps our people across the globe ... I'm not perfect but I am on an amazing path to being my best self and do believe I can help others stuck in darkness or [who] may need to hear what I may share.' 'I will continue my fitness journey and boxing' She also wants to become a personal trainer for those who struggle to get out of the house and into a gym. Kimi Parata is on the undercard of this boxing event on August 30. And her dream is to start her own brand of clothing. 'I'm starting back up with my own merchandise brand Mamagheeghee clothing and also my own fitness logo DMC which means dedication motivational change. Which I created after I gave up meth,' Parata said. Mamaghee The Motivator is taking on Memz in a charity boxing fundraiser. Parata is fighting Memz on the undercard at the Ben Lamond Centre in Pakuranga on August 30. Joseph Los'e is an award winning journalist and joined NZME in 2022 as Kaupapa Māori Editor. Los'e was a chief reporter, news director at the Sunday News newspaper covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and prior to joining NZME worked for urban Māori organisation Whānau Waipareira.
The Citizen
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Ambitious FC crowned champion of King of the South
Touch Here in partnership with King Kamanga Boxing hosted the inaugural 'King of the South' football tournament on April 26 at the Reitvlei Zoo Farm Astro Fields. With an entrance fee of R1 000 per team, the event saw eight spirited teams signing up to compete for the grand prize of R3 000. The tournament was filled with high energy, great sportsmanship, and competitive action throughout the day. Ambitious FC, captained by Rella Diamonds, emerged victorious and walked away with the R3 000 cash prize. Their performance showcased skill, teamwork, and determination. Organiser Paul Kamanga said a big thank you to all the teams who participated and made the day a memorable one. 'Indeed we are trying to keep the boys out of trouble and getting them into sport,' he said. The rest of the teams were Bereshith 1, Bereshith 2, KKB FC, Shabba FC, Toughees FC, MBK FC and Los UNCS. This tournament marked just the beginning of an exciting journey. King of the South will now be held every two months at various venues across the South. 'We look forward to welcoming even more teams in the future and continuing to build this vibrant football community. Keep a lookout for announcements about the next tournament, you don't want to miss it,' he noted. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
