Sport in short ...

Matt steps up

Formerly Marlborough-based tennis coach Matt Hair has joined the Tennis New Zealand High Performance coaching team in a full-time capacity. Matt has worked with Tennis New Zealand in a part-time role for several years, including as Billie Jean King Cup captain and in supporting professional players. Tennis NZ says “Matt brings decades of experience, from junior development through to coaching Top 50 players on the professional tour. We are excited to have him bring this breadth of knowledge to further strengthen our high-performance programme.”

Footballing future

Two young Marlborough Boys’ College footballers have been selected in the New Zealand secondary schools under-16 representative side. Caleb McAulay and Jeimar Zapata Zuniga are part of the squad to tour Malaysia during the July school holidays.

Arthur takes flag

Marlborough motorsport ace Arthur Broughan enjoyed a profitable day out during round four of the Bridgestone GR86 Championships at the Highlands Motorsports Park, managing a pole position, podium, race win, round win and a lap record. Arthur had been the fastest man all weekend but had to wait until the 12-lap feature to enjoy the chequered flag. Victory made up for a couple of challenging rounds and after leading the series after the first round, success at Highlands put him firmly back in the overall title hunt.

Rugby opportunity

Several of the region’s emerging female talent have been rewarded with a place in the Tasman Rugby Union’s 2026 Pathway Programme. Livvy Giles, from Queen Charlotte College, will be joined in the Year One group by Denyce Pousima, Jorjah Arthur and Pippa Minhinnick from MGC. Two MGC students, Mariana Arthur, and Qalo Waqaituakana are in the Year Two intake.

Mixing it up

Kyle Heagney and Heidi Stenhouse-Allen are the 2025-26 Yealands Marlborough senior mixed doubles residential champions. The top seeds beat second-seeded Stephen Dempster and Mieko Kimura 7-5, 6-1 in an entertaining final on the grass courts at Rapaura on Sunday, 1 February. Stephen and Mieko beat fourth seeds Stu Campbell and Amber Lyons in a super tiebreaker to reach the decider while Kyle and Heidi overcame third-seeded Glen Cameron and Jo Richmond in the other semi.

Masters medal

Marlborough tennis player and coach Eveline Apthorp van der Linden claimed two silver medals at the recent Tennis NZ Masters national champs in Christchurch. Eveline reached the final of the 65+ age group singles and the mixed doubles.