Sports shorts

Arthur the ace

Marlborough driver Arthur Broughan has won the 2026 Rodin Cars New Zealand Formula Ford Challenge, incorporating Legends, held as a support category for the recent Christchurch Supercars round. Three podiums and a race victory were enough to win from NZ Formula Ford Champion Marco Manson, with Seb Eskandari third ahead of Maxim Kirwan. “It is super fun, some of the best racing I have had in a race car so far,” said Arthur.  With a background in RX7 and GR86 racing, it was Broughan’s first competitive outing in an open wheeler.

Keegan on top at speedway

Eastern States ended the speedway season at the weekend with a 25-lap Modified feature race which was dominated by three-times NZ champion Luke Keegan. Second was new Modified lap record holder Reuben Brown while local driver Sheldon Arapere finished third. The Street Stocks ran their Easter Champs, a solid battle with Nelson driver Cody McCarrison getting the edge over the NZ champion Paul Leslie. The Production Saloons ran their 2k Cup, with Frank Burns taking the honours over Paul Adcock and David Allen. The Dynes Transport North v South Modified title, which was won by the North team after two days of racing, was a great way to end the season, producing a feature race that sent the crowd home happy.

Mako women's schedule

The Tasman Mako women’s team will play just twice at home in the round robin stages of the Farah Palmer Cup in 2026. They will meet Northland in their first match, at Nelson’s Trafalgar Park on Saturday 29 August with a 1.05pm kick-off, then, on 5 September at 2.05pm, they take on Hawke’s Bay at Lansdowne Park. Their other matches are away – against Otago on 11 September, North Harbour on 20 September and Wellington on 27 September.