/news/sport/rss 九一星空无限 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 23:26:12 Z en /news/sport/lpga-tournament-of-champions-dame-lydia-ko-believes-she-s-a-stronger-player-ahead-of-grand-slam-bid/ /news/sport/lpga-tournament-of-champions-dame-lydia-ko-believes-she-s-a-stronger-player-ahead-of-grand-slam-bid/ Winning early in 2024 set Dame Lydia Ko up for the most historic year of her career. Winning early in 2025 would set her well on the way to achieving the lofty goal she has set herself. The 2025 season-opening LPGA Tournament of Champions sees Ko take to her Floridian home course at Lake Nona as defending champion – the newly minted dame hopes to repeat the hot start she had last year in her quest to complete the “grand slam” of LPGA major titles. “After having a tough year in ‘23, to win the first tournament back last year gave me a lot more confidence and good momentum [going] into a year that was very important for me, with the Olympics and the majors. “It helped a lot with confidence. It gave me the belief that I could be back in the winner’s circle and in the Hall of Fame – that was the year it happened to be. “It all started here, and this being my home club, I got a lot of home crowd support,” Ko said ahead of the first round in Florida. Ko has three of the five major titles in her cabinet already – her British Open victory at St Andrews last year followed the Evian Championship and Chevron Championship, leaving the the US Open and the Women’s PGA Championship still to be won. “I would love to do the career grand slam,” Ko reiterated after revealing her new goal while speaking to media before her Damehood was announced. “It’s hard winning one major championship, but to win five, and [they’d all be] different ones, it’s a very small group of players who have done it. If I could be [counted among] that small group, it would be pretty amazing. “It doesn’t matter what happened last year. I still know I’ve got a lot more things to do and achieve and get better at.” A new goal isn’t the only change for Ko in 2025 – she will no longer be the solo Kiwi on the LPGA tour, with Auckland’s Fiona Xu qualifying via the Epson Tour to join her Hall of Fame compatriot. “It’s been me, myself and I these last few years on tour, but I’m excited as there’s an LPGA player now [who] came up from the Epsom Tour called Fiona Xu. I’m excited that, first off, I have another fellow Kiwi playing on tour.” 20-year-old Fiona Xu. Photo / Getty Images Another change this season is the International Crown changing their rules to include players from outside the US, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Australia, Sweden and China, meaning Ko will be eligible to play in the team event for the first time under a world team. “I love team play,” Ko said, “Unfortunately, I haven’t really been able to be in that kind of a format very much... so when I heard the announcement there was going to be a world team I was super-excited, and I’d love to be part of it.” Early-season form was the driver for Ko’s historic 2024, but she says she now knows it is not the maker or breaker of a year in professional golf. “Last year I won here, and then I played well the next week... it was a good kick-start to 2024. As much as it’s small differences [between] winning and not winning, there’s a huge confidence matter that goes on. “Even if you play well and don’t win, I think, always, the doubt creeps into my mind. But I feel like now, after the year that I had last year, coming off from one of my worst years in ‘23, I have the belief that even if I don’t play well for a span of a few weeks, I don’t need to get too down on myself because I know what direction I’m going in. “I just believe I can overcome my lulls, so I feel like I’m a much stronger player in that sense, and hopefully I do get off to a good start, but I’m not going to let that reflect on how I’m going to approach the rest of the season.” Ko’s bid to defend her Tournament of Champions crown tees off overnight Thursday (NZT). Will Toogood is an online sports editor and golf reporter for the NZ Herald. He enjoys watching people chase a ball around on a grass surface so much, he decided to make a living out of it. Thu, 30 Jan 2025 02:36:34 Z /news/sport/dame-sophie-pascoe-announces-retirement/ /news/sport/dame-sophie-pascoe-announces-retirement/ New Zealand’s greatest Paralympian is hanging up her swimming cap and goggles.  In front of friends and family in Christchurch, Dame Sophie Pascoe announced today that she won’t return to the pool - ending an unparalleled career.  Entering her first Paralympics at Beijing in 2008 as a 15-year-old, Dame Sophie goes out having claimed 11 gold medals (19 medals in all) across four Paralympic Games.  Dame Sophie has also won multiple World Championships with a haul of 27 medals and five medals in three Commonwealth Games.  “Representing New Zealand in the pool has been the greatest honour of my life,” she said.  Sophie Pascoe celebrates her gold medal in the Women's 100m Freestyle S9 Swimming medal ceremony at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, during the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo / Photosport  “Every medal, national record, world record and milestone has been a reflection not just of my efforts, but of the collective dedication of my coaches, teammates, family, friends, supporters and the Swimming New Zealand family.”  Now 32, Dame Sophie reflected on an international career that began when she was just 11.  “As I step away from the pool, I carry with me countless memories of triumph and challenge, lessons learned, and friendships forged.”  “While my competitive career may have come to an end, I remain passionate about giving back to the sport that shaped me. I hope to continue inspiring future generations of swimmers and foster an inclusive environment where every athlete feels empowered to achieve their dreams.  Dame Sophie and her husband Rob Samson welcomed a baby boy to their family last year.  She has been named Disabled Sportsperson of the Year on six occasions at the Halberg Awards and was named Para Athlete of the Decade in 2020.  Pascoe was also the New Zealand flagbearer at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the Tokyo Paralympics.  Dame Sophie underwent a below the knee amputation on her left leg following a lawnmower accident aged two. She began swimming aged seven and soon after was identified by Paralympians Roly Crichton and Graham Condon who were impressed by her potential and asked her to join the QEII Swim Club.  Her determination and talent quickly became evident, and she debuted on the international stage aged just 11, before competing at her first World Championships when she was 13, winning bronze in the 200IM in Durban. Her first Paralympic Games was Beijing 2008 where she won three golds aged only 15.  Since then she has cemented her status as one of the world’s best swimmers, breaking more than a dozen world records and claiming numerous World Para Swimming Championship titles in addition to her Paralympic success. At Tokyo 2020 she completed a famous four-peat by claiming her fourth consecutive gold medal in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley.  Sophie Pascoe qualifies for the 100m freestyle in world record time during the 2015 New Zealand Open Swimming Championships. Photo / Supplied  ‘True sporting great’  Swimming New Zealand CEO Steve Johns paid tribute to Dame Sophie.  “We have been privileged to have worked with Dame Sophie for around two decades,” said Johns.  “She has been a leader in and out of the water and an inspiration to athletes, young women, anyone with a disability, and to New Zealanders all around the country.  “Her sustained excellence along with her drive and determination have been second to none and she is a true sporting great.”  Dame Sophie Pascoe’s accolades  Four-time Paralympian.  Eleven-time Paralympic champion.  Seven-time silver medallist at Paralympic Games.  One-time bronze medallist at Paralympic Games.  Five-time gold medallist at Commonwealth Games.  New Zealand’s most decorated Paralympian.  In 2022 Pascoe was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to swimming.  Wed, 29 Jan 2025 23:41:33 Z /news/sport/dame-lisa-carrington-hints-at-bid-for-2028-los-angeles-olympic-games/ /news/sport/dame-lisa-carrington-hints-at-bid-for-2028-los-angeles-olympic-games/ Dame Lisa Carrington’s time in the Olympic arena could yet continue.  After sweeping her three events in Paris last year, bringing her gold medal count to eight with wins in the K-1 500m, K-2 500m and K-4 500m, the nine-time Olympic medallist has hinted at mounting a campaign for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.  “And we’re back. Let’s go. #LA28,” Carrington captioned a post on social media this morning.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lisa Carrington (@liscarrington) It was widely assumed the 35-year-old would call time on her career following a successful event in Paris. However, Carrington indicated to the Herald in September she was not yet ready to put a full stop on her career.  In 2024, Carrington achieved a career-first with gold in the K-4 500m alongside Alicia Hoskin, Olivia Brett and Tara Vaughan. The gold was Carrington’s first Olympic medal in the discipline.  Carrington made her Olympic debut back in London in 2012, claiming gold in the K-1 200m. She followed that up with gold in the same event in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, as well as a bronze in the K-1 500m.  In Tokyo, she claimed three golds – winning the K-1 200m, K-1 500m and K-2 500m, paddling with Caitlin Regal in the latter.  While the K-1 200m was not contested in Paris, Carrington still came away with three golds: the K-1 500m, K-2 500m with Alicia Hoskin, and the K-4 500m.  While that could have been seen as a perfect sign-off, the success in the team event might have also added another reason to continue.  “At this stage, it is about figuring out what is the best for me, and I’m always going to have an obligation to the team,” Carrington told the Herald in September. “It’s so important to keep looking after what we have created. I still love it and still really care for the girls and want to see them succeed, so you don’t just stop that stuff.”  Wed, 29 Jan 2025 21:44:01 Z /news/sport/football-ferns-michael-mayne-aims-for-attacking-style-against-costa-rica/ /news/sport/football-ferns-michael-mayne-aims-for-attacking-style-against-costa-rica/ Michael Mayne has bold plans to implement a new style with the Football Ferns. The interim New Zealand senior women’s coach is not naive about the on- and off-field dissatisfaction within the group that has developed over the past 18 months under former coach Jitka Klimkova. But it’s dissatisfaction he hopes won’t bleed into the camp when they take the field against Costa Rica in two friendlies next month. “There’ll be a change in the system,” Mayne told the Herald. “It’ll be players probably playing the system a little bit differently than other teams would but I believe it’s designed perfectly for this group and this team going forward.“ It’s an attitude and mindset the team is in desperate need of. NZ Football anticipates recruitment for the full-time role to get under way in February, with Mayne telling the Herald in December it’s a position he’s vying for full-time. Under Klimkova, the Football Ferns failed to advance beyond the group stage at the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics (with Mayne as interim coach). Klimkova oversaw 39 games, in which they won 11, with seven draws and 21 defeats as they reached an all-time low on the Fifa rankings, dropping out of the top 30. Mayne hoped that under his leadership, the team would look more dangerous on the attack. Milly Clegg celebrates after scoring her first goal for the Football Ferns. Photo / Photosport Mayne has been the interim head coach since May last year after his former mentor Klimkova went under investigation for an off-field incident. He took the helm in Paris before Klimkova confirmed her exit in September. He acknowledged 2024 had a messy end after 11 players broke their silence to the Herald in October under the condition of anonymity about their experiences in the national team, dating back to late 2021. Mayne said since stepping in he has had a focus on improving the toxic culture. “It’s making sure that we’re a team that comes in and, and understand our role in high performance and that’s to turn up in a position where [players] are prepared to perform at the highest level. “Making sure that we understand what the Football Ferns want and that’s about the results but at the same time I’m probably looking at like the opportunity here at the start of a new cycle.” Mayne said in the early days as an assistant to Klimkova, they had “a really good professional working relationship”. “But like any challenging relationship, there are always processes that you like and there are other things that are a bit different. “I think my time with Jitka, there’s plenty around the way she operated in terms of the detail and what you look for that I’ve definitely taken and built into what I do. Former Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimkova (2023). Photo / Photosport “But for me, it’s probably just, I guess putting my slant on what I believe this team can do is how we go about our football in possession and that’s, that’s gonna be one of the [focuses]. “I think that’s what the players, the supporters, everybody wants to see is how we can control games, manage games and that’ll be the change hopefully you see in Costa Rica.” One thing he won’t enforce is a changing of the guard when it comes to the veteran players within the group. “We need the best players in the system“ “I don’t think my role initially is anything to do about changing the guard — It’s just we need to understand who the players are that come in and fight for each position and that is, in turn, the standard on the training pitch and hopefully the results. “We’ve got experienced players that I know are determined to continue to stay in good shape and perform and be called up when they get the opportunity and also we’ve got new players, young players, that have been in the system that are really eager to come back in” Mayne confirmed he has a group of about 40 he’s monitored over the summer and spoken to at length. “I do feel like there’s a lot of ambition in that group.” “Naturally, like in any sport, in this group, they’ll determine when they want to finish international football but for the time being it’s not my role it is for me just to create competition in this team and make sure that we’ve got the best players available.” The squad is set to be announced for next month’s tour later this week or early next. Bonnie Jansen is a multimedia journalist in the 九一星空无限 sports team. She’s a football commentator and co-host of the Football Fever podcast, and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a full-time journalist. Tue, 28 Jan 2025 01:35:52 Z /news/sport/nrl-warriors-new-recruit-tanah-boyd-embraces-challenge-without-shaun-johnson-comparison/ /news/sport/nrl-warriors-new-recruit-tanah-boyd-embraces-challenge-without-shaun-johnson-comparison/ Now settling into Auckland and a new life at the Warriors, halfback Tanah Boyd asserts he doesn’t need to be the new Shaun Johnson.  Boyd, 24, was the last of the Warriors’ off-season recruits, after penning a two-year deal to move from the Gold Coast Titans from 2025.  Since his NRL debut in 2019, Boyd has amassed 69 appearances in first-grade, and has moved clubs in the hope of being the Warriors’ first choice at No 7 after a logjam of contenders at his old club.  Boyd’s move across the ditch couldn’t have come at a better time. The Warriors head into the 2025 season with no certainty over their first-choice halfback in the wake of Shaun Johnson’s retirement.  And while Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita have both shone in patches as a halfback, to call them specialists would perhaps be too strong a label. Throw Luke Metcalf into the mix, and the Warriors have a four-way shootout as to who’ll be the halves pairing by the time the new NRL season opens in Las Vegas.  Whoever wins the race for No 7 will have huge pressure on their shoulders to deliver. They’ll be replacing one of the Warriors’ greatest players, and all-time leading point-scorer.  Boyd, though, outlines that being another Shaun Johnson is not what the Warriors need.  “I don’t think you can ever replace Shaun,” said Boyd. “He was a pretty special player.  “I’ll just focus on my strengths, and what I can bring to the team. That’s the same with all the halves, we all have different strengths.  “Whatever they want to go with, we’ll back them. We’re a pretty tight little spine, it’s been good.  “I’m enjoying it.”  If it’s any indication of which way Andrew Webster is leaning, the Warriors’ coach is full of praise for Boyd’s arrival.  In 2024, Boyd shone as the Titans upset the Warriors’ Anzac Day homecoming, playing at five-eighth in the Gold Coast’s 27-24 victory at Go Media Stadium.  That day, Boyd scored a try, kicked three conversions, and most significantly kicked a game-high 771 metres with the boot. In that same match, Johnson kicked only 644 metres.  While the Warriors have without question lost plenty with Johnson’s retirement, losing his boot is potentially the biggest disruptor to the system Webster wants to play.  For Webster himself, wanting Boyd at the Warriors extends beyond what he saw in that one match. He sees a player with potential needing the chance to take his game to a new level.  “I always thought he was that kid who was a star on the way up,” Webster explained. “He debuted at a really young age with big hopes on him.  “Halves don’t really learn their craft until they’re between the 75 to 100 [game] mark. He’ll get close to that in the next couple of years. He’s fitted in really well, I’m really happy with what he’s done so far.  “He can goal kick, he can organise really well, he’s tough, he’s fit as anything.  Tanah Boyd has signed a two-year deal with the Warriors. Photo / Photosport  “I remember here on Anzac Day, he made it a tough day for us, that’s for sure.”  Regardless of who wins the race to be the halves pairing initially, the Warriors do have a core of four, if not five, contenders for 2025 and beyond.  In Johnson’s injury absence in 2024, Martin stepped up at halfback, and registered 16 try assists in 16 games, having shifted from being Johnson’s partner at five-eighth.  Metcalf has traditionally been Webster’s go-to at No 6, but his time at the Warriors has been blighted by injuries, and played only 19 games in two years.  Meanwhile, Harris-Tavita has proven to be capable across the park, including the halves. However, that versatility can also count against him, seeing the 25-year-old asked to play in multiple different roles, instead of specialising in one.  Throw in Jett Cleary, son of former Warriors coach Ivan, expected to play in reserve grade for 2025 at least, and the halves are arguably the club’s most well-stocked position.  “That’s one of our highlights, that’s for sure [with] the depth we’ve got there,” said Webster. “I think we realised we need to create that depth every season as best as we can. It’s really important that they win you games, you’ve got to have them.  “They’re competing really well. I can see a difference that they’re really trying to help each other as well. They want each other to get better.  “It’s really good at the moment.”  But while he could be considered the front-runner to start at No 7, Boyd knows he still has work to do.  And if he is the man to run out at halfback against the Raiders in Las Vegas, he’ll do so as the first Tanah Boyd, not the next Shaun Johnson.  “I just want to focus on my strengths, whatever I can bring to the team,” Boyd explained.  “If they’ll like that, they’ll go with it. But for me, I’m just focusing on me and what I can bring to the team.  “I’m constantly trying to evolve my game and get better each day. I’m learning so much so far with Webby.  “It’s been a good change.”  Alex Powell is an Online Sports Editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016, and previously worked for both 九一星空无限hub and 1九一星空无限.  Mon, 27 Jan 2025 23:21:15 Z /news/sport/auckland-fc-all-whites-midfielder-joe-champness-reveals-why-he-left-black-knights-without-playing-a-minute/ /news/sport/auckland-fc-all-whites-midfielder-joe-champness-reveals-why-he-left-black-knights-without-playing-a-minute/ Former Auckland FC midfielder and New Zealand international Joe Champness has revealed why he parted ways with the club just eight games into the season.  The All White left the new A-League club last month with what was described as “mutual consent” eight games into their maiden campaign.  Champness told the Herald: “At this point in my career, I feel like I’m in my prime years of football. To take up the challenge overseas [is] what I should be doing.”  The 27-year-old signed on this month with Iranian top-flight club Havadar without having made a competitive appearance for the Black Knights. He said the move wasn’t money-driven – it was more so the appeal of playing football abroad.  “Before going to Auckland, there were a lot of overseas offers that I could have taken up,” he explained. “I wanted to make sure I went back and joined the club, but once I got back, I also soon realised that being overseas was where I needed to be.”  “Going to Auckland, it’s where I’m from. I love the city and I really love the club. It’s such a great thing for New Zealand football, so it was really awesome for me.  ”It’s the first thing I wanted to do as soon as I knew the club was announced because my priority is to represent my country, represent my city, so it was just an extension of that."  While playing in the Middle-East, Champness hopes to continue balancing his professional football and music.  The hip-hop singer – who performs under the name JOWIC – has been singing since he was young and throughout his time at eight professional football clubs.  In 2019, while contracted to the Newcastle Jets, Champness initially gave football away to concentrate on music, based in Los Angeles.  “When I’m off the pitch, I can also have another outlet – they go hand-in-hand,” he said.  “For me personally, everyone’s different. Some people only want to focus on one thing, but I’ve found with many passions, I can make it all work to benefit each other.”  Adding more strings to his bow, Champness has recently launched a new tech company, Arrafund, which he says is the world’s first social investment network.  The platform allows everyday creators to earn and invest through their everyday posts, but it also rewards buyers with same-day payouts and other benefits.  “It’s super-exciting, and just something that is really starting to build momentum and something I’m really proud of.  “Everyone and anyone can earn money on the platform, just by even driving one sale through their posts.”  Champness said the users number in their thousands, and the endeavour even has backing from top football players.  “The A-League’s Rafael Struik, who has 4.6 million followers, jumped on and shouted out the platform.  “We’re just seeing a lot of really cool organic growth.”  Champness told the Herald he doesn’t doubt he’ll be able to collectively give football, music and Arrafund the attention required for success.  “It’s just been a part of how I’ve always been like my whole life. I can focus on the field on football, and then when I’m off the field, I can take my mind to other endeavours.  Bonnie Jansen is a multimedia journalist in the 九一星空无限 sports team. She’s a football commentator and co-host of the Football Fever podcast, and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a fulltime journalist.  Mon, 27 Jan 2025 22:40:30 Z /news/sport/racing-barneswood-farm-sarah-green-s-fairytale-sale-soars-to-24m/ /news/sport/racing-barneswood-farm-sarah-green-s-fairytale-sale-soars-to-24m/ It was an emotional scene at Karaka yesterday after the regally-bred full-sister to glamour mare Orchestral was sold for $2.4 million.  Fresh off Orchestral’s sensational win in Saturday’s $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic, there was plenty of interest in her Savabeel full-sister (Lot 345), who was being offered through Haunui Farm’s draft at Karaka for breeders Barneswood Farm.  Expectations were high as eager spectators flocked into the Karaka auditorium to see the action unfold and they weren’t left disappointed, with the filly quickly surpassing the $1m mark and was soon north of $2m, with bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster and leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller coming out on top with a final bid of $2.4m.  Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green cut an emotional figure at the drop of the gavel, coming to terms with the weight of what had unfolded, and she was left reflecting on passed family members who were instrumental in developing her love for racing.  “We were expecting interest but never at that price. This is a fairy tale,” said Green, who operates Barneswood Farm with husband Chris and business partner Ger Beemsterboer.  “My first dad died when I was 6-months-old and he was a jockey. My stepfather was an owner-trainer and I just keep thinking how proud they would be.”  Family means everything to Green and that has extended to her horses, and she admitted parting with the horses she breeds is the toughest part about their operation.  “I love my racing, my racing partner from the Netherlands loves his breeding, but you have got to have both,” she said.  “We get a different enjoyment out of it, and I love the racing side of it. I don’t so much the breeding side of it because you have got to sell your babies, it’s like selling your children, but this [sale results] dampens the pain.”  Barneswood Farm have had plenty of success buying out of Karaka, with Group 1 winners Desert Lightning, Media Sensation, Planet Rock and Orchestral’s dam Symphonic just a number of their purchases, and that success has followed them into their role as vendors.  Orchestral was the farm’s previous highest-priced sale when sold to Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood for $625,000 at Karaka three years ago, and while hopeful of surpassing that figure, Green’s expectations were well and truly exceeded yesterday.  “We were told there were five big players up to our reserve and then maybe three that would go above it,” Green said. “We were hoping to get $1m, it would have been our first-ever sale that high, but to go that high [$2.4m] is unbelievable.  “I never wanted to sell this filly, but my husband talked me into it, so he is off the hook now.”  While racing remains Green’s main love, breeding is quickly becoming a close second, with Orchestral’s racetrack success proving there is just as much excitement in watching the success of their graduates.  “I always thought when you breed a horse and you sold it, you don’t get the same thrill from watching them, but you absolutely do.  “She is still like our baby, and I’m sure Betty, who I named [yearling] at birth, will still be as exciting.”  While it was a bittersweet moment to part with “Betty” at Karaka, Green said her dam Symphonic has a full-sister foal at foot that they will retain.  Mulcaster and Waller were just as pleased to secure the filly, who they bought for bus transport magnate Glenn Ritchie.  “I looked at all the best-bred fillies here and I thought she was the best-bred physical to match the beautiful pedigree, so that was what got us fired up,” Mulcaster said.  “Chris [Waller] looked at her quite a few times and we both agreed that she was probably the pick.  “We took our clients to see her [yesterday morning] and we were lucky enough they buttered up and stumped up the money.  “We’ve been beaten on a few good fillies over the past couple of years. When they’ve got a good page and the physical to match, they’re going to make their money.  “She’s a lovely Savabeel who has a bit of growing to do, but she’s got a big deep girth, so fingers crossed.” LoveRacing.NZ  Mon, 27 Jan 2025 22:35:33 Z /news/sport/auckland-stadium-decision-all-blacks-legends-back-move-from-eden-park-to-build-new-downtown-stadium/ /news/sport/auckland-stadium-decision-all-blacks-legends-back-move-from-eden-park-to-build-new-downtown-stadium/ Sir John Kirwan believes it is time to move on from Eden Park. It will surprise some people because the rugby legend enjoyed some of the greatest moments of his career at the historic venue. He was an Auckland mainstay during their halcyon days in the 1980s and early 90s when they were the biggest show in town. Kirwan was also a key member of the All Blacks who won the 1987 World Cup at the Sandringham stadium, with his iconic try in the opening game part of rugby folklore. But he doesn’t want to look back. Instead, he is backing a downtown option for Auckland’s future main stadium before a council decision expected to be made this year. “I’m an Aucklander born and bred,” Kirwan tells the Herald. “I love my city. I want us to be the greatest city in the world. But we need to think bigger. What’s the best thing for our city? “When I looked at it, I tried to take the emotion out of it. So I put Eden Park and a new stadium together. “I thought, ‘Don’t get political, John. Don’t start reminiscing, talking about what it was like in your day. Just think about what is best for the next 50 or 100 years'.” In July 2023, Auckland Council convened a special working group to investigate the city’s main stadium options. Four bids were assessed in detail, before Eden Park 2.1 and the Te Tōangaroa precinct development in Quay Park were progressed to the next stage in May. Eden Park's capacity would lift to 60,000 under the 2.1 vision. Image / Eden Park Trust The competing proposals were given about nine months to prepare self-funded feasibility studies – including costings and source of investments – which will be presented to council next month. A final decision is expected in the second half of this year. Kirwan, who is involved in a project to develop a surf park north of the city, has been an interested observer of the debate. He played in some grand arenas across the globe before coaching in Italy, Japan and New Zealand. He has seen what works in the right location with the right mix of content and is excited by the Quay Park proposal, which includes a 50,000-seat stadium scalable to 20,000 as the focal point of a precinct with up to four hotels, hospitality venues, apartments and commercial offices at the eastern end of downtown. “We need a stadium where all our professional teams can play in and a venue that people spill out and they’re in town,” says Kirwan. “That would help the inner city – we’ve got some challenges in our inner city. You could spill out 40,000 people, which would fill the bars and restaurants, right? “If it’s done properly and there’s a precinct, there’s things to do, there’s trains going all the time, but also you can walk 500m and you’d be around the waterfront; that appeals to me. “But it needs to be multi-use, not just about rugby or sport. We should be rolling the grass in, rolling it out – for concerts and other things. Just like they do in America, a real fan experience. “That’s my vision. Can Eden Park do that? Question mark. If they can, then that’s what they need to do. So they need to build a precinct, get rid of the No 2 ground, have bars and restaurants. We had a World Cup [in 2011] and we had freaking tents on the back lawn.” John Kirwan fends off the French attack in the 1987 Rugby World Cup final at Eden Park. Photo / John Stone Kirwan made his Auckland debut in 1983, famously picked from Marist’s third-grade team as an 18-year-old. He was a focal point for the next decade and included a record 61 Ranfurly Shield defences during 1985-93. Kirwan played 78 of his 141 provincial matches at Eden Park, along with 16 of his 63 tests. They were special times. “The hardest thing would be the tradition, moving away from Eden Park. A lot of memories, a lot of history, but it’s time to move on. “I don’t live much in the past, so those things don’t worry me. It’s not my time any more. I’ve had my time. It’s Rieko Ioane’s time. It’s other people’s time. I had beautiful memories. Some of them are scoring the try against Italy, others are sitting in the changing room having a beer.” Kirwan also wonders why Eden Park Trust can’t combine with those behind Quay Park to find a common solution. “Is there a way they could work together? I don’t know. But we could have the same arguments around Eden Park for years to come; the shape, it’s hard to get to, the locals, the noise. It’s got millions of debt.” Eden Park has a legacy of big events, from rugby and cricket World Cups to the Fifa Women’s World Cup in 2023. It has also been the home of a 30-year unbeaten streak for the All Blacks. “The history might be really important to some people. But for me, it’s not. You have to think about the future.” Kirwan cites his 9-month-old grandson, Carlo John (CJ). “What will be best for him? What kind of stadium? What kind of city?” Given his long links with Auckland Rugby Union, one of the venue’s trustees, Kirwan expects backlash for his stance, especially from traditionalists or those with a long association with Eden Park. “I’d just ask people, instead of criticising me, to answer the question: what is best for our city? If everyone decides it’s Eden Park, I’ll live with it. This is not personal for me. I just want people to work together on this rather than it becomes political. “I’d just ask all those people that want to stay at Eden Park to keep asking that question: what’s best for everybody? Can we have the things we need to make this place great? If the answer is yes, something that is going to be special for my grandson in 30 or 40 years, fantastic.” Fellow Auckland and All Blacks icon Sean Fitzpatrick has a similar view to Kirwan’s. Based in England for more than 20 years, he has watched developments from afar and understands why New Zealand Rugby has chosen to back the Quay Park proposal despite the long association with Eden Park. “They’ve decided they need to look at other options and downtown has been on the go for a number of years,” says Fitzpatrick. “They’ve obviously done their homework.” Since his retirement in the late 1990s, Fitzpatrick has noted trends in stadiums and precinct options. He has travelled the world watching the All Blacks, attended plenty of matches in England and Europe, and is also directly involved in sport in his roles as chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. “The way people are consuming live sport now, it needs to be appealing,” he says. “It needs to have options pre-match, post-match, it needs to be accessible in terms of transport, multiple choices – otherwise you’re not going to get people watching live sport. “The profitability of stadiums is a key issue too, and that’s the same the world over. If Eden Park is the best option, when it all comes out, so be it, but we need to make sure that any stadium is viable and the fans want to come back.” Kirwan and Fitzpatrick agree any future option has to be funded from mostly private investment rather than the public purse. “It’s got to stack up financially,” says Fitzpatrick. “That’s key.” Fitzpatrick has also enjoyed the atmosphere created at rectangular stadiums across England and Europe, with steep grandstands and fans metres from the action. “You want to be involved and feel part of it, close to the action. It’s the game-time experience that’s going to bring fans back. Whether Eden Park can make those changes, I don’t know.” Like Kirwan, Fitzpatrick is Eden Park royalty, with more than a century of matches there. He made 83 of his 155 Auckland appearances at the ground, along with 12 of 25 Blues games in 1996-97. The tally includes 17 of his 92 test matches. “Obviously, there is a lot of history there for me, but times have changed. There are so many rugby memories and no one can ever take those away and you obviously have an affinity to the place. “But if we’re doing what’s right, we would definitely look at all options. To pour more money into something that’s not viable – why would we do that? Otherwise we’ll be having the same discussion in 20 years. Solet’s make the right decision now.” Fitzpatrick emphasises he has “huge respect” for everyone involved with Eden Park, adding that some of his “good mates” are involved with the 2.1 proposal. That plan includes a retractable roof, lifting capacity to 60,000, a new North Stand, redeveloping two other grandstands and a pedestrian overbridge to Sandringham Rd. “I respect the reasons why they’re backing it. We have to find the best long-term option. It’s about evolving. Change is always difficult and there’s a lot of sentimental value in Eden Park. But, hopefully, this process will work out what is the best scenario.” Mon, 27 Jan 2025 01:40:01 Z /news/sport/tereza-nova-remains-in-induced-coma-after-fall-during-world-cup-downhill-training/ /news/sport/tereza-nova-remains-in-induced-coma-after-fall-during-world-cup-downhill-training/ Czech skier Tereza Nova remains in an induced coma after suffering a heavy fall during World Cup downhill training at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, during the weekend. The 26-year-old underwent an operation to reduce swelling on the brain on Sunday local time after a crash in training the previous day. The Czech ski federation said Nova would “remain in a medically induced coma for as long as the doctors deem it necessary”. Nova’s compatriot Ester Ledecka, the Olympic skiing super-G and snowboard parallel giant slalom champion in Pyeongchang in 2018, did not take the start of Sunday’s downhill event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, won by Italy’s Federica Brignone. “We are all thinking of Tereza and wish her a speedy recovery and lots of strength,” an association spokesman told the Czech newspaper Sport. The serious injury to Nova is part of a spate of falls that have rocked alpine skiing in recent weeks. Austrian Nina Ortlieb was diagnosed with a fractured leg, having screamed in pain after crashing out during the downhill on Sunday, with the race delayed by 30 minutes as she was treated beside the piste. Following surgery, Ortlieb wrote on social media that her “nightmare had become reality”. “I can’t find the right words at the moment, but I’m very grateful for the support and messages. Knowing that I’m not alone makes it easier.” While in the men’s events in Kitzbuehel, Austria, on Saturday, French pair Alexis Pinturault and Florian Loriot and Italy’s Dominik Paris had to be airlifted off the slopes after crashes. On December 27, defending Kitzbuehel downhill champion Cyprien Sarrazin of France had his season cut short after undergoing surgery to treat internal bleeding in his head following a harrowing accident in Bormio. Sun, 26 Jan 2025 22:52:34 Z /news/sport/wootton-bassett-colts-fetch-top-prices-at-karaka-yearling-sale/ /news/sport/wootton-bassett-colts-fetch-top-prices-at-karaka-yearling-sale/ Wootton Bassett was in vogue at Karaka on Sunday, with two of the top lots in the opening session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale sired by the Coolmore stallion. Just six lots in, a colt by the boom European sire, from Curraghmore’s draft, was knocked down to the $725,000 bid of Michael Freedman, Michael Wallace and Tom Magnier, the latter standing Wootton Bassett and owning his current Group 1Golden Slipper (1200m) favourite Wodeton. He is the first foal out of Nearco Stud mare Il Affare, a daughter of Dundeel who placed in the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m), alongside fourth placings in the Group 2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) and Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). While Il Affare was a capable stayer, her Group Three-winning half-sister Full Of Beauty earned more than HK$9.5 million ($2.1m) in Hong Kong in the 1000m-1200m range. Sydney-based Freedman was immediately taken by the colt, who will continue a long-term association with Magnier’s Coolmore. “I just loved him,” Freedman said. “He’s a lovely moving horse and the stallion couldn’t be going any better. “We’ve known the Coolmore boys for a long time and back in the day, we trained quite a few for them. Tom and I have been chatting for a little while about trying to do something together and obviously he is by their stallion. “He was a colt that he really liked, so it just worked out well.” A fan of the sire, Freedman had anticipated the price and expects that to be the standard with his progeny going forward. “The stallion couldn’t be going any better and I don’t think they’re going to get any cheaper,” he said. “I think there’s 17 of them in the Easter catalogue in a couple of months’ time, so it was about what we thought we’d have to pay. “We were fortunate enough to have a lot to do with Danehills back in the day and so many of his good ones just had that really relaxed demeanour, and that’s what I’ve seen of his [Wotton Bassett] stock that I’ve had so far.” Later in the day, Cranbourne horseman Mick Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent jnr, was also eager to source a colt by the Coolmore sire and was pleased to have the gavel knocked down to his $600,000 bid for lot 103, the Wootton Bassett half-brother to Group Three winner Francesca, who was offered through Windsor Park’s draft “I liked it when I looked up and saw A$540,000,” quipped Price, in reference to the exchange rate. “I think he [Wootton Bassett] is an amazing stallion. We watched the whole story on him – the guy (Bobby O’Ryan) buys him for $200,000 and as a 12-year-old Coolmore buy him for $50 million. It can only be one thing – because his stock goes well.” Price was also taken by his dam-side pedigree, with his Group Three winner Ayrton featuring further down the page, and he believes the colt has the potential for a future career at stud. “He is a beautiful colt, and Ayrton is in the family,” Price said. “He is a beautiful stud-type of colt if we can get the right form with him. “One of my owners, Greg McCarthy, who bred Ayrton, bred him. I haven’t spoken with him yet, but I believe he is keeping 10%, Tom Magnier is keeping 10%, so we have got 80% to go.” Price was also pleased to secure lot 58, a son of his former Group One winner Tarzino, for $180,000 out of Westbury Stud’s draft. “He [Tarzino] was one of my boys, I was very fond of him,” Price said. “I have spoken with Westbury [Stud, who stand Tarzino] about how to breed that horse, and I think if you breed Tarzino to the sharper mares you get a better horse. “Jungle Magnate [Group One winner] we bought off Gerry [Harvey, Westbury Stud principal] for $75,000 and he’s out of a mare that had a bit of a turn of foot. I think they are the right Tarzinos, so I was happy to have him. “I paid a little more for him than I would have liked, but he is a late foal, and he is staying here [New Zealand].” – LOVERACING.NZ九一星空无限 Desk Sun, 26 Jan 2025 22:49:32 Z /news/sport/australian-open-2025-jannik-sinner-too-good-for-alexander-zverev-in-australian-open-men-s-final/ /news/sport/australian-open-2025-jannik-sinner-too-good-for-alexander-zverev-in-australian-open-men-s-final/ A clinical Jannik Sinner “emptied the tank” to sweep past Alexander Zverev and retain his Australian Open men’s singles title, cementing his status as the world’s dominant player in men’s tennis. The 23-year-old Italian came through a tense final between the two highest-ranked players 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena late on Sunday night, raising his arms in the air and looking to the sky in celebration. In doing so he became the first Italian, man or woman, to win three Grand Slams, surpassing Nicola Pietrangeli. The emphatic victory also thrust him alongside Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to successfully defend their Melbourne Park titles this century. 15-love 🏆🏆@janniksin • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/SOO8b8gSW7— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2025 Sinner, who has a doping case hanging over his head, said he was fired up coming into the match despite his calm exterior. “In your mind there is only one match left. You want to empty your tank a little bit. That was what I was trying to do,” he said. “It is definitely a different feeling for sure,” he added of winning a second Melbourne crown. “I know how much work I put into this one and having this one twice it’s amazing.” The win proved more misery for Germany’s Zverev, who remains one of the world’s best players never to taste Grand Slam glory, falling short once again in his third big final. “It sucks standing here next to this thing [the trophy] and not being able to touch it, I’ll be honest,” said the 27-year-old. “But congratulations to Jannik. You more than deserve it. You’re the best player in the world by far. I was hoping that I could be more competitive today, but you’re just too good. It’s as simple as that.” Ice-cool Sinner proved to be a tower of mental strength again in Australia, with his defence coming against the backdrop of an ongoing doping case after he twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol last year. The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed against his exoneration and is seeking a ban of up to two years. He denies knowingly doping. A hearing is scheduled at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for April. He cast all the worries aside to notch a 19th career title and extend his incredible winning streak to 21 matches, sharing words of consolation with Zverev. “A tough day for you. You’re an amazing player. Keep believing in yourself because I think we, all the players and the coaches, whoever is involved in the sport, know how strong you are, not only as a player, but also as a person. “So keep it up. Keep working hard because we all believe that you can lift one of these very, very soon.” Last year Sinner needed five sets to tame Daniil Medvedev and win his first Grand Slam, but it never looked like going the distance this time. The US Open champion opened with a statement ace and won his first two service games to love, with Zverev struggling to get himself into the contest. The German began to find his radar, taking four points off one Sinner serve in a game that went to deuce twice as the rallies built. But the dam burst in the eighth game. Zverev saved three break points but had no answer to a fourth when he was beaten by a blazing passing shot to slump 5-3 behind. Sinner took the set in 46 minutes and kept the pressure on in the second. The Italian has a phenomenal ability to turn recovery shots into momentum-changing ones and he raced 15-40 clear on the Zverev serve at 1-1. Once more, the second seed dug deep to cling on. From then on they couldn’t be separated and it went to a tiebreak where Sinner got a lucky net cord that dribbled over to break for 5-4 and he streaked to a two-set lead. Zverev smashed his racquet in frustration at the changeover and it didn’t get any better in the third set, worn down by the relentless Italian. Sinner broke for 4-2 when Zverev sent a forehand long and there was no way back for the increasingly disillusioned German. Sun, 26 Jan 2025 22:18:20 Z /news/sport/kiwi-sprinter-tiaan-whelpton-eyes-olympics-after-breaking-30yo-record/ /news/sport/kiwi-sprinter-tiaan-whelpton-eyes-olympics-after-breaking-30yo-record/ Tiaan Whelpton had a feeling the 60m finalists at the ACT Championships in Canberra were set to post “some pretty crazy times”. The Kiwi sprinter’s hunch proved correct. Whelpton smashed a 30-year-old New Zealand record over the distance by crossing in 6.50s, achieving automatic qualification for the world indoor championships in China in March. The 24-year-old went well under the previous national mark of 6.59, set by Gus Nketia in 1995, and finished second to Australian runner Lachlan Kennedy (6.43) in Saturday night’s final. Whelpton earlier recorded a 6.52 in the heats but that time was discounted due to an illegal level of wind. He knew that if the conditions played their part, a fast track meant that time could be matched in the final. “Me and all the boys were just sitting there behind the line saying, ‘Please just give us a legal wind, because we know we’ll put on some crazy times’,” Whelpton told 九一星空无限talk ZB. “And man, oh man, did we. “When I heard [Kennedy] dropped a 6.43 and I wasn’t too far behind, I knew the times would be pretty quick. But in my mind, I was like, well, if you ran that quick, it must have been windy. “But to my surprise, the wind was only +1.6, so everything was totally legal. So I was over the moon. I was super stoked.” Whelpton’s main aim in the meet was to book a spot at the world indoors, targeting an automatic-qualifying time of 6.55. He knew he would have another chance to crack that mark this weekend in Sydney but headed to Canberra quietly confident the additional event would be unnecessary. “In the back of my head, I think I believed it, because I never even booked accommodation for Sydney,” he said. “So at least now I don’t have to cancel a hotel room. Now I can just fly home.” Whelpton, born and raised in South Africa before moving to Christchurch in 2019, credited his record-breaking run to new coach Angus Ross, whom he described as “one of the top sprint biomechanists and strength-and-conditioning coaches in the world”. Working in the gym alongside shot-putters Tom Walsh and Nick Palmer, Whelpton had been racking up weightlifting personal-bests and translating that power to the track. “We’re still figuring things out and the training I’m doing with this coach is very different to what I was doing in South Africa – what I was doing in South Africa ended up not working for me,” he said. “To gym with those boys is pretty inspiring because they’re freakishly strong and they’re always there helping me push the boat out a little bit. I gotta give them a shout out for helping me get here too.” With the boost received by this run, Whelpton has his sights firmly set on joining Walsh in the New Zealand athletics team at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. When setting a 100m personal best of 10.14 in 2023, Whelpton came through the 60m mark at around 6.59, whereas his 6.50 time would translate to a sub-10 run in the glamour event. “We’ve definitely been hyper-focused on this 60m,” he said. “Long-term, four-year plan, we’re thinking 2028 Olympics. And so this year was only really supposed to be a ‘let’s find our feet’ kind of year. Let’s try some stuff out. We weren’t expecting to shoot up this quickly, so it’s definitely a welcome surprise. “If I can just hold my speed for as long as I can, I should be coming through in some pretty crazy 100m times.” Sun, 26 Jan 2025 21:20:49 Z /news/sport/auckland-fc-v-western-sydney-wanderers-recap-last-minute-fires-black-knights-to-top-of-a-league/ /news/sport/auckland-fc-v-western-sydney-wanderers-recap-last-minute-fires-black-knights-to-top-of-a-league/ Another late show has put Auckland FC back to the top of the A-League men’s competition. Neyder Moreno scored in the 95th minute to earn a 1-0 away win over the Western Sydney Wanderers last night. It comes after Auckland FC earned a 2-2 midweek drawin the 100th minute against Adelaide Utd. The club’s ninth win of the season saw them move two points ahead of Adelaide, who have a game in hand. However, Auckland FC can extend their lead to five points with the earlier kickoff on Saturday when they host Macarthur at Mt Smart. Sun, 26 Jan 2025 19:35:27 Z /news/sport/black-ferns-sevens-denied-in-perth-world-series-final/ /news/sport/black-ferns-sevens-denied-in-perth-world-series-final/ The Black Ferns Sevens have been beaten 28-26 by hosts Australia in the final of the Perth World Series event. Michaela Brake scored twice for New Zealand including the opener, but Australia seized the game’s momentum and clung on in the death as the Black Ferns got back to within two. It’s Australia’s first title on home soil in 2018, but New Zealand remain top of the season standings by two points from their old foes. Australia were without Maddison Levi and Faith Nathan but teen sensation Heidi Dennis stepped up in the final scoring a double. “Just grit, all the way to the end. They really made us fight for that one,” Dennis said after the win. Argentina won the men’s crown, thrashing Australia 41-5 in the final. The All Blacks Sevens finished ninth and seventh overall. Sun, 26 Jan 2025 18:45:05 Z /news/sport/australian-open-2025-alexander-zverev-refuses-to-be-drawn-after-women-s-names-shouted-at-final-ceremony/ /news/sport/australian-open-2025-alexander-zverev-refuses-to-be-drawn-after-women-s-names-shouted-at-final-ceremony/ Alexander Zverev refused to be drawn after a spectator shouted the names of two women, one of whom had settled assault accusations against him, during the Australian Open trophy presentationon Sunday. The German world number two was well beaten in three sets by defending champion Jannik Sinner in the men’s singles final in Melbourne. A woman began shouting out as the 27-year-old Zverev stepped up to give his speech afterwards at Rod Laver Arena. There were a few boos and whistles. A German court in June dropped a case against the player over allegations he assaulted his ex-girlfriend, after a settlement was agreed hours before he was due to play in the semi-final of the French Open. Zverev, who has denied wrongdoing, was asked in a post-match news conference to comment about what he heard. He said: “I believe there are no more accusations. There haven’t been for, what, nine months now? He added: “I think I’ve done everything I can, and I’m not about to open that subject again.” Sun, 26 Jan 2025 17:59:52 Z /news/sport/nrl-warriors-new-recruit-erin-clark-out-to-right-early-career-wrongs-with-return-to-mt-smart/ /news/sport/nrl-warriors-new-recruit-erin-clark-out-to-right-early-career-wrongs-with-return-to-mt-smart/ By his own admission, Erin Clark was too ‘arrogant’ to truly make the grade in his first stint with the Warriors. But eight years on, the 27-year-old has returned home looking to do what’s best for his young family. As a Warriors junior, Clark made his first-grade debut in 2017 but left not long afterwards for pastures new when the opportunities that he perhaps feels he deserved didn’t arrive. After a two-year spell with the Canberra Raiders, in which he played no NRL games, Clark - like many New Zealanders - found a home on the Gold Coast. In five seasons with the Titans, Clark transformed himself into a first-grade quality middle forward, capable of covering both hooker and lock - even in a side that struggled to contend for the NRL’s top eight, and made his Kiwis debut at the end of 2024 as a result. However, when his mother - former Silver Fern Temepara Bailey - left her role as coach of the Gold Coast Titans’ netball side to take charge of the Northern Stars in the ANZ Premiership this year, Clark followed and was granted a release from the final year of his contract to return to the club where it all started. And now back in Warriors’ colours as Andrew Webster’s side prepare for their 2025 campaign, Clark is grateful for the chance that’s come his way. “I’m just happy to be home,” said Clark. “I’ve got a couple of kids, to bring them home is pretty special for me. They’ve grown up in Australia, it was a big reason to come home. “But the footy side, the club from when I was here before, the culture has changed heaps. Junior Warriors player Erin Clark in action during the Junior Warriors match against the Newcastle Nights played at Mt Smart Stadium in 2015. Photo / Dean Purcell. “Webby is building something great here. I’m happy to be part of it, and can’t wait to see what we do this year.” If his last appearance at Mt Smart was anything to go by, Warriors fans can look forward to what Clark will bring. When the Warriors’ 2024 Anzac Day fixture against the Titans was first confirmed, the club’s fans largely expected to end the run of poor results in the annual match, having traditionally played and lost to the Melbourne Storm on April 25. But in 42 minutes’ work, Clark ran 13 times for 138m metres, with 59 of them coming after contact, to go with 22 tackles as the Titans claimed a 27-24 upset win over the Warriors. In fact, across all of 2024, Clark made 532 tackles at a success rate of more than 97%, and averaged 99 running metres per game. Now, though, he looks forward to playing at Go Media Stadium as a Warrior. “That was crazy,” he said of his former side’s win. “To be, hopefully, on the other side and [have] them cheering for me will be pretty cool. “I was pretty emotional on that Anzac Day, because I’d never played here before. To run out in the Warriors jersey will be crazy. “All the things I’ve gone through have moulded me into who I am today. I have no regrets there. “To see my family in the stands, smiling, and to be in front of a packed Go Media would be crazy.” When he signed for the Warriors in September 2024, Clark was in all likelihood intended to be a like-for-like replacement for Manly Sea Eagles-bound Jazz Tevaga. However, cut forward to January 2025, and Clark could be asked to fill even bigger shoes. Earlier this month, the Warriors were rocked by the news that club captain Tohu Harris has been forced to retire from the sport altogether, as consistent injuries took their toll. Capable of covering lock as well as hooker, Clark will vye with the likes of incumbent Dylan Walker and youngster Leka Halasima to wear No 13 once the Warriors begin their season against the Canberra Raiders in Las Vegas. And since his arrival back in Auckland, Clark has been made sure to get the absolute most out of his time with Harris, while he still could. “I clicked with Tohu when I came, he’s definitely a good fella. I didn’t know much about him, obviously I knew he was a good player. “I picked his brain as much as I could. I didn’t know [retirement] was coming. I’m happy I learned as much as I could from Tohu. Erin Clark celebrates the Titans' victory over the Warriors on Anzac Day 2024. Photo / Photosport “You see how good he is on the paddock, the way he trains, the skillset he has. He’s definitely going to be missed.” Currently sitting on 96 NRL appearances, Clark will in all likelihood reach his century in the early weeks of the new season. And, eight years on from appearance number one, Clark now knows who and what he’s playing for. “I’ve got a better head on my shoulders,” he professed. “Back then, I was quite young and arrogant, I did a bit of growing up overseas. “I feel like I’m a better person. It moulded me into who I am today. I’ve got three kids now, you’ve got people looking up to you. “You’ve got to be a good role model for them.” Alex Powell is an Online Sports Editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016, and previously worked for both 九一星空无限hub and 1九一星空无限. Sun, 26 Jan 2025 01:48:53 Z /news/sport/white-ferns-odi-captain-sophie-devine-takes-immediate-break-from-cricket-to-prioritise-well-being/ /news/sport/white-ferns-odi-captain-sophie-devine-takes-immediate-break-from-cricket-to-prioritise-well-being/ White Ferns one-day international captain Sophie Devine will take an immediate break from cricket to prioritise her well-being. Devine, 35, will play no part in the upcoming Women’s Premier League in India, where she was expected to feature heavily for Royal Challengers Bangalore. She will also play no further part in the women’s Super Smash for the Wellington Blaze. Official communications from New Zealand Cricket advises that Devine will return home, with an announcement on her playing future to come in due course. Should Devine call time on her career, she would finish having played close to 300 internationals for New Zealand, with 152 ODIs and 143 T20 internationals. In 50-over cricket, Devine has scored 3990 runs at an average of just shy of 32, with eight centuries, and taken 107 wickets at an average of just under 36. In the shortest format, Devine has scored 3391 runs with one century, and taken 117 wickets at an average of exactly 19. Devine’s move comes with the full backing of NZ Cricket. “Player well-being is paramount to us - it takes precedence over everything else,” said NZ Cricket’s head of women’s high performance development Liz Green. “Sophie’s had excellent support from the New Zealand Cricket Players Association and from our own high performance unit staff, and everyone agrees this is the best option available. “The most important thing for NZC is that Sophie has a decent break, receives good support and care, and is fit and well before returning to professional cricket”. Devine also stepped away from cricket for a mental health break in 2021, and was out of the sport entirely for two months to concentrate on her well-being. That came as part of a wave of female athletes taking time away, including Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Devine’s White Ferns teammates Amelia Kerr and Lauren Down. The move comes after Devine stood down from the White Ferns’ Twenty20 captaincy after last year’s World Cup victory in the UAE. No official replacement has been named by NZ Cricket as of yet. Sat, 25 Jan 2025 20:53:23 Z /news/sport/novak-djokovic-forced-to-retire-from-australian-open-semifinal-against-alexander-zverev/ /news/sport/novak-djokovic-forced-to-retire-from-australian-open-semifinal-against-alexander-zverev/ Novak Djokovic retired injured after losing a gruelling first set of his Australian Open semifinal to Alexander Zverev, leaving his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam crown in tatters on Friday. The 37-year-old Serbian great’s upper left leg was again heavily taped after he hurt it in the quarter-finals and he called time after going down 7-6 (7/5). He left the court to a mixture of boos and applause from the crowd as Germany’s Zverev reached his first Melbourne final. It means Djokovic has now gone five Grand Slams without winning the title he needs to surpass Margaret Court’s 24 and become the all-time leader. He failed to collect one for the first time in seven years in 2024 with his last coming at the 2023 US Open, casting further doubt on whether he will ever get past Court. The defeat also deprived him of a 100th career title. Roger Federer (102) is the only player, man or woman, to reach the century mark. Zverev’s reward is a clash in Sunday’s showdown with either world No 1 Jannik Sinner or American 21st seed Ben Shelton. While the German has been a Grand Slam runner-up twice before, at last year’s French Open and the 2020 US Open, he has never before been to the final in Melbourne. Last year at the same semifinal stage he crashed to Daniil Medvedev in five sets after holding a 2-0 lead. But he came into the season with renewed vigour after ending 2024 as world number two, winning more matches than anyone bar Sinner and back to his best after a horrific ankle injury. Djokovic came into the clash with questions over his fitness after needing medical attention in his four-set quarter-final win against Carlos Alcaraz. He said before the match he was worried about his physical condition. But he has demonstrated remarkable powers of recovery more than once in his career and it didn’t appear to hinder him initially. He moved with his customary zip in an opening service game that featured a 27-shot rally and again in saving four break points as his serve mis-fired. It was then Zverev’s turn to save three break points and keep the match on serve at 2-2, with both players blowing hot and cold. Another break point went begging for the German at 4-4, with Djokovic barely getting 50 percent of his first serves in. It went to a tight tiebreak after which Djokovic retired. Fri, 24 Jan 2025 05:45:03 Z /news/sport/ymp-waka-ama-win-6-golds-2-silver-medals-at-national-championships/ /news/sport/ymp-waka-ama-win-6-golds-2-silver-medals-at-national-championships/ “New kids on the block” YMP gave notice to their more established opponents at the Waka Ama NZ sprint nationals: here they come. An eight-team YMP Waka Ama contingent returned to Tairāwhiti from the week-long championships at Lake Karapiro last week with eight medals. Their six-gold/two-silver haul put them fourth on the medal table – this from a club formed within the past decade and aimed mainly at youth. “We’re focused on building our kids,” club president David Jones said. He, club captain Nancy Tarawa and treasurer Courtney Onekawa started the club in 2015, in time to send “about five teams” to the sprint nationals in January 2016. Jones, Tarawa and Onekawa had all been trained in their youth by Mareikura Waka Ama Club founder and waka ama pioneer Matahi Brightwell, and had paddled with Kiwi Campbell before she moved to the fledgling Horouta Waka Hoe Club. “While we were with Mareikura there was always a dream – set up a club and bring it home to Manutuke,” Jones said. “We had a conversation with Kiwi about the club – she was a YMP netballer – and she had a conversation with her Horouta clubmates,” Jones said. “We started with two waka we borrowed from Horouta for a year or two. “We didn’t really have heaps of numbers because we wanted to focus on building some quality and instilling values into our kids. “For us, values are important – knowing who you are, and understanding that through hard work, determination and a whole lot of training you will get results. “Those values sit within Te Ao Māori [the Māori world view] ... having a true sense of self and the value of community. I think working for and supporting your community is important. We say that because our coaches come from the community. “Some people have come home specifically to support the community and to give back. “We have won medals throughout the life of the club but this year we’ve done really well. It’s a testament to all the hard work that’s happened over the years. It hasn’t just been one summer. YMP J16 men’s crew Rukupo celebrate victory in the W6 1000m (with turns). They are (from the front, back of the waka obscured): Makauri Hape, Te Mania Tapatahi, Koha Rangihuna, Reia Paenga-Morgan, Te Maumahara Hape and Te Oranga Hape. Photo / Waka Ama NZ Some of the teams would have a significant proportion of their crews returning next year, which would help maintain momentum. “Last year our midgets got a silver medal,” Jones said. “This year they won two gold medals ... over half of that team will be in the midget division for at least another season. So, too, with our intermediate boys’ and girls’ teams. “Our intermediate girls’ team didn’t get any medals but this is their first year in that division. “The Junior 16 men’s team won the 1000-metre turns race. They missed out on the medals at the world sprint champs in Hawaii last year but have made their mark this year. “All our clubs in Gisborne know it takes a lot of work, sacrifice and commitment – a lot of time on the water – to be successful.” The state of city rivers following sewage discharges related to heavy rain and sewer blockages posed challenges to YMP’s training for the sprint nationals, Jones said. “Before Christmas we had to pack up and take the kids to Ōpōtiki for three days to train there, and the week before the champs we had to put waka on trailers and drive to Tolaga Bay,” he said. “We’re thankful to the people in Ōpōtiki and Tolaga Bay, who allowed us to go and train on their rivers.” Jones, 38, has a background in law, was a reporter, presenter and election-night anchor for Māori Television, has worked for and with iwi both as a chief executive and consultant, and now does consultancy work for companies and government and non-government agencies, splitting his time between London and Gisborne. He went to Manutuke School and Gisborne Boys’ High School and is happy to be helping with the realisation of the YMP Waka Ama dream. Jones wanted to thank YMP’s team of coaches: Kiana Ria, Reon Hawkins, Petra and Ropoama Hape and head coach Nancy Tarawa. “Without them we would be stumped!” The podium party for the J16 men’s W6 1000m (with turns) victory by YMP crew Rukupo are, back (from left): Hauraki-Waikato MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, Koha Rangihuna, Reia Paenga-Morgan, Te Mania Tapatahi, Makauri Hape and Te Maumahara Hape. Front: Te Oranga Hape. Photo / Waka Ama NZ An affiliation of like-minded individuals Since 1923, when its community officially adopted the rugby club, Manutuke has been the home territory of YMP. Hockey, netball, basketball and, now, waka ama clubs have followed rugby’s lead. The Young Māori Party (YMP) was not an organised political party but an affiliation of like-minded individuals – most notably James Carroll (Ngāti Kahungunu), Apirana Ngata (Ngāti Porou), Māui Pomare (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Toa) and Te Rangi Hīroa, also known as Peter Buck (Ngāti Mutunga) – who promoted Māori social advancement. They encouraged the revival of Māori culture and the formation of sports and cultural groups, and promoted the benefits of good health, housing and education. All four were knighted for their public service. The full name of YMP is sometimes given as Young Māori Players. Fri, 24 Jan 2025 03:40:45 Z /news/sport/ufc-313-dan-hooker-and-justin-gaethje-booked-for-co-main-event-in-las-vegas/ /news/sport/ufc-313-dan-hooker-and-justin-gaethje-booked-for-co-main-event-in-las-vegas/ Dan Hooker has some questions to answer. At UFC 313 in Las Vegas in March, the Kiwi lightweight will meet American Justin Gaethje in a five-round co-main event – Hooker finally getting “the battle of the highlight reel” he called for after his win over Paul Felder at UFC Auckland five years ago. It’s as fan-friendly a match-up as the UFC could possibly make and one in which Hooker believes he will be able to make a statement in. “That’s the question that people ask - ‘yeah, he’s an exciting fighter, everyone loves to watch his fights, but does he have that championship calibre skill level?’ “I feel like going out there and not only beating Justin Gaethje, but being able to outclass him and out-technique him will answer a lot of those questions.” It’s a bout that likely comes with title implications - Gaethje ranked at No 3 in the division and Hooker at No 6 - be that for the lightweight belt, or a shot at the BMF (baddest mr) title; a belt introduced by the UFC to be contested by athletes who bring the same style as Hooker and Gaethje do to the octagon. That style? “It’s just two guys who are prepared to go a bit further than everyone else,” Hooker says. “For one guy to just completely outclass the other guy would be difficult. I think it’ll be a back-and-forth fight, at some stage someone’s just going to have to bite down on their mouthpiece and try to take that lead back.” While Hooker had a good idea Gaethje would be his next opponent, he was unaware that the two would be booked for the date in March. The 34-year-old found out with the rest of the world on Sunday, when the UFC announced the booking during the broadcast of UFC 311 in Los Angeles after Gaethje revealed on his YouTube channel last week that he had told the UFC he wanted to be on UFC 313. “March kind of came out of the blue. I was expecting April. From what I heard, it was April and I asked the UFC like, a week before that and they said, ‘oh, we’ll let you know.’ “So, to hear Gaethje announce it on his thing a couple of weeks before I even knew about it was a bit funny. But I kind of take it as a compliment that they knew I’d take that fight so they didn’t even ask. Justin Gaethje (left) and Dan Hooker (centre) will fight at UFC 313 in March. Photo / Getty Images “There’s enough money there that they know I’m going to sign the contract. Five-round co-main event, seven weeks, it’s a big opportunity [against] the No 3 in the division. “The UFC alluded to it - obviously there are no promises in the game - but it’s some kind of title eliminator. You get your hand raised against Justin Gaethje, you’re either fighting for the undisputed title or that BMF title. We’re lucky that we’ve got two titles in our weight class.” The bout will come weeks after Hooker and wife Isabella welcome another child to their family – a situation familiar to the now top-10 ranked lightweight as their daughter Zoe was born a few weeks before his bout against Edson Barboza in 2018. In an interview with Submission Radio, Hooker spoke about the lessons he learned from that outing, saying that he didn’t think about the fight because his new daughter was the most important thing in his life and took all his focus. Speaking to the Herald, Hooker clarified those comments. “Yeah, nah, the missus did get pissed off about that. My daughter was born three-and-a-half weeks before I fought Edson Barboza and I got absolutely mangled, and I said this time would be different. My missus got pissed off with me because she was like ‘you’re kind of making it seem like your focus is more on the fight than the baby.’ “I just want to clarify that. I just have that experience of running through it. Obviously, that’s the most important thing going on in my life, but I will just be pulling overtime and still doing all that study and the technical side of things. “With the Edson Barboza fight, my mind was focused on having a baby so I was ticking all the physical boxes, but the film study, absorbing the little movements and calculations my coaches wanted me to do...that mental side of it was left to the wayside. “That’s what I mean this time; I’m mentally going to be locked in as well.” Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits. Fri, 24 Jan 2025 02:01:19 Z /news/sport/chris-wood-extends-nottingham-forest-stay-with-new-contract/ /news/sport/chris-wood-extends-nottingham-forest-stay-with-new-contract/ Chris Wood has signed a new contract with Nottingham Forest, keeping him at the club until the English summer of 2027. The 33-year-old says he is “very excited” for the years ahead. “I saw the ambition when I first arrived. When I spoke to the owner [Evangelos Marinakis] and his family and saw where they want to be and where they see this club to be – it was clear they have high ambitions and big dreams. He has backed the club for years, even before promotion to the Premier League, which is fantastic, and the team is pushing in the right direction. “I’m excited for the future. This club has a lot of potential to continue to grow and build, and that is what I want to be a part of. I can’t thank the fans enough, they always come in voice and they’re always behind the team and myself, it’s a pleasure playing in front of them. Here’s to a few more years together.” Having scored 14 league goals in the 2023/24 campaign, the New Zealand captain’s record tally was pivotal in helping the side secure status in the division. He has already matched that this season with 16 league games left. Wood’s journey with Forest began in January 2023, when he joined the club on an initial loan deal. His form reached new heights after the arrival of manager Nuno Espírito Santo in December 2023, with 25 of his 29 league goals for Forest coming under the Portuguese coach – the most league goals for a Forest player under one manager. In the current campaign, Wood has started all but one league game and has twice scored in four consecutive games. He was the Premier League Player of the Month in October, the first Forest player to win the award. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis said Wood had “performed exceptionally well” for the club. “More than just his goals, he epitomises everything that it means to wear the Garibaldi Red – hard work, a fighting and winning spirit, and the attitude to never give up. He is a winner and a role model to inspire all of us, and we reward his dedication with ours.” Fri, 24 Jan 2025 01:57:33 Z /news/sport/australian-open-madison-keys-upsets-swiatek-to-meet-sabalenka-in-final/ /news/sport/australian-open-madison-keys-upsets-swiatek-to-meet-sabalenka-in-final/ Madison Keys fought back from a set down on Thursday to shock Iga Swiatek in a nail-biter and set up an Australian Open final against two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. The 19th seed battled through a thrilling semifinal on a final-set tiebreak against the world No 2 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10/8) after Sabalenka swept aside Paula Badosa in straight sets. Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek had not dropped her serve since the first round but was broken eight times by Keys, who saved a match point on her way to edging a titanic battle. It will be the American’s first final in Melbourne, only her second in Slams, and she broke down in tears after finally getting over the line in 2hr 35min. It was the first time an Australian Open semifinal had been decided by a third-set 10-point tiebreak. “That match was just such a high level and she played so well,” Keys, 29, said. “I felt like I was just fighting to stay in it and then obviously really kind of ran with the second and then the third was just a battle. “To be able to be standing here and be in the finals is absolutely amazing and I’m so excited that I get to be here on Saturday.” Keys, the US Open runner-up in 2017, confessed she couldn’t recall much detail about the final set where she saved a match point. “In the third set, it was just so up and down. I feel like I blacked out at some point,” Keys smiled. “Just to be able to stay in it and just keep fighting and then a 10-point tiebreaker for a dramatic finish.” Earlier, Sabalenka put her close friendship with Badosa aside to stay on track for a 26-year first. The Belarusian world No 1 romped home 6-4, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena against the 11th seed. Keys predicted a slugfest between two of the hardest ball-strikers in the women’s game in Saturday’s showpiece. “Definitely some big hitting. I think that is going to happen,” Keys said. “Not a lot of long points but she is obviously going for her third Aussie Open and I’m excited to get to play here.” Keys and Sabalenka have met five times previously, with the powerful Belarusian winning four of them. Most recently they faced off in Beijing in October in the last 16 with Sabalenka winning 6-4, 6-3. ‘I hope she’s still my friend’ Sabalenka is closing on a third consecutive Melbourne crown – something that hasn’t happened this century. The last person to achieve the feat was Martina Hingis in 1999 and only four other women have completed the three-peat – Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles. Court was in the stadium watching. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m so proud of myself. I’m proud of my team that we’re able to put ourselves in such a situation,” Sabalenka, also the reigning US Open champion, said. “It’s a privilege. If I’m able to put my name into history, it will mean a lot. It will mean the world to me.” Sabalenka last year described Spain’s Badosa as her “soulmate” and said she was “super happy” that they got to play each other on such a big stage. “I hope she’s still my friend. I’m sure she’ll hate me for the next hour, day or two, but I’m okay with that, I can handle that,” she said after her semifinal rout. Despite losing, Badosa’s run to the last four capped a remarkable comeback for the Spaniard after a brutal back injury had her considering quitting tennis a year ago. Her Melbourne exploits will return her to the top 10 for the first time since October 2022. Keys will also return to the top 10. Badosa said Sabalenka was in unstoppable form. “Sometimes you’re like, I don’t know, I’m just walking around the court because I feel like she’s playing a PlayStation.” Fri, 24 Jan 2025 01:55:07 Z /news/sport/america-s-cup-sir-ben-ainslie-warns-of-legal-and-practical-obstacles-after-ineos-announce-split-1/ /news/sport/america-s-cup-sir-ben-ainslie-warns-of-legal-and-practical-obstacles-after-ineos-announce-split-1/ Sir Ben Ainslie has confirmed his intention to continue on with a challenge in the 38th America’s Cup, but says he was ‘astounded’ by the announcement that Ineos would not be backing it. Earlier this week, the Telegraph reported a rift had formed between Ainslie and Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and Ineos confirmed in a statement it would not be backing Ainslie but would instead be entering its own challenge. The new challenge would see Ratcliffe’s team maintain their relationship with the Mercedes Formula One team. In response to the statement, Ainslie’s team released one of their own, confirming they would proceed under the moniker of Athena Racing. “The British Challenger for the 38th America’s Cup, led by Sir Ben Ainslie, was astounded to read today’s statement from INEOS and Mercedes F1 regarding their planned challenge for the 38th America’s Cup. “This plan raises significant legal and practical obstacles for them that will play out in the coming days and weeks. “Furthermore, Sir Ben Ainslie’s British America’s Cup team will be known as Athena Racing going forwards, aligning with the British Women’s and Youth America’s Cup team, the Athena Pathway.” Ratcliffe has funded the last two British challenges for the Auld Mug, seeing Ainslie’s crew become the first British challenger in 60 years to qualify for the America’s Cup match and the first in 90 years to win a race in that match. Cup defender Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) ultimately retained the Auld Mug, beating the Brits 7-2. Prior to last year’s Cup match in Barcelona, Ainslie confirmed Ratcliffe was yet to sign on for another campaign. However, that appeared to have been ironed out, as in November Ainslie told the Performance People podcast that Ratcliffe was keen to sign on for another challenge but would not fully fund the campaign and more backers would be sought. “Jim and Ineos have been incredible backers for the last two campaigns, and have effectively underwritten both campaigns. They’re keen to keep going,” Ainslie said in November. “I think they really enjoyed the experience in Barcelona and they’re, like the rest of us, really disappointed to get that far and not get the job done, but can see the gains the team has made and with the collaboration with Mercedes being so strong, they’re up for the fight. “But we need to bring in more partners – particularly commercial partners – to help unload the burden on Jim and Ineos.” The split raises plenty of questions about the British challenge - or challenges - going forward. However, the Herald understands Athena Racing led by Ainslie remains the representative of the Challenger of Record Royal Yacht Squadron. When it was confirmed that the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron had accepted the RYS challenge, Ineos Britannia was said to be the representative for the British, with ETNZ representing the RNZYS as the defender. It is expected Ratcliffe’s new challenge, which will be led by Dave Endean as chief executive, will proceed under the Ineos Britannia name. Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits. Fri, 24 Jan 2025 01:51:27 Z /news/sport/america-s-cup-sir-ben-ainslie-warns-of-legal-and-practical-obstacles-after-ineos-announce-split/ /news/sport/america-s-cup-sir-ben-ainslie-warns-of-legal-and-practical-obstacles-after-ineos-announce-split/ Sir Ben Ainslie has confirmed his intention to continue on with a challenge in the 38th America’s Cup, but says he was ‘astounded’ by the announcement that Ineos would not be backing it.  Earlier this week, the Telegraph reported a rift had formed between Ainslie and Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and Ineos confirmed in a statement it would not be backing Ainslie but would instead be entering its own challenge.  The new challenge would see Ratcliffe’s team maintain their relationship with the Mercedes Formula One team.  In response to the statement, Ainslie’s team released one of their own, confirming they would proceed under the moniker of Athena Racing.  “The British Challenger for the 38th America’s Cup, led by Sir Ben Ainslie, was astounded to read today’s statement from INEOS and Mercedes F1 regarding their planned challenge for the 38th America’s Cup.  “This plan raises significant legal and practical obstacles for them that will play out in the coming days and weeks.  “Furthermore, Sir Ben Ainslie’s British America’s Cup team will be known as Athena Racing going forwards, aligning with the British Women’s and Youth America’s Cup team, the Athena Pathway.”  Ratcliffe has funded the last two British challenges for the Auld Mug, seeing Ainslie’s crew become the first British challenger in 60 years to qualify for the America’s Cup match and the first in 90 years to win a race in that match.  Cup defender Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) ultimately retained the Auld Mug, beating the Brits 7-2.  Sir Jim Ratcliffe funded the last two British challenges for the America's Cup, led by Sir Ben Ainslie. Photo / Ian Romn, America's Cup  Prior to last year’s Cup match in Barcelona, Ainslie confirmed Ratcliffe was yet to sign on for another campaign.  However, that appeared to have been ironed out, as in November Ainslie told the Performance People podcast that Ratcliffe was keen to sign on for another challenge but would not fully fund the campaign and more backers would be sought.  “Jim and Ineos have been incredible backers for the last two campaigns, and have effectively underwritten both campaigns. They’re keen to keep going,” Ainslie said in November.  “I think they really enjoyed the experience in Barcelona and they’re, like the rest of us, really disappointed to get that far and not get the job done, but can see the gains the team has made and with the collaboration with Mercedes being so strong, they’re up for the fight.  “But we need to bring in more partners – particularly commercial partners – to help unload the burden on Jim and Ineos.”  The split raises plenty of questions about the British challenge - or challenges - going forward, particularly with the Royal Yacht Squadron once again the Challenger of Record.  When it was confirmed that the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron had accepted the RYS challenge, Ineos Britannia was said to be the representative for the British, with ETNZ representing the RNZYS as the defender.  It is expected Ratcliffe’s new challenge, which will be led by Dave Endean as chief executive, will proceed under the Ineos Britannia name.  Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.  Thu, 23 Jan 2025 23:32:45 Z /news/sport/auckland-bed-tax-urged-by-promoter-after-sailgp-draws-25-000/ /news/sport/auckland-bed-tax-urged-by-promoter-after-sailgp-draws-25-000/ A high-profile promoter is backing calls for a bed tax following the success of the SailGP event over the weekend. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown proposed a bed tax of 2.5% to 3% in December to fund a $7 million shortfall for major events. Any bed tax or levy would need central government legislation. Over 25,000 people flocked to Auckland’s waterfront to watch the sailing, with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the council-controlled organisation (CCO) tasked with promoting and delivering events, forecasting a $5.2m GDP contribution and economic impact from the event. That’s after it forked out $1,050,000 for the hosting fee. Dean Lonergan believes this was a worthwhile investment but it highlighted the importance of implementing a bed tax in Auckland. “I think you’d see a whole lot more revenue raised to be put back straight into the creation of great events here,” he told 九一星空无限talk ZB’s Jason Pine on Monday. “I’d like to see a combination of taxpayer-funded events as well as the bed tax but that seems to be pretty controversial ... I don’t understand the resistance to it but it is what it is.” Lonergan considered the sailing “a massive success” and the “perfect kind of event” for Auckland. “Those boats are absolute rocket ships on the water. It’s quite incredible watching them go. It’s a great way to show off Auckland Harbour. “That’s the sort of event you want to see that feeds into publicans, feeds into the restaurants, it feeds into taxis, and the hotel room nights. And of course, we had Luke Combs for two nights selling out bloody Eden Park. So Auckland [is] doing a good job to attract some of the major events. It’d be nice to see them have a bit more money to get a bit more in, but they do their best on a limited budget.” Promoter Dean Lonergan. Photo / Photosport Brown told the Herald in a statement his position on a bed tax was clear, but he was keen for Aucklanders to have their say on this year’s annual budget. “A bed night levy is crucial if Auckland is going to attract more big concerts and international sporting events like the America’s Cup, and SailGP. “I acknowledge these events are important to many. While I don’t believe ratepayers should wear the cost, I do support these events taking place. Ultimately, it is up to the Government to decide if they will give Auckland the power to set a bed night visitor levy.” Meanwhile, Auckland is in discussions to secure a long-term deal for the SailGP, according to its CEO Sir Russell Coutts. He praised the quality of racing and support of the crowds, with the waterfront stadium on Wynyard Point packed out over the weekend and he thought local businesses were doing well as a result. “We’ve already started the talk about coming back here long-term, which I think is the real benefit for a venue,” Coutts said on Sunday. “If we can put together a five-year – for example – term, and you come back every year; it’s all very well to have a great one-off event, but if you can come back year after year and build the brand equity and build the awareness, then you will get more people travelling from Australia and so forth, and even the US, coming down here for the event and then holidaying in New Zealand. Which is, of course, what it’s all about. “We’re certainly keen to do that. We wanted to try Auckland to see if it worked. It clearly has, so we’re talking about a long-term arrangement.” The event in Auckland was the third of a four-year hosting commitment in New Zealand, with Christchurch hosting the first two editions on Lyttelton Harbour. Thu, 23 Jan 2025 03:19:39 Z /news/sport/jannik-sinner-dominates-alex-de-minaur-to-reach-australian-open-semis/ /news/sport/jannik-sinner-dominates-alex-de-minaur-to-reach-australian-open-semis/ Defending champion Jannik Sinner put any illness worries to bed by crushing home hope Alex de Minaur in a straight-sets rout to tee up an Australian Open semifinal against Ben Shelton.  The Italian world No 1 showed no signs of the health issues that hampered him in his last match to emphatically fly past the eighth seed 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena.  He will meet stubborn American Shelton for a place in Sunday’s final against either 10-time champion Novak Djokovic or second seed Alexander Zverev.  Shelton, seeded 21, battled past another Italian, the unseeded Lorenzo Sonego, 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) to make the Melbourne Park last four for the first time.  The writing was on the wall for De Minaur with Sinner winning all nine of their previous meetings.  He was given a glimmer of hope after Sinner battled illness in his last-16 clash, where he admitted he was “not there health-wise” and had been “a bit dizzy at times” in hot weather.  But the Italian showed no evidence of any problems on a much cooler quarter-final day.  “Yesterday was a very easy day. I played just half an hour, 40 minutes with my coaches,” Sinner said when asked about how he was feeling.  “Talking about general physical [condition], you know, I feel like, especially when you are young, you recover very fast.”  In front of a patriotic home crowd, he broke for a 3-1 lead after a draining 24-shot baseline rally.  The agile Sinner’s big ball-striking proved hard for the Australian to counter and De Minaur struggled to create chances, managing just four winners in the opening set.  The second set followed a similar pattern with Sinner bossing De Minaur and breaking immediately to take control.  He was on a mission and a forehand winner earned him another break on his way to the second set in 40 minutes, with the Australian shaking his head in disbelief.  De Minaur tried everything but had no answers, broken twice in set three after a series of errors as Sinner powered home.  “Today I felt like I was feeling everything,” Sinner said.  “Days like this and you break quite early in each set, it’s a little bit easier.”  Sinner is bidding to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time after beating Daniil Medvedev in the final last year. He also won the US Open last year.  ‘Boo me’  Shelton, a year younger at 22, will await him on Friday.  “Obviously he is one of the best servers on tour, a lefty ... so hopefully I’m ready, hopefully I can return as many serves as possible and then try to stay very concentrated about my game, like today, stay aggressive,” said Sinner.  The American demonstrated his potential by reaching his first semifinal at the US Open in 2023, where he was beaten by eventual champion Djokovic.  The left-hander came through a tough encounter with Sonego dominated by booming serves.  One monstrous ace sent down by Shelton clocked at 232km/h (144mph), the joint-fastest serve of the tournament.  He said afterwards that he wasn’t worried about who he played next.  “If it is the home favourite Alex de Minaur, then 100%, you can boo me, throw stuff at me. I understand,” Shelton told the crowd after his win.  “If it is the world No 1, probably the same thing, but I’ve got a few people in the crowd who will be pulling for me too.”  Wed, 22 Jan 2025 22:15:43 Z /news/sport/auckland-fc-boss-nick-becker-qa-inside-the-stunning-rise-of-the-a-league-s-newest-side/ /news/sport/auckland-fc-boss-nick-becker-qa-inside-the-stunning-rise-of-the-a-league-s-newest-side/ By any measure, Auckland FC have been a big success. For a new club, they have already created a footprint, capturing the imagination while also performing on the field. Ahead of Wednesday’s top-of-the-table clash in Adelaide, which marks the halfway point of their season, Michael Burgess caught up with chief executive Nick Becker. How do you reflect on the first half of this campaign? It’s been great. If you had told me back in September we’d be top of the table for the majority of the season so far and have the support we’ve had across the city I would have called you a liar. We had big expectations, but this has exceeded them. We are definitely beyond where we hoped we would be. Looking back, were you nervous before this all started, that maybe it wouldn’t take off? We did our research and we were always quietly confident that that would have support in Auckland, especially in the way that football’s growing in terms of participation numbers. I guess what we were unsure about was if we would get that buy-in from the whole city, how successful we would be using Go Media Stadium and would we get the different cultures and communities in Auckland to support us. The football community had seen a couple of previous iterations but otherwise hasn’t had any professional team – no direct connection to the A-League other than a couple of Wellington Phoenix games each season. Were they going to get behind us? I was always pretty confident of success but the speed of what’s happened has blown me away. Bill Foley and Nick Becker: 'He’s been really positive about the results to date.' Photo / Photosport Owner Bill Foley must be a happy man. I’ve heard he is on the phone after every game? He is happy with how things are going, both on and off the pitch. We said from the start we weren’t here to make up the numbers on the field and that we wanted to embed ourselves across Auckland’s diverse communities. I speak to Bill either before or after every game and he’s been really positive about the results to date. What has been the high point so far? Our first match against Brisbane. Everything we had planned and discussed and hoped for came to life – and people really bought into the club. And seeing how many families and young kids were at the game and thinking, they will remember that and create long memories that they’ll hold on to, potentially creating generations of fans. Auckland FC's Hiroki Sakai celebrates after the side's opening goal in their debut fixture against Brisbane Roar. Photo / Photosport What about a low point? Staying up till 11.45pm [on Saturday 11 January] and then watching 90 minutes of away football in Perth and losing 1-0. It is probably recency bias, but I was frustrated because the team are much better than that. Going forward, how will you maintain the interest and the crowds? Just continue to do what we have done. We try to play attacking, exciting football. Build that connection with Auckland as a city and the football community. And we want to continue to evolve and add new things into our matchday experience, so going to our games appeals to the whole family and everybody who’s interested in both sport and live entertainment. That’s the real focus for us. You must be enjoying seeing replica shirts everywhere? It’s an amazing feeling seeing all the shirts in Auckland and at holiday spots over the Christmas break. We’ve sold more than 20,000 kits to date and we are working hard to keep up with the demand. The next derby, on February 22, is expected to sell out again. There has been talk about Eden Park. Have you considered that option? I know there have been murmurings about that, but for me year one is all about building a fortress at Go Media stadium and creating our home. How would you describe the relationship with the Phoenix? Is it a bit strained? No, I don’t think so. We have a lot of respect for them. They’ve flown the flag for professional football in New Zealand over the past 17 years and done a great job. Having competition is really healthy and a rivalry that’s become so strong so quickly is also fantastic. The fans love it. Before Aucklanders basically only had one choice – to support Wellington – now they’ve got their own team. Our relationship with the Phoenix is really good. We get on with them well, outside of the derby windows. In the windows, it’s fair to say that we enjoy a little bit of banter and rivalry. But it stays the right side of the line and it’s a lot of fun. Auckland FC's Logan Rogerson clashes with Phoenix captain Alex Rufer in their December match. Photo / Photosport How is progress with the formation of the women’s team? We are on track. We’ll have a head coach appointed by early-February at the latest and we’ll start talking straight away to players that both [director of football] Terry [McFlynn] and the head coach are keen to approach. We want a team with a backbone of Kiwi players. What happened with Joey Champness, who was signed but never made a matchday squad before leaving after eight games? Joey and the club came to a mutual-agreement position, shook hands and went separate ways. He’s a great kid and I hope, whatever his next venture is – in football or business – it’s a huge success. What’s it like talking with potential sponsors now, compared with those first few calls a year ago when you were selling a dream on a piece of paper? Obviously, it’s a lot easier to get a meeting and we even have some inbound calls these days! I’m proud of the impressive list of brands that have come on and supported the club in our first year. And 2025 is going to be another massive year. Tue, 21 Jan 2025 01:50:51 Z /news/sport/australian-open-jannik-sinner-reaches-quarter-finals-gael-monfils-withdraws/ /news/sport/australian-open-jannik-sinner-reaches-quarter-finals-gael-monfils-withdraws/ Novak Djokovic was at the centre of another Australian Open row on Monday while Jannik Sinner needed medical attention in fierce heat to battle into the quarter-finals and Iga Swiatek won easily.  But American teenage qualifier Learner Tien’s fairytale run is over after he suffered a thigh problem in a four-set defeat to Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in Melbourne.  Five-time major champion Swiatek torpedoed another feel-good story as she thrashed “lucky loser” Eva Lys 6-0, 6-1 to set up a meeting with eighth seed Emma Navarro.  Poland’s Swiatek, who accepted a one-month doping ban late last year, then learnt that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will not appeal in the case. She called it “closure”.  The 23-year-old has denied knowingly doping, saying non-prescription medication was contaminated.  With temperatures rising above 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) for a second successive day, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina beat Veronika Kudermetova -- then declined to shake the Russian’s hand.  But Svitolina’s husband, the 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils, retired from his match in the last 16.  Gael Monfils has withdrawn from the Australian Open. Photo / Photosport  ‘Insulting’  The 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic wasn’t in action -- he plays Carlos Alcaraz in a quarter-final blockbuster on Tuesday -- but he was the story.  On Sunday he refused to do a routine on-court interview, his hasty exit drawing boos from the Rod Laver Arena crowd.  Afterwards he said it was in protest at Tony Jones, a top sports presenter with host broadcaster Channel Nine, who he accused of “insulting and offensive comments” towards him and Serbian fans.  Jones on Friday labelled Djokovic a “has-been”, among other things, and said: “Kick him out.”  Djokovic said he would boycott interviews with the TV station until he got an apology.  He later released a short video on X to explain his stance and it has been viewed more than 60 million times, and caught the attention of the site’s owner Elon Musk.  “It’s way better just to talk to the public directly than go through the negativity filter of legacy media,” Musk posted in response, with Djokovic replying: “Indeed.”  Tennis stars past and present and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese all waded into the row.  Jones apologised on air Monday and hours later organisers Tennis Australia said: “Novak acknowledges the apology has been given in public as requested, and is now moving on and focusing on his next match.”  Djokovic has been at the centre of controversy before at the Australian Open, notably in 2022 when he was deported on the eve of the tournament over his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid.  He claimed ahead of this year’s tournament that he was “poisoned” by lead and mercury in his food while held in a hotel before being deported.  Novak Djokovic speaks to the crowd following victory against Jiri Lehecka. Photo / Getty Images  ‘Light for Ukraine’  Back on the tennis court, world number one and defending champion Sinner needed medical attention and overcame a long interruption when he broke the net with a thunderous serve to reach the last eight.  He came home 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 against Danish 13th seed Holger Rune on Rod Laver Arena.  Sinner struggled in the hot conditions, his hand visibly shaking and his heart rate taken in the third set before he left court for a medical timeout.  Sinner said afterwards he had suffered with dizzy spells.  He next faces home hope Alex de Minaur, the eighth seed who beat unseeded Alex Michelsen of the US in straight sets.  Svitolina, the 28th seed, defeated Russia’s unseeded Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1.  Svitolina refused to shake her opponent’s hand afterwards, as is the case for all Ukrainian players facing Russians because of the war.  “For me to find a way to win matches, to find a way to bring a little light, a little win for the Ukrainian people is something that I feel I am responsible for,” said the 30-year-old from Odesa.  Svitolina faces American 19th seed Madison Keys after she beat former finalist Elena Rybakina in three sets.  An exhausted Monfils was unable to make it a double celebration however when he called it quits with American 21st seed Ben Shelton leading two sets to one and a game up in the fourth.  Shelton faces Sonego after the Italian beat the 19-year-old Tien 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.  Tien had shocked Daniil Medvedev in a late-night five-set thriller in the second round to announce himself on the world stage.  Mon, 20 Jan 2025 23:47:18 Z /news/sport/invercargill-bike-thief-s-getaway-no-match-for-elite-cyclists/ /news/sport/invercargill-bike-thief-s-getaway-no-match-for-elite-cyclists/ An opportunistic thief in Invercargill learned the hard way that stealing a bike from a group of elite cyclists is a losing race. Cambridge former professional cyclist Zakk Patterson was in the city for the ILT Criterium National Championships. Patterson has achieved multiple successes throughout his cycling career, including multiple Queensland State Championships, two track state records, and seven National Championships on the road and track. After a day of intense racing on Saturday, Patterson and two professional cyclists were enjoying dinner outside Mevlana Kebabs on Tay St when the thief struck, grabbing Patterson’s $15,000 road bike and pedalling away. The group acted immediately, launching a dramatic chase while still finishing their meals. “Literally, as soon as he saw him grab it, we just jumped out of our chairs and sprinted outside, and the other two jumped on their bikes and started taking off after him,” he said. The two cyclists have both been recognised internationally, with one a veteran of the Tour de France – making the thief’s escape attempt short-lived. “They caught him pretty quickly – we’ve got a couple of ex-professionals and one still professional chasing after him, so he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.” The thief was intercepted about three blocks away. The two riders threw him off the bike while Patterson followed on foot. A passing motorist stopped to assist and called the police. “Luckily, the police were literally 20 seconds down the road because by the time I got there a minute or two later, there’s three cop cars already there and they had him in handcuffs.” “I think [the thief] was pretty remorseful when he was on the ground,” he said. The stolen bike sustained minor damage to its spokes and some cosmetic wear but was otherwise intact, and Patterson was still able to compete the following day in the finals. “He was actually going pretty bloody fast, to be honest,” Patterson said, noting the thief reached a top speed of 40km/h. “I think I was pretty lucky I had those two guys with me.” A 31-year-old local man was to appear in the Invercargill District Court today, charged with theft, police said. Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:55:13 Z /news/sport/australian-open-journalist-apologises-to-novak-djokovic-over-insulting-comments/ /news/sport/australian-open-journalist-apologises-to-novak-djokovic-over-insulting-comments/ Channel 9 host Tony Jones has issued an apology to Novak Djokovic after the Serbian tennis star accused him of making “insulting comments” about him and Serbian people. The 10-time Australian Open champion refused to do a regular post-match chat after beating Jiri Lehecka in three sets on Rod Laver Arena to make the quarter-finals. Instead, he took the microphone from interviewer Jim Courier, made a quick statement thanking the crowd and walked off to a smattering of boos. Djokovic explained the decision in a post-match press conference. “[A] couple days ago, the famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster Channel Nine here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me,” he said, not naming him but appearing to reference Tony Jones. “And since then, he chose not to issue any public apology. Neither did Channel Nine. So since they’re official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel Nine. “I have nothing against Jim Courier or the Australian public,” Djokovic added. “It was a very awkward situation for me to face on the court today.” Sports broadcaster Tony Jones. Photo / Getty Images Jones on Monday spoke out during an interview on Nine’s Today Show. He claimed he had already apologised to the Serbian star’s camp more than 24 hours before Djokovic’s walk-off, but reiterated that he meant no disrespect toward him. “If I could just give you a bit of a timeline here — the comments were made on the news on the Friday night, which I considered to be banter. I considered it to be humour. Which is consistent with most things I do, whether it be the Sunday Footy Show or on the morning show or here. “Having said that, I was made aware on Saturday morning from Tennis Australia via the Djokovic camp, that the Djokovic camp was not happy at all with those comments. “As such, I immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them, so this is 48 hours ago. “But any disrespect that Novak felt that I caused and as I stand here now I stand by that apology to Novak if he felt any disrespect, which clearly he does.” Novak Djokovic speaks to the crowd following victory against Jiri Lehecka. Photo / Getty Images According to media, Djokovic’s supporters were angered on Friday when Jones made fun of them and the 24-time grand slam winner while on air, calling the Serb a “has-been”. “Welcome back to Melbourne Park, where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans, they’re in full voice. The chants are quite extraordinary,” he said. Jones then turned around and began singing to the crowd, live on air. “Novak, he’s overrated,” Jones sang. “Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out. “Boy, I’m glad they can’t hear me. Anyway, let’s get onto the tennis.” Djokovic said he had since been in touch with tournament chief Craig Tiley and was willing to accept a fine for not doing the on-court interviews. “That’s okay, I’ll accept that because I feel like this is something that needs to be done. That’s all there is to it,” he said. – with AFP Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:47:37 Z