Sporting shorts

Woodbourne half

The 43rd annual Woodbourne Half Marathon will take place at the RNZAF Woodbourne sports fields on Sunday 16 August, 2026. Options are aplenty, including 5km and 10km offroad runs through a local vineyards, as well as a 21km half marathon run, walk or hybrid (run-walk) on quiet roads and farm tracks. Start times are 9am for the walk and hybrid, 10am for the half marathon run, and 10.15am for the 5k and 10k. Entries are available online at Eventfinda Blenheim (www.eventfinda.co.nz). Entries will also be available on the day at Race HQ In the Woodbourne Community Centre, next to the sports fields (cash and Eftpos available). For enquiries please email: [email protected]

Young Devils

The Marlborough Red Devils under-16 rugby team to contests the annual South Island tournament has been selected. The players named are: Iakopo Aiono, Ben Clarke, Zeke Cullis, Fionn Heagney, Tom Heagney, Jade Joseph, Chayce Kahui, Tyrone Langi, Brodie MacDonald, AJ Moli, Ash Murrell, Cyrus Prestage, JT Strydom, Bizza Vularika, Thomas Andrew, Ollie Etheredge, Starling Fa’aoa, Tyson Harris, Jay Heywood, Ollie Hutchison, Eli Lambert. Makalio Ligaliga, Zavier MacDonald, Manu Mataele, Xavier Meredith-Smith, Ollie Saggers, Clay Spence, Jacob Tavave, Kazier Warren. Management: Glen Blackmore, Kaleni Taetuli, Dean Fielding, Kieran Hickman, Ruairidh Swan, Tayla Fowke.

Riding high

Former Marlborough Boys’ College dux Lachlan McNabb, pictured above, has been named in a star-studded New Zealand road cycling team heading for the 2026 UCI Road World Championships. Lachlan is part of the two-strong under-23 men’s team which will compete in Montreal, Canada from 20-27 September.

Fred off to worlds

Wairau oarsman Fred Vavasour has been named as part of the New Zealand elite eight and four crews which will compete at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands from 24-30 Aug.

Will away

Blenheim swimmer Will Atkinson’s recent efforts have seen him gain recognition nationally. He has been included in one of three inaugural National Youth Programme (NYP) Squads (Olympic Pathway). The new innovation was launched as part of the NYP in April. Featuring 130 swimmers from 41 clubs around New Zealand, swimmers have been selected into three interlinking squads, creating a clear athlete development pathway for swimmers aged 13 to 20.

Equestrian success

Marlborough Girls’ College riders, pictured above, were riding high at the recent Tasman Secondary School Sport Equestrian Competition. The MGC Blue combination of Kaitlyn Ikenasio, Anika Hollis, Jemma Anderson and Bella Stebbing finished runner-up out of 11 teams, being just 1.5 points off top spot. The MGC Gold team, comprising Sophie Oswald, Mikayla Ikenasio, Kate Edwards, Elsie Potts and travelling reserve Sophie Mason, came third overall. To top it all off, every single MGC rider won an individual prize, the college’s best overall result in several years. Jemma Anderson placed third overall in the Year 9/10 individual competition.

Golfing challenge

The Marlborough Golf Club will host the annual Tasman Quadrangular tournament on 25-26 July. This is the first of two matchplay events this year for senior men, intermediate handicappers and ladies, involving Marlborough, Nelson, Buller/Westland and Tasman invitational teams. Competition comprises two rounds of matchplay on the Saturday and one round on Sunday morning. The top golfers in the Tasman district will be involved as the Quad is a qualifying event for selection for the Tasman teams that travel to represent the district at interprovincial competitions.