The Ranfurly Shield made a return to Marlborough after 50 years when the Mako men lifted it off Hawke’s Bay and defended it against Wellington at Lansdowne Park. The team were treated to a public welcome as they shared the Log o’ Wood around the province in September. Photo William Woodworth.
It has been another busy and fruitful year for the province’s sporting fraternity, across a multitude of pursuits. We look back at Marlborough’s sporting year in pictures.
The Marlborough under-16 basketball side underlined their potential by claiming a final berth in the South Island Mainland championships in Rolleston during July. Photo supplied.A strong team performance saw the Celtic senior cricket side take out the local Twenty20 title at Horton Park in February. Photo Peter Jones.Rising multisport start Finn McKenzie provided a highlight early in the year with overall victory in the two-day section of the iconic Coast to Coast race. Photo supplied.A century of play for the Pope Shield, symbol of women’s hockey supremacy in the top of the south, was celebrated at the new Puna Wai Hockey Stadium, with the Marlborough women coming away with the prestigious trophy. Photo Peter JonesTua Marina dressage ace Melissa Galloway and her mount ‘Joey’ danced their way to the Paris Olympics, registering the highest ever score by a NZ dressage combination at the Games. Photo supplied.The annual Mt Vernon Grand Traverse attracted young and old. Pictured are Taylor Rayner and Reeva Macdonald who had fun competing in the kids’ race. Photo Peter JonesIt was back-to-back success for the Pelorus premier netball side, who claimed their second consecutive title at Stadium 2000 in August. Photo Peter Jones.
A high-paced polo tournament in February signalled the final chukka for the Blenheim Polo Club at their Rewi Murray Polo Park base. The club are now based at Waipapa on the East Coast. Photo Peter JonesThe Rangers AFC football side added to their proud record in the Nelson competitions, doing the double with victory in both the league and the knockout cup competitions. Photo Peter Jones.Lee Harborne gets some air time during the men’s final of the ever-popular Rapaura doubles New Year tennis tournament. Photo Peter Jones.The Maadi Cup again proved a major drawcard for the region’s college rowing talent. Louis Girling and Blake Campbell provided the star turn with a gold medal in the under-17 pair. Photo supplied.Quentin MacDonald leads Tasman Mako players past former Marlborough 1976 Shield winners. Photo Peter JonesMarlborough again fielded a team at softball’s Jefferies Cup tournament this year, after a long absence. Braden Healy, pictured, was one of the main movers as the side finished third in the South Island championship. Photo supplied.Tom Murray added to his medal haul with silver in the four at the Paris Olympics, then was recognised at the Marlborough Sportsperson of the Year during the annual awards in November. Photo Matt Brown.
