Marlborough sport in review 2025

It has been another busy year on the Marlborough sporting scene. These images from the past 12 months reveal some of the variety of pursuits that kept Marlburians busy and active.

In September, Marlborough water polo received a boost when MGC players Koko Wong, Poppy Clark and India Nathan were named in national teams which travelled to Australian for the state championships.

There was a golden glow about the Marlborough efforts at the Maadi Cup rowing regatta in April, MBC duo Logan Flight and Aidan Bennett winning the boys’ under-17 pair title while MGC’s Eliza Glover and Anna Hurren claimed the equivalent title in the girls’ final.

The South Island Masters Games returned to Marlborough in October, with the new pursuit of jigsaw racing creating plenty of interest.

Top level boxing returned to Blenheim in May, when the South Island Golden Gloves tournament was staged at Simcox Stadium.

August saw a netball three-peat for the Pelorus Edridge Contracting premier team, who won a fluctuating final at Stadium 2000, completing an outstanding season where they lost only two games.

Former Marlborough cricketing identities Chris Cairns and Garry MacDonald launched ‘Machine Ball Cricket’, which was trialled at Horton Park in April and was subsequently accepted for use this season.

In 2025 Senior A rugby became the focus on the local scene, with Waitohi claiming the trophy after defeating Central in the final at Endeavour Park in August.

Blenheim Swimming Club members, including gold medallist Jessica Lovell, made good use of hometown pool familiarity when the South Island Short Course champs were staged at Stadium 2000 in September.

The 12th GODZONE adventure race, which came to Marlborough in December, tested all the teams to the extreme, including Pure winners Team Rab.

The Marlborough Boys’ College First XV had a superb season, reaching the semifinals of the Miles Toyota championship. Along the way they celebrated a thrilling win over traditional rival Nelson College in late May.

The Tasman Mako men had a mixed NPC season, this last-gasp try against Waikato sparking extra time in a thrilling encounter at Lansdowne Park in September.

The Marlborough Equestrian Park was the venue for the highly-successful National Pony Club Eventing Championships, staged over Anzac Weekend.

In June football’s Knockout Cup was claimed by Rangers Masters in a thrilling final.

Tasman, Highlanders and All Blacks midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai was named overall Sportsperson of the Year at the 2025 Marlborough Sports Awards in November.

Thirteen-year-old Noah Gear became Marlborough’s latest national champion when she claimed the New Zealand secondary schools’ under-15 women’s +85kg weightlifting title in Auckland during September.

Blenheim golfer Clive Drummond, an 87-year-old stalwart of the Blenheim Golf Club, celebrated shooting an 18-hole score equal to or better than his age for the 100th time in January.

Braden Healy and the Marlborough softball side reached the final of the Jefferies Cup South Island interprovincial tournament in December.

The Marlborough Boys’ College First XI hockey side claimed the prestigious India Shield at the Rankin Cup tournament in Auckland during August.