In this Issue

	Let the Games begin
	Stilt walkers ensure games start on high note
	Otago crews dominate on first day of regatta
	Top swimmers bowl up for Uni Games
	Competition tight as rugby league kicks off

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Tuesday 10 April, 2007

Let the Games begin

The waiting is over.

After months of planning, preparation and training the 2007 Uni Games is finally under way.

Conditions could not have been more ideal for day one of the Games, with temperatures in Christchurch reaching the early 20s and the city basking under a cloudless sky.

At Games HQ it was all go as 2150 competitors registered for the Games, which promise to be one of the biggest and best yet.

Canterbury University student Mary Friend is making her touch playing debut this week. "I've never played touch before, so just thought I'd try something new," she says.

 The second year mass communications student says she will be "doing her best" even though she has been finding training pretty full-on.

It is a different story for Sam Bradford who is in AUT's surfing team. The tourism student has been surfing since he was two and does not think the Christchurch waters will be too cold. "I'll be wearing my boardies," he boasts.

First year law student Johnathon Leauma has been playing club league in Auckland for four years. His AUT team is "keen to take home the trophy this year" but he is also excited about the social side of things.  

Games director Jake Wilkins says it's great to see so many students registering for the Games. 

"It's going to be a blast,'' he says.

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Stilt walkers ensure games start on high note

Stilt-walkers bearing the flags of New Zealand's 10 universities ensured the 2007 Games started off on a high note.

The stilt-walkers helped create a carnival-like atmosphere at the Games' official openeing ceremony, held in the Quad at Canterbury University's Ilam campus. 

Team rivalry was evident even before the Games officially started with AUT team members winning the award for  Noisiest But Least Original Chant with their own rendition of We are the Mighty Titans.

Play hard, play fair and have a bloody good time, NZ University Sport President Hamish Hopkinson told the students as they packed into the Quad to see the games officially opened by city councillor Graham Condon.

"It is an absolute pleasure to have you here," Cr Condon said.

University of Canterbury Student's Association President Belinda Bundy caused controversy when she told the crowd she  had every confidence team Canterbury would bring home the shield this year.

"All I want to say is 'team Canterbury'!" she said.

Only time will tell.

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Otago crews dominate on first day of regatta

Otago University cemented its hold on one of New Zealand's oldest sporting shields, winning both the Men's and Women’s Championship Eights at the Uni Games rowing regatta.

The Championship Eights is the biggest race of the regatta, with men competing for the Hebberley Shield and women for the Tamaki Cup. The Hebberley Shield is one of the oldest sporting shields in New Zealand.

“There is an awful lot of passion and tradition about winning this shield – the competition is fierce,” competition manager Gerald O’Flynn says.

Eight men’s crews contested the shield on the Waimakariri River, with Otago, Canterbury and Victoria the pre-race favourites.

Otago proved their dominance right from the start. “The Otago crew were looking sharp. They eased away from the start and maintained their lead to take the win," O'Flynn says.

Canterbury and Victoria provided excitement at the end in their fight for second place, with Canterbury emerging the victors.

Coxswain for the Otago men’s crew Michael Dessoulary admits he was “as nervous as hell” at the start, but was confident in the crew bringing it home for the win. It is the sixth consecutive time that Otago University has won the shield – equalling the record with Canterbury.

In the women’s division, three Otago crews are competing alongside Canterbury and Victoria. All three Otago crews dominated from the outset, Otago 1 taking the win with a considerable lead.

 The level of training within the Otago crews proved to be a major factor in their success. Champion women’s eight members Louise Trappitt and Meg Wilson say they have trained every morning at 5.45am since the University year started.

“Otago have put the training time in and they have come away with success,” says O’Flynn.

President of University Rowing New Zealand, Glen Sinclair, has Otago down as the main contender for the overall regatta.

But Sinclair is also impressed with Victoria University. “We can expect a bit more from them in the next few days,” he says.

The regatta continues on Wednesday and Thursday at Lake Hood, near Ashburton.

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Top swimmers bowl up for Uni Games

After breaking New Zealand and personal best records in the swimming pool at the weekend two West Auckland students have swapped their skimps for lawn bowls.

Swimmers Mark Herring and Michael Jack, both 22, have stayed on in Christchurch after the weekend’s New Zealand youth and open championships to compete in the Uni Games.  Their medal hopes though are not in the pool but on the bowling green.

These Olympic hopefuls are tucking away their goggles and picking up a sport - lawn bowls - in which they are complete novices. 

Neither Jack nor Herring have ever set foot on a bowls lawn before or picked up a lawn bowl but they have received expert instruction and handy tips from a number of mentors and tutors.

When the pair were in Melbourne recently for the world swimming champs Jack’s grandfather taught them that lawn bowls will curve and a few other tips on technique “we are not allowed to divulge due to the sensitive nature of these things,” Jack says.

And with the pair threatening to wear their swimming race suits rather than traditional lawn whites they promise to stand out from the other competitors.

"It could be a mental advantage over our opposition. We’re obviously comfortable wearing them and our competitors may not feel so comfortable watching us. I mean, it will put them off their game that’s for sure,” says Herring.

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Competition tight as rugby league kicks off

The first rugby league games highlighted the fierce level of competition, with all teams staking their claim as contenders for the coveted title.

Defending champions Canterbury showed its class as it annihilated AUT in the opening match today.

Both teams started well but Canterbury was the first to make its mark, scoring a try in the opening minutes.

The middle of the first half was dominated by AUT, with Canterbury letting through two tries, bringing AUT into the lead, 10-4.

AUT’s dominance was short-lived as Canterbury showed the crowd why it was the defending champion. The score at half time was 28-10 to Canterbury.

The second half was much of the same, Canterbury showing speed and flair through standoff Pose Manu and scrumhalf James Raughan. AUT showed some good plays at times but Canterbury was too classy, winning 50-16.

Victoria showed it was also a top contender for the title, defeating the Canterbury B team, 38-4.

Victoria’s captain Hone Patrick was influential in his side’s win, and the side showed they wanted to go one step further than last year.

The final game of the day was the closest with Lincoln and Auckland playing in a hard-fought battle. Both sides played hard throughout the game and showed aggression and athleticism, proving they both could be the tournament under-dogs.

However, Auckland came out on top, taking the game, 34-24.

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