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Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Passing on a passion for learning
Sport Otago has been hosting coaching development workshops to support the next crop of coaches across the region. Kayla Hodge catches up with community sports adviser William Hola to hear why he believes coaching can change lives. William Hola has never viewed sport as just sport. It is a vehicle that can change people's lives and teach them a raft of skills that can spill over into everyday activities. Coaching plays a big role in that and it was one of the first areas the community sports adviser was keen to hook in to when he joined Sport Otago earlier this year. Speaking to his colleagues, Hola recognised the need for more support in developing coaches and pitched bringing all the sporting codes together across the region. It has blossomed into a three-phase coaching workshop series, focusing on a holistic model to help their growth. They have proved successful with more than 100 coaches flocking to the workshops in Dunedin, Clutha, Cromwell, Wanaka, Queenstown, and Waitaki — and the demand led to Alexandra being added for phase two. And they have been popular from young to veteran coaches and various codes too, from figure skating, netball, hockey, squash, rugby, mountainbiking, athletics, rugby league and snow sports. "That was the beauty of that connection," Hola said. "You can imagine that all together was such a cool experience for others that deal with a different scope of athletes as well." Phase one was held in April, tailored for coaches as they headed into their seasons and focused on topics such as team culture and effective communication. Some of Otago's best coaches offered words of wisdom as key speakers across the workshops, including Highlanders assistant Kane Jury, New Zealand Netball secondary schools coach Jo Morrison, Basketball Otago general manager Jodi Brown, and former Tongan and Otago rugby player Uili Kolo'ofai. Online check-ins were held throughout the past month ahead of the second phase, which starts in Alexandra on June 16. The second phase will focus on the needs of coaches in the midst of their season including coping with pressure, decision-making, feedback and "all the things that come with what coaches ask themselves". More speakers will be involved, including Steve Richens, of Te Mahi Ako, and former All Blacks physiotherapist Pete Gallagher, and Hola hoped to connect with Special Olympics as well. Having high calibre speakers passing on their knowledge had been the key, Hola said. "It's been an awesome experience to hear them because they're coaches that have coached at grassroots, and community level, and now they're at their peak. "It's not just coaching, but life really. "That's why we've got guys like Uili, Pete — they deal with people as well. You have coaches, but also great people too that can connect." Coaching provided a different pathway in sport and Hola was proud to see the workshops — which people can still register for — playing a hand in that pathway. "It excites me because my passion and heart is to see all coaches develop. "What excites me is that I'm learning too. "It's just nice to see the coaches being developed because it's such a thankless job. "Everyone seems to be praising them when they're winning, but no-one seems to praise them when they're losing." Sport has always been a core part of Hola's life. Growing up in Auckland, Hola attended Kelston Boys' where he played rugby and volleyball, representing New Zealand secondary schools and New Zealand under-19s in the latter. He later moved to Wellington and then seven years ago, Hola and his wife, Amandah, and their children Josiah, 21, Praise, 20 — who is part of the Southern Blast — Joseph, 17, David, 13, Tim, 10, and Noah, 4, landed in Dunedin. Hola coached rugby in Auckland, and Wellington, and linked up with Zingari Richmond as head coach last year when they made the quarterfinals, but they "just haven't got the results this year at the moment". He also has been the assistant coach for the Highlanders schools forwards the past two seasons and relished the chance to connect with coaches from North Otago, and Southland, and learn from Highlanders coaches Jamie Joseph and Dave Dillon. Coaching has always played a big part in Hola's life— and there was always something new to learn. "I've always been passionate about using that platform of sports to transform lives and how I can influence someone to be a better person. "Seeing young men become good men — that's been my drive — but also seeing other coaches thrive as well." That has made seeing the success of the coaching workshops even more worth it. "Where I am at the moment I have a passion and desire to go further in my coaching . . . but I always look back at the journey of where I started coaching under-8s to where I am now to have an opportunity with Highlanders schools. "It's a vast difference, but in between that I've had connections and people that have helped me along the way. "That's the key. If I can help a different coach, whether that's sending them a template of different trainings plans, or developing, or giving them feedback, it fulfils me in terms of what I can do in that space."
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Showcase of Filipino food, sport and culture
Kira Azucena. Photo: Philippines Embassy Sports and glamour will feature in a series of events this weekend. Dunedin Filipino Sports will host the South Island Filipino Sports Tournament at venues across the city this weekend. About 500 athletes from Nelson to Invercargill will compete in basketball, volleyball, badminton and billiards. The event, which carries a theme of diversity, passion and unity, is being co-ordinated by Dunedin Filipino Sports president Arvin Lazaro and his wife, Charm Lazaro. Mrs Lazaro said the tournament usually rotates between host cities each year, but a Covid-19 hiatus has kept it out of Dunedin since 2016. After the sporting events wrap up on Sunday, a separate showcase will celebrate the beauty of young women. The Search for Binibining South Island will highlight Filipina beauty. ''Binibining'' means young woman or ''Miss'', and the contest will let participants display a range of outfits and compete in talent and cultural sections. Judges include the Filipino Ambassador to New Zealand, Kira Azucena. Members of Dunedin's Filipino community will perform and Sport Otago's William Hola will give an inspirational talk. The new contest aims to celebrate beauty and weave cultural elements into the programme. ''It is not always about masculinity,'' Mrs Lazaro said. Filipino food stalls will operate at the main venue and members of the public are welcome at all events. @ Events Volleyball and Basketball Edgar Centre 116 Portsmouth Dr Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm Under 23 Basketball Saturday 9am-5pm Caledonian Gymnasium 265 Andersons Bay Rd Billiards Bowey's Pool Lounge 81 Crawford St Saturday 6pm-9pm Badminton Otago Badminton Centre 101 Victoria Rd, St Kilda Saturday 9am-5pm Search for Binibining South Island More FM Arena 116 Portsmouth Dr Sunday 5pm-10pm
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
DCC lifts the lid on $15m plan for Edgar Centre roof
A new roof could be coming for Dunedin's leaky Edgar Centre complex at a cost of more than $15 million. Replacement of the roof was yesterday added to the Dunedin City Council's planned capital expenditure programme for the next nine years after sports bodies and users of the facility advocated for comprehensive action to be taken. They had warned of injury risks, reputational harm and the city continuing to miss out on hosting tournaments unless problems with leaks and condensation were fixed. Councillors have begun deliberations on the council's 2025-34 long-term plan, and they agreed yesterday they had to find the money for replacing the Edgar Centre roof. They included $360,000 in 2025-26 for detailed design, then $3m for the project in 2026-27 and $12m in 2027-28. The allocation is not quite final, but no councillor voted against it. The call was led by deputy mayor Cherry Lucas, who listed an array of sports that used the centre, as well as noting it was a venue for conferences, weddings, trade shows and Otago Polyfest. It was a mass-use facility but could be "treacherous" at times, she said. Fixing the centre was a priority spend for people who wanted rates rises kept in check, she said. Cr Lucas said there had also been significant public fundraising in the past, as well as financial support from the Edgar family. In 2023, the council decided to continue with a largely reactive approach to leaks. A report at the time said leaks and condensation created risks for facility users because the water could pool on the courts and cause players to slip. Condensation was particularly evident during winter. The complex was described as "dynamic", as the centre was on shifting and sinking ground beside Otago Harbour. The council faced strong calls this year to act. Edgar Centre manager Blair Crawford said in his long-term plan submission the estimated $15m cost was good value for money compared with building a new facility. The Edgar Centre submission was supported by numerous sporting organisations, including Sport Otago, Dunedin Netball, Basketball Otago, Volleyball Otago and Football South. Cr Steve Walker said sports facilities were vital for adults and particularly important for the health of children. Cr Lee Vandervis said the Edgar Centre was the "best-value facility we have". He did not support other parts of the council's proposed $1.9b, nine-year capital expenditure programme. Cr Jim O'Malley said fixing the problems there was part of building and maintaining a modern city. Cr Christine Garey noted the high level of councillor support and said she hoped to also see that when it came to discussing what should be done regarding venues for performing arts.
Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
High-class field vying for title of Otago's best
From snowboarding to surfing — the best of the best will be honoured at the Otago Sports Awards this year. The finalists for the awards, organised by Sport Otago, have been revealed, with the judges sifting through more than 90 nominations, showing the breadth of Otago's sporting talent. Up for sportsman of the year are kayaker Finn Butcher, freeskier Luca Harrington and Black Cap Glenn Phillips. Harrington, after starting the year as an X Games alternate, burst on to the scene to finish with a remarkable five world cup podiums, including X Games gold, a world championship and New Zealand's first FIS Freeski Crystal Globe. Phillips had another big season with the Black Caps, including playing at the Champions Trophy, and Butcher will long be remembered for his Olympic heroics as he won gold in the kayak cross in Paris. Sportswoman of the year will also be a tight contest between snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, swimmer Erika Fairweather and alpine skier Alice Robinson. Returning from injury, Sadowski-Synnott had a stellar year, with several world cup podium finishes, landing the world's first triple cork in a women's slopestyle competition and winning the FIS Snowboarding Crystal Globe. Fairweather, who recently moved to Auckland, swam in four finals at the Olympics, narrowly missing the podium in her specialist 400m freestyle, and Robinson continued her form with podium finishes and was named Snow Sports New Zealand athlete of the year. Skiing veteran Adam Hall and athletic stars Holly Robinson, and Anna Grimaldi are nominated for para athlete/team of the year. Hall produced several world cup podium finishes, while Robinson and Grimaldi collected world championship and Paralympic medals. Grimaldi won T47 long jump silver and 100m bronze at the world para athletics championships, and backed up with gold in the 200m at the Paralympics, with an Oceania record, and bronze in the 100m. Robinson set a national record when she won silver in the women's F46 shot put at the world championships and won bronze in the shot put at the Paralympics. Team of the year will be another hotly contested category between the Otago Sparks, the Southern Stampede and the Otago men's 4x100m relay team. Finley Melville Ives (freeskiing), James Gardner (cycling) and Rocco Jamieson (snowboarding) are up for junior sportsman, while Ruby Star Andrews (freeskiing), Catherine Lund (athletics) and Ella Southby (netball) will battle for junior sportswoman. The next crop of Otago's future stars will also be recognised, with Alexis Owen (surfing), Mason Clarke (cricket), Phoebe Laker (athletics), Josh Grieve (cycling) and Joel Paterson (ice hockey) nominated for emerging talent. Michael Jacobs (athletics), Sean Thompson (snowboarding) and Nils Coberger and Tim Cafe (skiing) have been nominated for coach of the year, and Raylene Bates (athletics), Chris Gaffaney (cricket) and James Doleman (rugby) are up for official of the year. Services to sport, innovation in sport and the supreme award will be announced at the awards. "It is so exciting to see Otago's best athletes, officials and coaches continuing to shine on the national and international stage, with an exceptional lineup across all of the categories for 2025," Sport Otago chief executive James Nation said. "The Otago sporting community should be super proud of the calibre of finalists chasing bragging rights." The awards are judged by Nation, Otago Academy of Sport manager Carmel Leslie, Otago Daily Times sports editor Hayden Meikle, TVNZ sports reporter Michelle Prendiville and University of Otago pro vice-chancellor health sciences Megan Gibbons. The awards will be held at the Edgar Centre on June 13. Otago Sports Awards finalists Sportsman: Glenn Phillips (cricket), Luca Harrington (freeski), Finn Butcher (canoeing). Sportswoman: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (snowboarding), Erika Fairweather (swimming), Alice Robinson (skiing). Team: Otago Sparks (cricket), Southern Stampede (ice hockey), Otago 4x100m relay (athletics). Para athlete/team of the year: Adam Hall (skiing), Holly Robinson (athletics), Anna Grimaldi (athletics). Junior sportsman: Finley Melville Ives (freeskiing), James Gardner (cycling), Rocco Jamieson (snowboarding). Junior sportswoman: Ruby Star Andrews (freesking) Catherine Lund (athletics), Ella Southby (netball). Coach: Michael Jacobs (athletics), Sean Thompson (snowboarding), Nils Coberger and Tim Cafe (skiing). Official: Raylene Bates (athletics), Chris Gaffaney (cricket), James Doleman (rugby). Emerging talent: Alexis Owen (surfing), Mason Clarke (cricket), Phoebe Laker (athletics), Josh Grieve (cycling), Joel Paterson (ice hockey).
