Sporting shorts

Gus going well

Marlborough triathlete Gus Marfell has impressed during his first World Triathlon Cup outing in Napier on Sunday. The 21-year-old brushed aside the nerves of a debut at World Triathlon’s second tier to be the second Kiwi male home in 13th place. He finished just 53 seconds behind the Spanish winner over the 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run course.

Leon back in business

Leon MacDonald has joined the Western Force in Perth as the club’s coaching consultant. Leon, who began his new role at the Force last week, was in charge of the Blues for five years before joining Scott Robertson’s All Blacks coaching team, quitting in August last year. He will work with Force CEO Niamh O’Connor to build the club to be a world class coaching hub and will also assist the current coaches across all programmes. Leon has signed up for the 2025 Super Rugby season.

Athletes second

Marlborough’s young athletes finished second behind Richmond in the recent Winstone Cup event in Nelson. Leading the way for Marlborough was Mila Scott, who broke the Marlborough Children’s Athletics (MCA) G9 long jump record with a leap of 4.57m, Ryleigh Gale, who broke the MCA G15 100m hurdles record with a time of 17.41 and Alyssa Haronga for equalling the MCA G13 high jump record with a jump of 1.57m. Scores: Richmond 405, Marlborough 349, Nelson 341, Motueka 80, Takaka 78.

Tennis semis

The semifinals of the WK+ Presidents Grade tennis competition were played on Tuesday. Division 1: Rapaura Masters 3 Rapaura Triple Fault 1; Rapaura Just Move 1 Renwick Racketeers 3. Division 2: Renwick Miss Hits 3 Rapaura Floorpride 1; Renwick Rookies 3 Marlborough Swallows 1. Division 3: Renwick Raptors 4 Renwick Restrung 0; Marlborough Racket Science 1 Rapaura Hākinakina 3.

Stella on show

Marlborough cricketer Stella Cornelius played for the Central Districts women’s A team against Wellington A at the Basin Reserve on Sunday and Monday. On Sunday she bowled four overs, conceding just eight runs in her side’s eight wicket loss.